1955 CHEVROLET Nomad 4.3 V8 3MT (162 HP)

Vehicle Overview

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.