From its first appearance as a Corvette at GM’s 1954 Waldorf Astoria Motorama, Chevrolet’s dramatic Nomad station wagon was a big hit. It was introduced to the regular passenger line in 1955, and its influence extended far beyond the modest total of 8,386 units built that year. This remained true over the car’s three-year lifespan, even though production actually diminished slightly year by year.

The design originated in Harley Earl’s styling section at General Motors, specifically in a special studio headed by Carl Renner. The show car was built on a 1953 station wagon chassis, with the body rendered in fiberglass, as, of course, all Corvettes were and have been ever since. Its hallmark was the gracefully forward-slanted B-pillar, which was echoed in the rear contour and was adorned with seven vertical chrome strips. The top had subtle crosswise flutes, which were the work of Renner himself.

Production as part of the regular passenger line required steel construction and a higher beltline. Although the show car had an electrically lowered rear window, the production Nomad used a liftgate and employed a die-cast frame to allow for thinner pillars, which resulted in better visibility. The show car’s full cutouts were retained for the production model’s rear wheels. This was so sufficiently prominent that side trim was limited to a short molding from the headlight to the front door.

This handsome Nomad has been meticulously restored, with no detail or expense spared. It was acquired for the Andrews Collection from the estate of a local discerning collector, for whom the restoration was performed. It has accrued only break-in mileage since completion.

The car is somewhat unusual, as it has both power steering and power brakes, along with the standard 162-brake horsepower small block Chevy V-8 and three-speed manual transmission. Other equipment found on the car includes a Wonder Bar signal-seeking AM radio, an electric clock, a heater-defroster, E-Z-Eye tinted glass, and factory wire wheel covers.

The quality of the restoration is exceptional, with no flaws to be seen or unseen. It is painted in the original Shoreline Beige over Gypsy Red, while the interior features the correct matching, red-and-white, waffle-pattern vinyl. It also comes with a build book for the complete restoration. One would have to wander far and wide to find another Nomad rivaling this beautiful ’55 Chevrolet.