1957 belair wagon headlinner colors.

[nomad]

My friend is re-storing a 1957 Chevrolet Nomad for me, and I am going to paint it the Tropical Turquoise, and the India Ivory roof. The interior will be the Turquoise. I know that they color coded the headliner's on the Nomad's, so the headliner will be the Turquoise color. My question is did they also color code the headliner's on the regular 1957 Belair wagon's? I have seen 1957 Belair two door hardtop's with color coded headliner's but not the regular Belair wagon's?

[BamaNomad]

I think the difference between Nomads and other BelAir wagons/sedans in 1957 was the different material used (not the color). Wagons/sedans used a cloth material in the headliner (but still color coded to the interior), whereas the Nomad headliner was a vinylized material...

[nomad]

Bama, have you ever seen a regular 1957 Belair wagon, with a Headliner Color other than white? Or if anyone else out their in the Tri-Five world has, please let me know. Thanks Dom

[BamaNomad]

nomad: I cannot 'accurately' answer the question for wagons. I was under the impression that a BelAir wagon and a Belair sedan would be outfited the same. I have a '57 sedan in two tone blue which has a blue cloth headliner.

I'll check and see what I can find out re BelAir wagons...

[Tabasco]

I looked it up in The Classic Chevy International Restoration and Judging Guidelines Manual. For the 1957 Model 2409 (Bel Air) and Model 2429 (Nomad) Station Wagon headliners were all textured vinyl. For both models of Belair wagons the headliner colors were in silver, yellow, red, light green, light blue, light turquoise and beige. White was not a listed color for Bel Air wagon headliners. My '57 Belair wagon came with a beige and copper interior and the vinyl headliner was beige.

[BamaNomad]

Thanks Tabasco! :)

I judged at CCCI International Conventions for years, but I guess I never judged an original restored 'regular' BelAir wagon... but I should have thought to check the Judging manuals I have. It does make me wonder why they used vinyl in the standard 4-dr BA wagon, but cloth in the BA 4-dr sedan, when the seats and door panels are the same between those models??

Just checked the Ciadella website for original '57 BA 4-dr wagon headliners also.. it confirms what the CCCI judging manual states:







http://www.ciadellainteriors.com/Gallery/57chainhl[2].jpg (http://www.ciadellainteriors.com/Gallery/57chainhl[2].jpg)








1957 Chevy Bel Air Station Wagon Headliner.



This headliner is cut and sewn specifically for the 1957 Bel Air 4 door Station Wagon. Using our original reproduction small "Chain" pattern embossed vinyl. With all installation listings attached. Available in all the original colors. Extra sunvisor & post Chain pattern vinyl included. Available in several colors of chain pattern vinyl, including ivory, although not an original color used in the 57 Bel Air Wagons.



$179.00

[nomad]

Bama , for you to be stumped is a really good sign, that Chevrolet might not have colored the headliner's in a regular 1957 Belair Wagon. This only makes the Nomad that much cooler! The difference that you mentioned in the Headliners material in a Nomad is also a very cool thing. For the Nomad the vinyl material, seems to really pop. When Chevrolet painted a 1957 Chevrolet Belair in Colonial Cream, which look's like light yellow, they always paint the dash black, and the steering wheel, steering column, and gauges in the silver. The Window Garnish Moldings 's are Black all around back to the Dash. This is contrary to rule , and how I am going to do mine in the Tropical Turquoise , with the India Ivory Roof, Nomad that I'm having Re-stored. The Headliner in the Turquoise color , will be really cool !

[BamaNomad]

I get stumped pretty often and have to go to my books! In fact, even more than I used to as I don't even know as much as I used to! :)

Where are you located, nomad? and who is restoring the car for you? Hopefully you will tell us more about yourself and your car in an upcoming post.. :)

[nomad]

Tabasco, and Bama thank you for the help. First thing I have to get this ; classic Chev International Restoration and judging Guidelines Manual. This Chain Pattern Vinyl Headliner Material , is beautiful. When you see the Colonial Cream 57 Belair , with the dash in Black, instead of light yellow, and the Steering wheel and Column , and Gauges in the Silver it looks so much better than if these item's were painted all light Yellow. I wonder if they did this with the Tropical Turquoise too? It's way to much Turquoise looking out over the Turquoise Hood.

[nomad]

Bama, I am in Westchester NY. My best friend Bob Sekelsky is restoring the 1957 Nomad for me. He is a Commercial Artist , and was the Head of the Art dept. for " HBO " in Times Square NY, for over thirty years. He has had at least 6 of his restorations featured in Hemming's Classic car magazine. His 1958 Chevrolet Impala made the cover. If I could ever figure out how to send pictures, I would send to the Tri-five some picture's of his Oil painting's . He specializes in automotive Art. he will never say look what I can do, so I have to say it for him.This Nomad that I have is body number 6274 produced about August 28th and is 260 car's from the end of the run out of 6534 built. John Chamber's told me that some might have been made in very early September to finish up.

