Vehicle Description
There was a time when this 1956 Chevrolet Nomad Bel Air Restomod
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 custom wagon gets a lot of things right: an
attention-grabbing two-tone paint job, an upgraded A/C interior,
and a fully sorted 383 Stroker V8 drivetrain that offers more power
and more comfort than you'd get from any factory in the 1950's.
Take your time and drink this Tri-5 wagon in, but don't take too
long - slick Tri-5's like this never last long...
The dominating color on this beauty is pretty close to the factory
shade of Matador Red offered in 1956, and the contrasting white
insert looks just like India Ivory, giving this restored Nomad a
very dynamic look. Add in the bright chrome and smoke-tinted
windows, and you've got a one of the better-looking driver-grade
wagons in our inventory. 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 design that practically begged
for customization. Thankfully, the builders of this '56 didn't get
too carried away, opting instead for mild enhancements coupled with
a slightly more aggressive stance atop those shiny wheels, and when
combined with the Nomad's traditional styling elements the curb
appeal is off-the-charts. The restoration focused on getting the
basics done right first, since nobody in their right mind would
think they could improve the look of that elegant factory
sheetmetal, and as a result the underlying bodywork looks great.
Tight gaps, straight panels, and uniform, glossy single-stage paint
mean this wagon gets long stares everywhere it goes. It's not
perfect - remember it was built to be driven, not shown - and there
are a few demerits that we've located, but nothing too serios to
detract from the overall killer look. Bottom line, if you're
looking for a dialed-in, strong driver-quality Nomad with a ton of
flash, then this just might be your huckleberry. All that upscale
Bel Air trim (which was the only way you could get a Nomad)
certainly helps in the looks department, including the big bumpers,
wide grille, those vertical trim pieces on the back hatch, and the
dramatic side spear, and all the remaining brightwork and badging
has been polished up to a high shine that sparkles in the sun.
There's more awesomeness inside where all the custom work was
tastefully completed to a high standard and always with the comfort
of the passengers in mind. Sculpted black buckets were swapped-in
from a Camaro and are far sportier than anything a Tri-5 came
equipped with from the factory, and they're split by a custom
center console complete with extra storage and cup holders. The
door panels, rear bench seat, headliner, and 80/20 tight-loop
carpet are all more traditional kit, and although things inside are
a bit more mismatched than the exterior, the cabin is still a
comfortable place in which to spend some time. A black wrap around
the original, dual ring steering wheel follows the theme set by the
black floormats atop the red carpets, and if that's not your style
it can easily be change in seconds. Thankfully, the steering was
installed on an upgraded tilt column to provide extra room for the
driver, and the Classic Instruments gauges just beyond it keep a
closer eye on the upgraded drivetrain. A top-of-the-line Clarion
AM/FM/CD head unit powers upgraded speakers stashed inside the kick
panels, and it teams with an aftermarket A/C system that keeps the
cabin nice and cold. There are a couple eclectic parts inside that
maybe not everyone will love - the carbon fiver gearshift knob,
skulls on the door lock knob, the off-colored upholstery on the
bench seat - but like some of the other things we mentioned, they
could all be easily changed should your preferences be more
traditional. The options list rounds out with cruise control, power
windows, and seatbelts up front, and there's plenty of storage out
back.
The engine is still technically a small block Chevy V8, but the
built 383 Stroker V8 is a far cry from the original 265. It fits
beautifully inside the engine bay and thanks to upgraded hardware
inside and out, with proper maintenance it can potentially be as
reliable as your daily driver (and quite a bit more powerful). It
runs great with a Holley 4-barrel atop a polished Edelbrock intake,
serpentine belt system mounted with billet pulleys and brackets,
and long-tube headers at the flanks. Satin-black Chevrolet valve
covers look slick and match the inner fenders, and the chrome
open-element air cleaner matches the shine piece on the firewall.
The engine is matched to a 700R4 4-speed automatic overdrive
transmission feeding into a 10-bolt rear end with a reported 3.23
gearing - a HUGE part of the reason this car is such a pleasure to
drive - while the H-pipe dual exhaust system give this classic an
amazing soundtrack. The undercarriage could certainly use some
work, as there's a good deal of surface scale that can be seen in
our pictures, but the suspension has been readied for the road with
aftermarket A-arms, a sway bar, and 2-inch drop spindles up front,
along with lowering blocks and upgraded shocks in the rear. Power
steering and power 4-wheel disc brakes drastically improve the ride
experience and those flashy 17-inch Cragar chrome wheels wrapped in
225/50/17 front and 255/50/17 rear Nittos are the perfect
endcaps.
With great looks, a wonderful color combination, and that timeless
Nomad appeal, this custom beauty delivers in a big way. Call
now!
