Tangelo Pearl 1955 Chevy Nomad To Cross Auction Block

by Brett Hatfield
— Dec 16, 2021

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The Chevy Nomad two-door station wagon debuted for the 1955 model year. The Nomad name was first seen on a 1954 General Motors Motorama concept car developed under GM styling chief Harley Earl. The Motorama Nomad had the front end of a 1954 Corvette with a two-door wagon body.

The 1955 model year would see the Chevy Nomad adopt the A-body platform, joining the Bel Air lineup as the top-of-the-line wagon offering. The Nomad had the same roofline as the 1954 Motorama show car, and the two-door body design was billed as a sport wagon. With a base price of $2,571, the Nomad was one of Chevy’s most expensive offerings outside of the Corvette.

The Chevy Nomad received the new 265 cubic-inch V8 as standard equipment. Though the Nomad had radiused wheel openings, and wore more subdued chrome trim in an effort to emphasize its roofline, it did share most of the other Bel Air badging. Interior trim was also similar to the rest of the Bel Air line with interior carpeting and cloth seats. The rear seats folded flat, and the cargo area was accessible through the two-piece split tailgate.

No matter what the GM styling team dreamed up in the 1950s, none of them could have imagined this custom Chevy Nomad. The product of a four-year build completed in 2018, the Nomad is built on a custom Art Morrison chassis and finished in a stunning House of Kolor Tangelo Pearl with a white roof. A 6.2-liter LS3 GM Performance crate engine producing 525 horsepower is backed by a GM Performance Supermatic four-speed automatic transmission and Art Morrison nine-inch rear differential. A Wilwood Superlite big disc brake kit tends to stopping duties. The Nomad rolls on custom Chip Foose wheels and Nitto Invo performance tires.

Inside the Chevy Nomad is awash in a full custom tan interior by Gillin Custom. A highly polished Flaming River tilt steering column is topped by a Billet Specialties custom steering wheel. Dakota Digital VHX Classic gauges keep the driver informed, while Vintage Air keeps the cabin comfy. The interior is accented by recessed lighting throughout. A Bluetooth-capable Rockford Fosgate sound system features a hidden receiver and subwoofers, providing an immersive entertainment experience.

The engine bay of the Chevy Nomad has been fully customized with a smoothed firewall and fenders covered in a glossy coat of Tangelo Pearl. The LS powerplant has been dressed for show with polished billet, chrome, and painted trim. The 6.2 liter has 525 horsepower on tap, a custom polished intake manifold, a polished serpentine belt drive system, and braided lines that have been tucked for a cleaner appearance. Spent gasses are exhaled through a polished Jim Cook Racing exhaust system.