[BamaNomad]

On a turquoise/ivory '57 Nomad, the dash/steering wheel/garnish mldgs are turquoise. The door panels and seat covers are turquoise vinyl and black cloud cloth...

If you have photographs of the car before, during, or after restoration, we all love to see them. If you want to send the photographs to my email address, I will post them for you. OR I can give you instructions on how to post them from a website, OR from your computer...

I found the Hemmings article from 2008 on your friend's '58 Impala HT, but that was the only car-related reference I could find, and only 3 photos in it..
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/back-from-the-dead-1958-chevrolet-impala

PS. Nomads are a little different, and more complicated, than almost any other car from it's time (due to it's uniqueness I suppose)...

Good luck on the restoration.

Gary

[nomad]

Bama, if you go to Hemming's Classic car magazine, April 2008 page 64 it has the article of my Friend Bob Sekelsky's 1958 Chevrolet Impala , titled Back from the Dead. Hemming's Classic Car Magazine, March ,2008 has the finished product on the Cover, and more of the story on page 22. I would love to send pictures to the Tri- Five on this 1957 Nomad, project that he is in the middle of re-storing now . We have before pictures , all stages. If you could direct me how to post them I would be very grateful ! Dom

[nomad]

Gary, if you go on e-bay motors right now their is a 1957 Chevrolet two door hardtop that Smokie Mountain trader's are selling . It is Colonial Cream, and has a great picture showing the interior from the open driver's side door. Look at the Black Dash, and Window Garnish Molding's, the Silver Steering Wheel and Steering Column , and Silver Gauges . Anytime that I have seen a 1957 Chevrolet Belair in Colonial Cream, and I have seen a lot in the last three years of looking, they are done this way. If they painted all of this in the Colonial Cream color it would not look as good in my opinion. God willing I am going to do this 1957 Tropical Turquoise Nomad the same way ,Black Dash, and Black Window Garnish Moldings 's, Silver steering Wheel, and Column, and Gauges. Also Black Carpet, and black Lino on the cargo area. The correct way looking out over your Turquoise Hood , would be a bit too much Turquoise for me. Add a Hoola dancer in a turquoise dress to the black dash and done.

[BamaNomad]

I don't particularly like 'black interior cars', while some people ONLY like black interior cars! :)

Some colors of paint had two 'std' interiors that could be ordered. In the case of colonial cream, there was a choice of the yellow or the black interior. I strongly prefer the yellow interior in those cases, especially for a Nomad! :)

It seems you are describing a 'mix' of two interiors and I don't think? it's was an option (but I can't prove that). I don't think I've seen an original turquoise car with the black dash/wheel (ie. with a black/silver interior). Was it an available option? I D K...?

Note: Most auto manufacturers (these days) will build a car anyway a 'sold car' owner desires it, even with NON-recommended color choices when it's a special car order (ie. a pre-sold order).

[BamaNomad]

.....

We have before pictures , all stages. If you could direct me how to post them I would be very grateful ! Dom

OK, try this:

1. Open your post, and select 'GO TO ADVANCED' and it will give you more options in the selections above.
2. In those selections you will see what appears to be a 'paperclip' (for Attachments'). Select that by clicking on the icon.
3. That will bring up a 'Manage Attachments' popup menu, With a couple of sections: File Upload Manager which allows you to select from previously 'uploaded' files, with an option to * + ADD FILES*.
4. Select '+ Files' and then 'Choose File', which will open up a window into your computer's File Manager - which allows you to browse within your computer to find the appropriate file you want to 'upload'.
5. Select the file from your computer which you want to 'upload' and the 'Choose File' popup will now show the file name you've selected. From that popup you can select a (+) to add a file to your list, or if that's the only file you want to include in your post, you can select 'Upload'.
6. Choose the (+) and you will be given another 'Choose File' option allowing you to choose another file from your computer. Continue that to get all the files you want to include in your post, and then ..

7. Choose 'Upload' which will add the files to your post.

8. When you have added all the files you want to attach, select the 'Done' button at the bottom of the 'Manage Attachments' Popup.

You won't SEE the images in your post until you complete your posting. Try it... you can always edit if you messup the first time...

:)

[nomad]

Bama, thank you for all the info to load up some pictures. I am going to get help, and do this. The Nomad's interior that I am leaning towards is: "The Turquoise Interior, as factory" , Turquoise seats , door panels, headliner etc.. etc... With the exception of the dash, and window garnish molding's, Carpet, in Black. Steering wheel, and column , and gauges silver. Just like the Colonial Cream Car. The designer's must have felt with the light yellow car, that this would look better, or they would have followed the rest of the Belair's they built. I personal think that they should have offered this with the Turquoise Car's too. I know it's not stock, but at this stage in life, I'm ok with that.