Vehicle Description
1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad
If you've ever had the pleasure of driving a Tri-Five, (55-57),
Chevy, you know how great the view is from behind the wheel. The
wide curved glass windshield and the high seating position make the
outside world into a panorama, like a widescreen TV that you can
drive right through. A Bel Air or 210 is almost the world's best
road trip car. Almost? Enter the Chevy Nomad. It's got all the
style and chrome of the famous Bel Air, but that station wagon rear
makes you want to throw a surfboard on the roof, a friend or five
in the back, and spend an entire summer, or maybe a lifetime just
traveling the country watching the world over that chrome jet on
the hood.
1955 when men were men and cars were...well big steel and chrome
sculpted into iconic designs, that's what! For consignment, from
1955, the Chevrolet Nomad and this low number production "milestone
car" made in a mere 8,530 examples is now gracing our main
showroom. Perhaps it was the desire to own a sporty two door, or
the practicality of a wagon, or maybe both? Either way, a hen's
tooth in beautiful mid 50's design is right here for the taking.
The year was 1967 when our consignor was first introduced to the
Nomad. His friend owned one and asked for help stripping it down
for new paint before he left for Vietnam. It was at that moment our
consignor knew that he wanted a Nomad one day. That day came more
than 30 years later in March of 2001 when he found this car in a
classified ad. She was customized and turned into a drag car but it
was the real deal. 3 years in our consignor's home garage with the
help of a bodyman who would work "after hours", then off to a
professional shop for the finishing touches culminated in 2018 and
the hard work paid off. A Top 50 winner at the Adirondack Nationals
and 2017 Nomad Nationals winner for interior design and upholstery.
All in gleaming in Pacifica Blue, this Nomad Post feature car is
ready, willing and able to become your dream come true.
Exterior
A miles deep application of Pacifica Blue Metallic is showing over
straight and rust-free steel panels of this 2-door wagon. Rakish is
the only way to describe the Nomad, with its hardtop door-glass
framing and sloping rear quarters that parallels the angle of the
wide B-pillars. Styling touches include a fluted roof, wraparound
rear side glass, and rear-wheel cutouts. From the cowl back, Nomads
share little sheet metal with other Chevrolets, except for the
basic floor pan. The doors differ because Nomads lack a beltline
dip, and quarter panels are unique due to the wheel cutouts. Near
perfect trimmings start atop the chrome trimmed eyebrow fenders and
race rearward before dying off toward the rear of each front
door.The front is showing that you have arrived with itschrome egg
crate Ferrari-esque grille and imposing chrome bumper with guards.
High atop the hood a streaking jet ornament dresses the wayfor the
center hood line that dies off at the base of the crystal clear
glass and shiny trimmings of the wraparound front windshield. Up
high is the long flutedroof and panoramic glass, again crystal
clear with flawless trim gives you and your passengers a view of
the world as you streak by. At the back, with its tailgate and
rocket nose styled tail lights, both invite you to stay for a
while. The rear window and lower metal gate do a clamshell motion
and magically separate for full access to the cargo area of this
wagon. Spit shined and polished American Racing Torque Thrust
wheels wear deeply treaded BF Goodrich rubber in staggered
blackwall format. Just an amazing presentation here thanks to Sean
Wood at Woody's Auto Body in Leicester, MA
Interior
Summon up Bill Haley and the Comets as truly 1955 colors are all in
the inside. Light blue dimple finish vinyl flows downward to a
darker blue vinyl for the tops of the door panels, and smooth white
clean vinyl below. This all crescendos with a square stamped
stainless panel to fill out the door lowers. The seats take on a
life of their own with near flawless white leather making up the
entirety of the front split and rear full bench seats. Some
two-tone blue inserts, lighter blue at the top flowing to dark blue
ovals then streak down and continue on the lower cushions. The rear
seat mimics the front but without the pristine white mounting tub
and removable cupholderequipped armrest and is foldable to expand
the rear cargo area. A dual "fan style" front dash houses the
speedometer and supporting white face gauges by Shark and switches
on the driver's side appear for the lights and wipers. An AM/FM/CD
stereo is mounted within the factory radio location in a panel in
the center, covered in a multiple stamped bowtie pattern in the
aluminum strip. On the passenger's side is the second "fan" mesh
metalhouses a speaker and below a circular working clock. The Bel
Air badge in gold metal in your grandmother's handwriting is seen
attached to the black mesh. A Vintage Air controller for the heater
and AC mimics the factory unit and a 1959 Impala style steering
wheel is fronting this dash. Up above is a beautiful white tight
headliner with panels delineated by chromed ribs which run the
length of the long roof. On the floor is dark blue carpet showing
nary a smudge or stain. Rounding out our tour is the clamshell rear
gate accessiblecargo area with more clean dark blue carpeting and
white side panels. A huge shout out to Seamless Customs out of
Leicester, MA for this amazing upholstery work.
Drivetrain
A newer genre Chevrolet Tuned Port Injection 350ci V8 now replaces
the original engine within the surgicallyclean engine bay. This
mill is fed by EFI and traditional Chevrolet Orange valve covers
also add some bling. A 700R4 automatic transmission is on the back
for those long highway cruises and a 3.36 geared rear axle is way
back to turn the tires. All is looking good with no corrosion on
the rebuilt/refinished parts under this hood.
Undercarriage
Break out the mirrors because this underside is just as clean as
the topside. The original frame was filled with Evercoat
Metal-2-Metal to give the look of a one piece California frame.
Then the frame was smoothed and painted in a gray metal flake
followed by a healthy dose of clear. Clean and mirror shined
Pacifica Blue floors, rockers and crossmembers remain rust free and
like new. Speaking of rust...there is NONE to be seen within a mile
of this car. Nice black independent front suspension with coil
springs and power disc brakes work with leaf springs and power drum
brakesin the rear to provide the ride and stopping power. A like
new H pipe dual exhaust with chambered mufflers is seen snaking its
way rearward from the drip free engine bottom.
Drive-Ability
A quick starter for the newer 350, and the test track proved no
match for this car. Straight panic stopping, smooth acceleration
and shifting, and better than the factory ever could provide 1955
Nomad handling. All good on this test drive with the exception of
the AC not blowing cold, the horn not tooting and the under dash
electricwiper motor making contact with the gauge cluster making
the gauges pulse toward the driver. This final fault has been named
by my cohort and partner in crime as "The Heartbeat Of
Chevrolet".
A 16 year long restoration by a consignor who is beyond passionate
about Nomads and the details required to construct one. Yes, there
are a few faults, but overall this car is a proven show winner and
has been the cover and feature car of the Nomad Post in 2018. This
is a serious one car parade when you drive down main street
snapping necks along the way ...for more information please contact
the seller.