Antique & Classic Cars Blog

We’ve all seen the amazing concept cars crafted for the dazzling Motorama shows in the 1950s. Manufacturers teased us with these cars and solicited public feedback, but seldom did they build the vehicle in display form. A lot of these magical cars went back to a Detroit special vehicles department and disappeared—crushed at top brass instruction, or maybe scuttled out a back door to become a subject of myth and lore.

Such was the case with the original Nomad show car, crafted from the first generation Corvette. Evidence suggests the original is gone forever. But this one is very, very, very close. Zane Zander has gathered every detail and photograph he could gumshoe on this car. This is his loving recreation.

With a few minor compromises—air conditioning, shift knob (the original had no evident shifter–and no engine), steering wheel center—this car is as identical from every angle, including the ribbed top, chrome-stripped tailgate, and unequal-split seat, as Zander could make it.

A few people ask whether it’s a Blue Flame six, the original Corvette engine, under the hood. Nope. It’s a small-block Chevy V8. The show car had no engine at all though, so call no foul. This is one stunning tribute to the true predecessor of all those fine Bel Air-style Nomads oozin’ cool at the fairgrounds.

This entry was posted on Sunday, June 24th, 2007 at 12:20 pm and is filed under Back to the 50s, Events. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.