SOLD! LOT 59 – 1957 RHD CUSTOM CHEVY NOMAD WAGON

1957 RHD Chevy Nomad Restomod

HIGHLIGHTS: – Full ground up, nut and bolt Restomod style build – Professionally converted to right hand drive – Brand new crate LS3 6.0L LS fuel injected V8 engine – Six speed manual transmission – Nine inch diff with 31 spline axles and 3.5 centre – Adjustable coil over suspension all round with four link rear end – Four-wheel power disc brakes – Rack and pinion power steering – Custom interior with air conditioning – 17” Torque Thrust wheels – Engineered for both QLD and NSW

This 1957 Chevy Nomad is a rare classic American cruiser that has been completely transformed through a ground up, nut and bolt build into a one-off custom restomod. The Nomad body style is one of the most desirable among collectors and enthusiasts not just for its sleek and unique styling but also because of its rarity. In 1957, over 1.5 million Chevrolet’s rolled off the production line with only 6,264 of those being Nomads, the lowest production number of any of the twenty different variants offered that year.

This is a Nomad like no other, the owner wanted to build a classic that maintains its visual styling and charm but would drive and perform like a modern car with a host of modern creature comforts. While the build is certainly show quality, it was built to be driven and used. The car itself was purchased by the current owner back in 2006 and rebuilt over seven years.

Starting with the body, it was removed from the chassis and sand blasted. From here any necessary repairs were made which included a full floor section and inner sils. The body itself remains stock with just the hood V deleted and the addition of a small stainless moulding on the A pillar to neaten the two-tone. The car was body worked and professionally repainted by Joscar Restorations in a two tone white over metallic blue. All of the chrome work was refinished and all of the mouldings were straightened and polished. The tail lights have been swapped to LEDs and there is a reverse camera on the rear. To complete the look there is a set of Torque Thrust wheels measuring 17×7” up front and 17×10” in the rear.

Inside, the car received a complete custom retrim in leather and suede. The first thing you will notice is that the car has been converted to right hand drive, something that was never offered in a Nomad from factory. The bare floors received Dynamat for sound and heat protection before being covered in new carpets. The seating is provided by four buckets sourced from a Commodore one tonner and neatly retrimmed. The seats are split by a full length custom centre console with centre hand brake, storage, arm rests, cup holders, aircon vents and stereo head unit neatly integrated. There is a chrome tilt column holding a billet steering wheel front and centre and a Pete’s Fab dash insert and full gauge set provide the read outs of engine vital signs. Overhead there is a new original headliner with all the roof bows and interior mouldings chromed. The windows feature all new glass and are power operated. Other creature comforts include rack and pinion power steering, power brakes, climate control air conditioning, central locking and alarm system. The whole car has been completely rewired front to back.

Open the bonnet and you will find a show worthy engine bay with custom cover disguising the brand new, crate LS2 6.0L V8 engine. The engine is a completely stock LS2 because that’s more than enough power out of the box and reliability was a big focus. The engine is pairs to a Treme T56, 6 speed manual transmission. Power is fed to the rear wheels through a nine inch diff with 3.5 ratio centre and 31 spline axles. Keeping things cool is a Mattesons polished alloy radiator incorporating twin thermo fans. Exhaust gasses escaped through custom made and coated extractors into a full stainless 2.5” exhaust including catalytic converters. The mechanical work was completed by Procar in NSW.

The underside of the car is just as nice as the top with the underside of the floors being painted body colour and a host of all new components. Pulling the car up is a set of four-wheel disc brakes with slotted and grooved rotors. Steering is provided by a power assisted Retrorack setup. Downtown Customs were tasked with sorting the suspension which was upgraded with tubular A-arms and adjustable coil overs up front and converted to a four link with adjustable coil overs and watts link in the rear.

The car has been completed for approximately 10 years now and in that time has travelled over 21,000kms. The car is mod plated and fully engineered for both QLD and NSW. There is a massive receipt file with the car along with countless images of the entire build. The owner had a website he ran during the build where wrote 75 articles about the full build over the seven years.

Car’s like this don’t come up very often and this is a very rare and desirable model that has been properly built in a restomod style to provide the best of classic styling with modern performance and reliability. You absolutely wont find another Nomad like this anywhere in the world. Be sure to register and bid if you want to be the lucky person to park this one in your garage.

FOR SALES OR REGISTRATION ASSISTANCE PLEASE CALL LOCKY MCCANN ON 0403 935 488 SEVEN82MOTORS Classics, Lowriders & Muscle Cars are based on the Gold Coast, Queensland and offer some of the most sought after cars in Australia.

Located at 2 Palings Court, Nerang on the Gold Coast. Inspections by appointment during auction and public openings/viewing as advertised.