.

the car junkie daily magazine.

.

BangShift Project Files: Death, Resurrection And Life For A 1955 Chevy Nomad


BangShift Project Files: Death, Resurrection And Life For A 1955 Chevy Nomad

There is nothing sadder than seeing the decrepit shell of a car that is rotting to the ground. You often wonder about it, what misfortuned led what once was someone’s brand new pride and joy to the back corner of someone’s lot, in preparation for a long sit. Did a cylinder drop? Maybe the transmission called it a day. Worst of all is when a car simply gets old, and is sent off to the back forty to sit because it isn’t the shiny new thing anymore. Instead of being crashed, or crushed, or rebuilt a thousand times over, that car sits in limbo, waiting for a fate of some kind. Normally, sooner or later the ramp truck of doom drags off the carcass and eventually that once-sparkling new car becomes a new Campbell’s soup can. But rarely, the chance for a second life occurs, and in the case of this 1955 Chevrolet Nomad, not only is it back, but it’s back with a whole new attitude.

nomad7 nomad4

This Chevrolet’s story really begins a couple of years ago. Found by Paul Nichols, who had a vision and has no fear of rust whatsoever, the Nomad and a parts car were purchased for $2500. After cutting away the small forest that had sprung up around the car, it was loaded up and taken to it’s new home. To say that there was a bit of work needed would be the understatement of the century…Paul could’ve Flinstoned the Nomad around if he felt like it due to the near-complete lack of floor. As one of 8,305 Nomad wagons produced in 1955, most people in the car world would scream “Restoration!” at the top of their lungs. Paul, however, had a different vision. He grew up attending street rod shows and noted that the cars that got the most attention weren’t the pretty and perfect hot rods, but the ones that had a bit of age, dirt, and most important, use showing for the world to see.

nomad6

The running gear is pretty solid: a worked-over 350 and a 700R4, and other than patching en masse and the creation of a new floor, the character of the car drug out of the trees is still present. Last year he ran Drag Week with it, sleeping in the car from track to track, and sure enough has ran this year’s program as well. The Chevy wasn’t restored. Nichols didn’t sweat things like the missing trim or the missing interior. Hell, he didn’t even sweat the missing metal. There isn’t a ton of money thrown at this Nomad. He used his skill as a fabricator to put together a car that is quick enough and reliable enough for him to go out and have fun in. That’s the goal of the whole exercise, and winding up with a cool solid-axle ’55 Nomad that turns rat-rod guys envious in the process is just the icing on the cake.

Thread Link: 55 Nomad RustFest

nomad 1


  • Share This
  • Pinterest
  • 0

8 thoughts on “BangShift Project Files: Death, Resurrection And Life For A 1955 Chevy Nomad

  1. 75Duster

    I saw the Nomad in person at the kick off of Drag Week last Sunday, as soon as I’m done here on Bangshift I’ll be heading back out to Gateway Motorsports Park to hopefully see it at the heads up racing portion of Drag Week. Cool car, thanks Bangshift for giving me the back story on this car.

  2. Ted

    Am I getting old or just missing the point of the latest trend of rusty/ugly/junk cars with working drivetrains?

    Cannot get into this look, no slagging the guys who do it, but as a car guy the pride of having something clean that doesn’t parrot the previous twenty cars means something. Just like you wouldn’t leave the house with dirty, patched up clothes, why would you want to be seen in a rusty/ugly/junked up ride?

    I don’t get it.

    1. Scott

      I guess when you don’t have a money tree In your back yard and are not able to pay someone to build you a show car…. This is what you do! And Paul is one of the nicest guys you would ever meet. 2 years now he has done drag week and completed .., didn’t see you there

  3. Jay Bree

    Great story, great look, and great job on the car. I’m full in on the “old but back and running” look…

  4. Rat Rods Forever

    The trailer pic is most likely the parts car mentioned in the article. As for those that don’t get the look…there is something about an old car that’s exciting. You can see and feel its age and you know that this car has some stories to tell. If you like antique stores then you get it. I remember when I was a kid in the ’70’s, and I’d see a rusty old GTO or Roadrunner just givin’ it hell down the road – they were just old cars then, and that’s completely lost now. Every GTO or RR you see now has been restored to within an inch of its life…nothing different than what you would see if you open a history book (yawn). Maybe some fancy wheels or some bling under the hood…Don’t get me wrong – If I could afford a restored ’73 Stage 1 Buick GS (so I love Colonnade cars – sue me) I’d snap it up in a second. But old cars are just more exciting to those of us who admire patina.

Comments are closed.