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 its chrome egg crate Ferrari-esque grille and imposing chrome bumper with guards.  High atop the hood a streaking jet ornament dresses the way for 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 fluted roof 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 cupholder equipped 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 metal houses 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 accessible cargo 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 surgically clean 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 brakes in 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 electric wiper 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 to ogle a look at some 1955 tri five eye candy.

VC55T107490

V-V8
C-2400 Series BelAir
55-1955
T-Tarrytown, NY Assy Plant
107490-Sequential Unit Number

TRIM TAG

STYLE 55 1064DF-1955 BelAir Nomad 2 Door Station Wagon
BODY CL692-Cleveland Body #
TRIM 541-Beige Vinyl & Green Waffle  Pattern Vinyl
PAINT 599-Seamist Gree & Neptune Green

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.