1957 Chevrolet Nomad

Description

Before we go into the details on this spectacular 1957 Chevy Nomad (and there are many, many juicy details), please take a few moments to look at the photos...

Back? Good, because you can see this is one heck of a car. Professionally built, there's not a single surface or component that hasn't been tweaked, polished, or restored in some way, delivering what might be the ultimate rod for the family. The '57 Nomad is arguably the best-looking of all the shoebox Chevys, so it didn't make sense to modify the sheet metal in any major way. Instead, the builders spent the time and money (quite a lot of both based on the restoration photos and excellent results) on getting everything as straight as possible, then covered it in layer after layer of glossy, deep Burgundy Metallic paint. They also restored/replaced all of the excellent Bel Air trim and reinstalled it in all the correct places, and the dazzling high-profile look of this Tri-5 wagon is off-the-charts today. As you likely saw in the photos, the surfaces are so smooth and flat that reflections show minimal distortion, and the brilliant shine of the modern urethane paint is miles deep out in the sunlight. It's not perfect, and it's been driven a decent amount since it was completed back in 2014, but despite some minor imperfections (most of which could be remedied with a buff-and-wax), this is still a great-looking, higher-end, driver-quality paint job. The big chrome bumpers, ornate front grille, hood 'rockets,' profile stainless trim, and anodized panels on the quarters all add a bright element to the color combination and prove that a stock-looking Tri-5 still has plenty of flashes. Even the slats on the rear hatch were redone and polished to a blinding shine, as was the trim on the famous quarter fins all around the wagon's many windows. The dual exhaust ports below the rear bumper preview the upgraded drivetrain that powers this beauty.

There's more awesomeness inside where all the custom work is so memorable yet still so tastefully done that it's hard to find a better interior in our inventory. The baby-butt soft, light tan leather upholstery has an incredibly high-end look, elegantly stitched over the power buckets up front, the matching rear bench, the custom center console, and matching door panels at the flanks. Slightly darker carpets with plush weave and nap were installed to insulate the floors, whereas the headliner was redone to factory specs with matching light tan leather and chrome slats. The factory dash was painted Burgundy Metallic and lined with anodized aluminum to match the exterior theme. In contrast, the factory gauge bezel was filled with upgraded Dakota Digital units that keep a closer eye on the Nomad's upgraded drivetrain. Of course, it's also got all the modern conveniences like cold Vintage Air A/C, a polished tilt column and wood-rimmed billet steering wheel, a Lokar shifter and cup holders inside the center console, and a Custom Autosound AM/FM/AUX/USB retro-stereo that manages upgraded speakers inside the cabin. A digital clock was added to the dashboard, the pedals were replaced with polished billet pieces, and the big center console added storage and stretched back to the rear bench, providing a set of cup holders for those passengers. This Nomad was designed with the entire family in mind, which is very rare in a classic car. In the back, there's a finished cargo bay that's probably too nice to use for hauling anything, but it's fully insulated with the same plush carpeting that matches and protects the cabin.

Under the hood, it's still got Chevy power, although loads more than stock delivered in the form of a 350 crate V8 reportedly stroked to 383 cubic inches and stuffed with a ZZ4 roller camshaft and aluminum heads. It's a tidy package in the neatly painted engine bay, and with a ton of polished aluminum and chrome on the block and accessories, it looks fantastic. A serpentine belt drive organizes the accessories, and much effort goes into tidying up the wiring and plumbing. The look is ultra-clean, yet serviceability is quite good. An HEI ignition gives the block spark, a big Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor atop an Edelbrock aluminum intake makes the power, long-tube headers help it breathe, and an aluminum radiator keeps it cool. Power steering, 4-wheel disc brakes, and an upgraded suspension with newer shocks all around mean that it drives more like a Camaro than a wagon. You can see in the pictures that the chassis is highly detailed and incredibly solid. A 700R4 4-speed automatic transmission powers a 10-bolt posi-traction rear end, and with sensible gearing inside, it just loafs along at highway speeds. Gorgeous 15-inch Coys are a new twist on an old favorite and wear 225/75/15 Kumho radials with plenty of grips.

Every bit as amazing as it looks, this classic car makes everyone else stop what they're doing and stare. The good news is that it drives even better than it looks. Call today!