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1955 Chevrolet Nomad Shows Off Rare Color Combo, Modern Surprise Under the Hood

Built in just 22,897 units over three years, the Chevrolet Nomad is the rarest version of the iconic Tri-Five. As a result, it's usually more desirable and even more expensive than the Bel Air Sport Coupe. Especially if the Nomad in question is a Concours-ready, frame-off restoration like this bronze over beige example here.
1955 Chevrolet Nomad restomod 21 photos
Photo: Hemmings Auctions
1955 Chevrolet Nomad restomod1955 Chevrolet Nomad restomod1955 Chevrolet Nomad restomod1955 Chevrolet Nomad restomod1955 Chevrolet Nomad restomod1955 Chevrolet Nomad restomod1955 Chevrolet Nomad restomod1955 Chevrolet Nomad restomod1955 Chevrolet Nomad restomod1955 Chevrolet Nomad restomod1955 Chevrolet Nomad restomod1955 Chevrolet Nomad restomod1955 Chevrolet Nomad restomod1955 Chevrolet Nomad restomod1955 Chevrolet Nomad restomod1955 Chevrolet Nomad restomod1955 Chevrolet Nomad restomod1955 Chevrolet Nomad restomod1955 Chevrolet Nomad restomod1955 Chevrolet Nomad restomod
One of only 8,530 units built in 1955, this Nomad was lucky enough to get a thorough restoration rather than spend its retirement locked up in a barn. It also received a few modern upgrades in the process so what you're looking at is actually a hot-rodded classic.

But before we talk about the oily bits that make this wagon a modern daily driver, let's take a look at its fabulous paint job. Yes, it's not as flashy as the Regal Turquoise, Sea-Mist Green, and the Gipsy Red hues that Chevrolet offered in 1955, but this Shoreline Beige body with an Autumn Bronze roof is a rare combination on the Tri-Five. That's because it's a one-year, 1955-exclusive option.

You won't find many Nomads in this color combo out there and whoever repainted this wagon did a tremendous job. The flawless paint and the chrome trim, which is in tip-top shape from the nose to the rear, make this Nomad look like it just left the Chevrolet factory. The exterior is as stock as they get, save for the wheels, which are of the Chevrolet Rally variety. But they look great on the Nomad and provide a subtle hint about what lurks under the hood.

In pure Nomad fashion, the interior sports the same colors as the exterior. The car comes with a brown dashboard and carpets, beige seat upholstery with the Nomad-specific "waffle" pattern, and two-tone door panels that combine both hues.

The cabin packs a few modern surprises too, such as a power-operated front bench seat, power windows, a tilting steering column, a newer A/C system, and Dakota digital gauges in the instrument cluster. The cool thing is that none of these add-ons ruin the Nomad's vintage vibe.

Moving onto what makes this Nomad move, the original 265-cubic-inch (4.3-liter) small-block has been replaced with a larger Chevrolet crate engine. There's not a lot of info on it, but it's a 350-cubic-inch (5.7-liter) mill, and based on the way it looks, it's probably GM's 350 HO.

This crate engine is officially rated at 333 horsepower and 381 pound-feet (517 Nm) of torque, which is way more than what the original 265 was capable of. For reference, the latter was good for up to 180 horsepower and 260 pound-feet (353 Nm) of torque back in 1955.

However, it could actually be a bit more powerful since it also features an Edelbrock intake manifold with a Carter AFB four-barrel carburetor. The engine is practically new, with only 7,000 miles (11,265 km) on it since the swap.

The V8 mates to a Turbo Hydra-Matic 700R4, an automatic gearbox that GM fitted in various vehicles from the early 1980s all the way to 2012. Chevy applications for this transmission include the Corvette, Impala, and Camaro, but also some trucks and SUVs. The chassis, which looks sparkling clean, boasts even more upgrades, including new suspension bits and power front disc brakes.

This perfect-looking 1955 Nomad is being auctioned off via Hemmings. In case you're wondering why would anyone choose to part ways with such a beauty, the seller claims that he has too many cars in his collection. So, if you want to take this stylish grocery-getter home, bidding is at $52,500 as of this writing. Reserve hasn't been met though, which isn't surprising given that Concours-condition Nomads can cost as much as $100,000.
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About the author: Ciprian Florea
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Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer.
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