Vehicle Description
There was a time when this 1955 Chevrolet Nomad would have been
overlooked for its hardtop siblings, but that day is long gone.
Today the Nomad is near the top of every Chevy fan's wish list, and
this gorgeous custom wagon gets a lot of things right: an
outstanding paint job highlighted with lots of bespoke tricks, a
gorgeous leather interior, and a fully sorted 383 Stroker V8
drivetrain that offers more power and more comfort than you could
get from any factory in 1955. Take your time and drink this
beautiful Tri-5 wagon in, because every square inch of this car is
absolutely special.
The dominating color on this beauty is pretty close to the shade of
Gypsy Red offered in 1955, giving this nut-and-bolt restored Nomad
a very dynamic look. Add in the flame work and air brushed skulls
laid down by the legend himself, Joe Martin, and you've got a
strong case for the best-looking paint job currently on the Tri-5
market. That's not hyperbole, we're still picking up our jaws off
the floor after seeing this baby roll into our showroom. There's no
denying the handsome good looks of the 2-door wagon, and what they
may have lacked in practicality they more than made up for with
pure style, with a style that practically begged for customization.
The full-boat restoration focused on getting the basics right
first, since nobody in his right mind would think he could improve
on the factory sheetmetal design, and the high-quality bodywork
looks fantastic. Tight gaps, laser-straight panels, and deep,
glossy show-quality paint make this a jaw-dropper when you roll
into any show on the planet. With just over 1k miles on the build,
it's barely been touched, and for many enthusiasts, the inaugural
1955 is the best-looking of the Tri-Five Chevys. This one also
carries upscale Bel Air trim (which was the only way you could get
a Nomad) that includes that dramatic side spear and all the chrome
has been refinished to show standards, so it truly sparkles in the
sun. Cross-country haulers just don't get much better than
this.
There's more awesomeness inside where all the custom work is so
memorable, yet still so tastefully done that it's hard to find a
better interior in our inventory. The baby-butt soft, Mercedes-Benz
Gray leather upholstery has an incredibly high-end look, perfectly
stitched by the pros at Headliner Customs in Fort Worth, TX that
put together the entire interior from top-to-bottom. The front
bucket seats were borrowed from a Nissan 350Z, and they're split by
a custom fabricated center console that mimics the exterior paint
scheme. New tweed carpets with plush weave and nap were installed
and custom door panels were created using the same pattern on the
seats, including the untouched rear bench. Of course, it's got all
the modern conveniences like cold A/C, an Ididit tilt column, power
seats and windows, and a modern Alpine AM/FM/CD/AUX stereo system,
but none of it detracts from the incredibly detailed dashboard lots
of billet chrome and beautiful paint. The Billet Specialties
steering wheel is a beautiful leather-wrapped piece that looks
quite at home in this one-off '55 and the updated instrument panel
is filled with modern gauges from Classic Instruments. In back,
there's a gorgeous cargo bay that's just too nice to use for
hauling anything, but it's fully insulated with the same
custom-made quilted carpeting that matches the upholstery and
protects the entire cabin.
The engine is still technically a small block Chevy V8, but the
pro-built 383 Stroker V8 engineered by Gary's Machine Shop in
Mesquite, TX is a far cry from the original 265. It obviously fits
beautifully and thanks to all new hardware inside and out, it's as
reliable as your daily driver and quite a bit more powerful.
Color-matched valve covers with custom air-brushed work a
dressed-up look, but the rest of the block uses fairly common,
albeit top of the line, performance parts to ensure reliability and
easy service. And take a look at that firewall and inner fenders.
Wow! A 700R4 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission with a 2200
stall convertor feeds a Ford 9-inch rear end with 3.73 gear and is
a big part of the reason this car is such a pleasure to drive,
while the long-tube headers that feed the Flowmaster dual exhaust
system give this beauty an amazing soundtrack. The undercarriage is
insanely clean and includes a custom front end, RideTech coilovers
all around, a 4-link rear-end, power 4-wheel disc brakes, power
steering, and staggered Coy wheels wearing 225/35/20 front and
265/35/22 rear low-profile performance radials.
Fully sorted and ready to enjoy, this recently built magazine car
is going to be a show winner for many years to come. With great
looks, a wonderful color combination, and that timeless Nomad
appeal, this custom beauty delivers in a big way. Call now!