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    AutoHunter Spotlight: 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad

    Featured on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is this 5.7-Liter Powered 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad.

    This first-year Nomad leaves little to be desired for the restomod enthusiast. It was treated to a frame-off overhaul in Regal Turquoise and comes with all the creature comforts of the modern era like power windows, power disc brakes, power steering, air conditioning, and a Custom Autosound stereo system. It is being sold by a dealer in New Braunfels, Texas, and the auction will end on Tuesday.

    Penned by General Motors designer Harley Earl, the original Nomad first came to life exactly 70 years ago in 1954 at General Motors’ “Motorama” show. Motorama has an interesting story all its own: The event first started in 1949 as a glorified auto show at the elite Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York City. In 1953, the annual show started to travel around the country, but it still started at the same hotel.

    There were 1.9 million visitors who attended the event in 1954 – the year in which the Nomad debuted. One thing that made the Nomad concept car unique was that it used the front fascia of the Corvette. By the time the car went into production for the inaugural 1955 model year, it used the “A-body” platform which underpinned other GM cars of the time.

    The restoration of today’s featured car appears to have left no stone unturned. Even the exterior lighting was upgraded to modern LED, and the 20-inch Ridler Style 607 wheels give a more aggressive stance to this souped-up station wagon. The car will come with a binder of photographs that chronicle the restoration process. Also provided is a four-minute walk-around video showing the exterior, interior, cargo area, engine bay, and a start-up.

    While not having a sports car body design, this wagon definitely has the performance upgrades to make it a capable cruiser. Power comes from a 5.7-liter V8 that has received aluminum valve covers, an Edelbrock fuel-injection system, and much more. This wagon can haul, in more ways than one.

    By the way, it took more than 100 trucks each year to transport Motorama shows to the various destinations between 1953 and the final event in 1961. That effort was perhaps one of the reasons why the event was phased out. In its place, the traditional single-city-based auto shows would serve to introduce the public to the latest in automotive design and engineering.

    The auction for this 5.7L-Powered 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad ends Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at 11:30 a.m. (PDT)

    Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and photo gallery

    Lamborghini’s First Car, the 350 GT, Turns 60

    Lamborghini as a car company was established in 1963 but didn’t start building any cars until the following year, meaning its first car is now 60 years old.

    That first car was the 350 GT, which made its formal debut in the month of March at the 1964 Geneva auto show, at which point Lamborghini started accepting the first orders. A one-off prototype known as the 350 GTV was shown a year earlier at an auto show in Turin, though.

    As the story goes, it was a dispute between Ferruccio Lamborghini and Enzo Ferrari that was ultimately responsible for the creation of the 350 GT. Lamborghini, who already had a successful company building tractors, had a problem with the clutch in a Ferrari he owned and complained to Enzo himself that better parts should have been used. After being rebuffed by Ferrari, Lamborghini decided to go out and build his own cars.

    The 350 GT’s aluminum body was designed by coachbuilder Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera, and initially previewed on the 350 GTV which featured a slightly different design to the 350 GT. The chassis was developed by a young Giampaolo Dallara, who would go on to start race car constructor Dallara a decade later.

    As for the engine, a 3.5-liter V-12 that formed the basis of Lamborghini V12 engines right up until the launch of the Aventador, was developed by Giotto Bizzarrini, who helped develop the Ferrari 250 GTO and also attempted the launch of his own Bizzarrini sports car marque, a marque that’s currently undergoing a revival.

    Bizzarrini had developed the engine for use in motorsports, and fellow engineer Paolo Stanzani was tasked with taming it for road use. The engine, which featured a four-cam design, was rated at 350 hp and blessed with a stratospheric (for the period, at least) 7,000-rpm redline.

    The first 350 GT off the line, the car bearing chassis number 101, was finished in green and had a white interior. It was the car on display at the Geneva debut. It was retained by Lamborghini and later used as a test model for endurance testing, though it was ultimately destroyed after being rear-ended at a stop light.

