[Bicknell_Welding]

A few days ago I posted a few pics of my dads old nomad. (the double chrome nomad). The next day I received an email from Bruce Turcotte, and later had a phone conversation, that has lead us to the possibility that his friend owns it today. There's way too much in common for it not to be the same car. Although without being able to supply a vin number on my end.... I'm pretty comfortable saying this is the one. I had a chance to meet with Bruce and the current owner yesterday, both of which are great guys. I'm hoping to get a chance to see the car in person, as well as reunite my dad with it. The 56 was one of my dads first cars, and probably his favorite.

I bought a 56 post recently, and it lead me to this site. Had I not been feeling nostalgic, this would have never happened.

Thank you Bruce
Thank you Chuck
Thank you TriFive.com

 

[MadMooks]

That's great. Good luck with ur pursuit. Would love the opportunity to find my dads 57 nomad.

 

[TheHotrodHandyman]

Here are some of the things in common between the two cars;
1) Both cars were originally Sherwood Green & India Ivory
2) Both cars had the optional color matched green interior instead of the standard charcoal/ivory interior
3) Both were originally from the Boston area
4) Both cars had double chrome trim on the quarters early on
5) Both cars spent some time in NJ in the 60's
6) Both cars were originally V8 cars
7) Both were originally P/G cars

Given the low production of the Nomad the chances that there were more than one in a 15 mile radius with these similarities are slim to none. There appears to be only about 5-6 years in the late 60's that has "yet" to be accounted for but we are working on that.

 

[mr 265]

Cool story ,,never seen the double chrome before ,,very different ,,,

 

[nad427]

Too bad it still don't have the double chrome just so your dad could recognize it better, but it sure looks good now the way it is though!

Hopefully it's still in running shape. Wouldn't it be so very cool for the owner to pull up and give your dad a ride around town? Man, what an event for a chapter in a guys life!

 

[TheHotrodHandyman]

Too bad it still don't have the double chrome just so your dad could recognize it better, but it sure looks good now the way it is though!

Hopefully it's still in running shape. Wouldn't it be so very cool for the owner to pull up and give your dad a ride around town? Man, what an event for a chapter in a guys life!

It is very much in running shape, I completed the resto in 2008 and travel with its current owners to many shows during the summer months. There are pictures of the upper set of holes that were welded up during the resto that the OP saw yesterday.

 

[nad427]

It is very much in running shape, I completed the resto in 2008 and travel with its current owners to many shows during the summer months. There are pictures of the upper set of holes that were welded up during the resto that the OP saw yesterday.

VERY cool. I sure hope the OP post's some pics of his dad's face while in the car. What a cool story.

Great job on the car by the way. Not completely stock (wheels), but not over the top either.

 

[TheHotrodHandyman]

VERY cool. I sure hope the OP post's some pics of his dad's face while in the car. What a cool story.

Great job on the car by the way. Not completely stock (wheels), but not over the top either.

The car is pretty much an "old school" hotrod. Has a 327/365 with a Muncie M22 along with a black tuck and roll interior. The current colors are 56 colors, Matador Red & India Ivory. Stock suspension with a CPP 500 box and a disc brake conversion. One real "trick" thing about it is the power brake system, It is a GM Hydroboost from a 1 ton truck that was made to fit on a Treadle Vac firewall bracket LONG before the hydroboost kit was available for these cars.

 

[Bicknell_Welding]

VERY cool. I sure hope the OP post's some pics of his dad's face while in the car. What a cool story.

The cars in storage, so that won't be until spring most likely. But the sound of my dad's voice when I told him will stick with me for a long time.

 

['56 Sedan Delivery]

Good story about this Nomad.:tu

What's the story on this "double chrome"???
Was it some "back in the day" option?

 

[Bicknell_Welding]

Not a factory option, just something he did on his own. I don't know that he invented the idea. But I've never seen another. Although someone here says they had done it to a hardtop. My dad bought another set of quarter chrome and flipped them on the opposite sides. And ditched the hockey sticks. Between the before and after paint pics, it looks like it was trimmed and fitted better

 

[Chevyragtop57]

Great story . Mike

 

[Jalapeno]

One real "trick" thing about it is the power brake system, It is a GM Hydrovac booster from a 1 ton truck that was made to fit on a Treadle Vac firewall bracket LONG before the hydrovac kit was available for these cars.

I've never heard of a kit to fit a large diameter Hydrovac to a Treadle-Vac mount bracket Bruce, great idea. Do you have any pics of the installation?

I've always understood that Hydrovacs were available as a Dealer installed accessory beginning in the early 50s. The 55 Accessories Installation Manual shows just such a kit. I would have to look but I think the earlier Accessories Manuals show kits too.

 

[TheHotrodHandyman]

I've never heard of a kit to fit a large diameter Hydrovac to a Treadle-Vac mount bracket Bruce, great idea. Do you have any pics of the installation?

I've always understood that Hydrovacs were available as a Dealer installed accessory beginning in the early 50s. The 55 Accessories Installation Manual shows just such a kit. I would have to look but I think the earlier Accessories Manuals show kits too.

My bad, It is a Hydroboost and not a Hydrovac. :hammer:

I may have a picture of the final install, I'll take a look and post it here

 

[nad427]

The car is pretty much an "old school" hotrod. Has a 327/365 with a Muncie M22 along with a black tuck and roll interior.

I really like what you did.

It's sad to watch it happen, but old school car builds are rapidly disappearing. The day that some goofball puts 20's on a gasser is when it's time to puke.

 

[carls 56]

good read, thanks for sharing. :anim_25:

 

[Big Bob]

kkkkkkkkk for posting. Enjoyed reading. :tu :tu :anim_25:

 

[Zoomin]

Pretty interesting take on the trim. I kinda like it.

 

[TheHotrodHandyman]

I really like what you did.

It's sad to watch it happen, but old school car builds are rapidly disappearing. The day that some goofball puts 20's on a gasser is when it's time to puke.

The build was what the current owner wanted it to be when he purchased it in 1972 and he stuck with that plan until it was completed in 2008. The Keystones were purchased shortly after he purchased the car and are on it today.