For a station wagon that was built in fewer than 23,000 examples almost 70 years ago, the Chevrolet Nomad has quite the massive cult following. This explains why, unlike its Tri-Five siblings, the Nomad is more common as a restored classic than a barn find right now. And many of those restored wagons are actually restomods stuffed with massively powerful V8s engines. Like this candy orange example from 1955.
One of only 8,530 units built that year (and not as many survivors), this Nomad is as wild as restomods get. While it retains all the iconic Nomad features front and rear, it lost a lot of chrome in the process. The side trim and both the bumpers are now finished in body color, while the door handles and the airplane emblem on the hood are gone.
Normally, body-colored bumpers wouldn't look very good on a Nomad in a factory color, but this long roof is painted in the most eye-catching candy orange hue out there. And it all comes together nicely in a visual package that will break a lot of necks.
The wagon also sits much lower than stock, but it's the wheels that set it apart from its factory siblings. While 1955 Nomads usually ride on dish-style wheels wrapped in white-wall tires, this restomod was designed with drag racing in mind. The front wheel arches hide skinny wheels, while the rear end flexes the meatiest rubber you can fit on a Nomad without cutting the fenders. But unlike a full-fledged dragster, this wagon features a set of stylish, high-sheen rims.
The candy orange theme continues inside the cabin, where it trickles through the dashboard and the upper door panels. The former also sports custom, digital gauges and a billet aluminum steering wheel that matches the wheels. There's also a custom center console with orange accents and authentic Hawaiian koa wood with a pronounced flame. The same trim adorns the dashboard.
The standard seats have been swapped too, with the front compartment fitted with a pair of bucket seats. Both of them are wrapped in Italian leather, as is the custom rear bench seat. The modernization goes beyond visual elements, as this Nomad also comes with a tilting steering column, power windows, power locks, and, get this, a keyless entry system. I guess that explains why there aren't any door handles on the outside.
Not impressed yet? Well, you'll definitely be once you hear what's under the hood. Instead of the old 4.3-liter V8, this Nomad relies for oomph on a massive, 7.7-liter unit built by Beck Racing Engines. It's been put together using custom, high-quality, race-spec components and it sends a whopping 625 horsepower to the rear wheels. That's more than most factory muscle cars available today. A Turbo 400 gearbox does all the shifting, likely enabling this wagon to run the quarter-mile in less than 10 seconds.
If you want to find out just how quick it is, this flashy grocery-getter is up for sale. Auctioned off by eBay seller "authenticcollectiblesandmore," it has attracted a high bid of $42,055 with almost five days to go. There's a "reserve not met" status on it though, so the seller might not let it go for less than $50K. Whether you bid on it or not, hit the play button below to hear that big V8 roar.
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. Full profile
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