CHEVROLET Nomad 1955-1957 Photos, engines & full specs

Designed for Detroit's 1954 Motorama event, the Nomad was one of the most expensive Chevrolets on the market, except the Corvette.

When a designer dreamed, a miracle car may happen, and that was the case with the Nomad. It was a true shooting-brake long before other cars could claim the rights for that styling. Chevrolet made the two-door station wagon a fancy vehicle, and people loved it.

It was hard not to notice that the car resembled the Bel-Air lineup with its wrapped-around chromed bumper and broad grille. The chromed rings around the headlights and other shiny details on the bodywork made the Nomad a special vehicle. Its two-door construction with frameless windows and split side windows for the trunk and rear seats area were unique on the market, apart from its sibling, the Pontiac Safari. A split opening tailgate created a sitting area with a roof over those seated there in the back of the vehicle.

Inside, the Nomad featured a 50/50 split-folding front bench good for up to three occupants. The carmaker installed one of the most remarkable instrument clusters on the market, with a triangular-shaped speedometer and two gauges on the top. A two-tone leather interior was offered as an option for the cloth upholstery fitted as standard.

Chevrolet offered the Nomad with the 265 or the 283 engines (3.9-liters and 4.3-liters) paired to a standard three-speed automatic gearbox.