Vehicle Description
Before we go into the details on this spectacular 1957 Chevy Nomad
(and there are many, many juicy details), please take a few moments
to look at the photos...
Back? Good, because you can see this is one heck of a car.
Professionally built, there's not a single surface or component
that hasn't been tweaked, polished, or restored in some way,
delivering what might be the ultimate rod for the family. The '57
Nomad is arguably the best-looking of all the shoebox Chevys, so it
didn't make sense to modify the sheet metal in any major way.
Instead, the builders spent the time and money (quite a lot of both
based on the restoration photos and excellent results) on getting
everything as straight as possible, then covered it in layer after
layer of glossy, deep Burgundy Metallic paint. They also
restored/replaced all of the excellent Bel Air trim and reinstalled
it in all the correct places, and the dazzling high-profile look of
this Tri-5 wagon is off-the-charts today. As you likely saw in the
photos, the surfaces are so smooth and flat that reflections show
minimal distortion, and the brilliant shine of the modern urethane
paint is miles deep out in the sunlight. It's not perfect, and it's
been driven a decent amount since it was completed back in 2014,
but despite some minor imperfections (most of which could be
remedied with a buff-and-wax), this is still a great-looking,
higher-end, driver-quality paint job. The big chrome bumpers,
ornate front grille, hood 'rockets,' profile stainless trim, and
anodized panels on the quarters all add a bright element to the
color combination and prove that a stock-looking Tri-5 still has
plenty of flashes. Even the slats on the rear hatch were redone and
polished to a blinding shine, as was the trim on the famous quarter
fins all around the wagon's many windows. The dual exhaust ports
below the rear bumper preview the upgraded drivetrain that powers
this beauty.
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, light tan
leather upholstery has an incredibly high-end look, elegantly
stitched over the power buckets up front, the matching rear bench,
the custom center console, and matching door panels at the flanks.
Slightly darker carpets with plush weave and nap were installed to
insulate the floors, whereas the headliner was redone to factory
specs with matching light tan leather and chrome slats. The factory
dash was painted Burgundy Metallic and lined with anodized aluminum
to match the exterior theme. In contrast, the factory gauge bezel
was filled with upgraded Dakota Digital units that keep a closer
eye on the Nomad's upgraded drivetrain. Of course, it's also got
all the modern conveniences like cold Vintage Air A/C, a polished
tilt column and wood-rimmed billet steering wheel, a Lokar shifter
and cup holders inside the center console, and a Custom Autosound
AM/FM/AUX/USB retro-stereo that manages upgraded speakers inside
the cabin. A digital clock was added to the dashboard, the pedals
were replaced with polished billet pieces, and the big center
console added storage and stretched back to the rear bench,
providing a set of cup holders for those passengers. This Nomad was
designed with the entire family in mind, which is very rare in a
classic car. In the back, there's a finished cargo bay that's
probably too nice to use for hauling anything, but it's fully
insulated with the same plush carpeting that matches and protects
the cabin.
Under the hood, it's still got Chevy power, although loads more
than stock delivered in the form of a 350 crate V8 reportedly
stroked to 383 cubic inches and stuffed with a ZZ4 roller camshaft
and aluminum heads. It's a tidy package in the neatly painted
engine bay, and with a ton of polished aluminum and chrome on the
block and accessories, it looks fantastic. A serpentine belt drive
organizes the accessories, and much effort goes into tidying up the
wiring and plumbing. The look is ultra-clean, yet serviceability is
quite good. An HEI ignition gives the block spark, a big Edelbrock
4-barrel carburetor atop an Edelbrock aluminum intake makes the
power, long-tube headers help it breathe, and an aluminum radiator
keeps it cool. Power steering, 4-wheel disc brakes, and an upgraded
suspension with newer shocks all around mean that it drives more
like a Camaro than a wagon. You can see in the pictures that the
chassis is highly detailed and incredibly solid. A 700R4 4-speed
automatic transmission powers a 10-bolt posi-traction rear end, and
with sensible gearing inside, it just loafs along at highway
speeds. Gorgeous 15-inch Coys are a new twist on an old favorite
and wear 225/75/15 Kumho radials with plenty of grips.
Every bit as amazing as it looks, this classic car makes everyone
else stop what they're doing and stare. The good news is that it
drives even better than it looks. Call today!