    The second 350 GT built, finished in silver with a red interior, was delivered to a customer in Geneva in August of 1964. The car, shown here, is now the oldest production Lamborghini. The original 350 GTV prototype is still considered the oldest Lamborghini.

    HIGH-RES GALLERY: 1964 Lamborghini 350 GT

    This article was originally published by Motor Authority, an editorial partner of ClassicCars.com

    Pick of the Day: 1959 Rambler American Deliveryman

    When you have to compete against the Big Three, sometimes you have to try a little harder, right? That’s the position American Motors was in in the late 1950s. Through sheer creativity, AMC was able to develop clever transportation solutions that would eventually carry it to number three in sales, but our Pick of the Day, a 1959 Rambler American Deliveryman panel wagon, is number three for a different reason, which we’ll explain below. It is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Hopedale, Massachusetts. (Click the link to view the listing)

    The 1950s were a tumultuous time to be an independent automaker, but Hudson and Nash managed to handle themselves all right by joining forces and exploiting its strengths in the marketplace. While the Big Three were shooting for the moon, the newly christened American Motors were shooting for consumers’ rational needs with the Rambler brand. The Rebels and Ambassadors that would come were not as flashy as their upsized Detroit competition, but they were able to handle any task on equal terms, including comfort and routine performance.

    Before the formation of American Motors, Nash had built the compact Rambler model, but America wasn’t quite ready for a compact. However, by 1958, the onslaught of foreign brands and the increasing popularity of a funny car from Germany gave AMC executives an idea: why not reengineer the discontinued Nash Rambler from several years before? With the original tooling in AMC’s possession, this was entirely possible. Though more austere than the nicely trimmed Nash, the new Rambler America’s most noticeable design change was fully exposed wheels.

    When introduced at the turn of the 1958 calendar year, the American two-door sedan was the most affordable American car in the market and the only compact car available with an automatic transmission. Said George Romney, AMC president, “Essentially, it was simple: Let’s build an automobile for the American people that appeals as much to their native intelligence as to their ego.”

    For 1959, the American series was expanded to include a station wagon. Both were available in the two trim levels that carried over from 1958: Deluxe and Super. However, Rambler also offered a sedan delivery for tradespeople called the Deliveryman. This commercial wagon lacked a rear seat, allowing the cargo floor to extend all the way to the rear of the front seats. American Motors offered versions with and without side glass, but it’s possible neither were officially offered because only six were built in total – three in each configuration.

    As you can see, this 1959 Rambler American Deliveryman panel wagon is extremely rare and, luckily for the collector world, this vehicle has been given its due by the founder of the AMC Club of America. A “nut and bolt” rotisserie restoration has given this Autumn Yellow Deliveryman a luster that’s better than it had at Kenosha. “Excellent fit and finish throughout,” says the seller. “Awesome chrome bumpers. Beautiful glass. Painted steel wheels with correct “R” hubcaps.”  Power comes from a 195.6cid flathead inline-six with a three-speed manual transmission. “Stunning engine bay detailed properly,” adds the seller. “Whisper quiet, shifts like butter.”

    Keep in mind that this vehicle is rarer than just about everything that you have read in the ClassicCars.com Journal. Being that only three were built like this, you’d think it would cost an arm and a leg to own, but the asking price is only $30,500. That’s a bargain in the truest sense of American Motors.

    Click here for this ClassicCars.com Pick of the Day.

    Significant Automotive Memories: Drive the Bid Podcast

    On the AutoHunter Drive the Bid Podcast this week, Derek Shiekhi and Luke Lamendola, returning Social Media/On-Camera Host for the Collector Car Network, get together to discuss Our Significant Automotive Memories. Maybe few of us have been as lucky to catch the car bug from Dad or Mom’s Lambo, but we all have had a car or two – even a Toyota Cressida – that has made an imprint and given us the nudge to explore the world of automobiles.

    Other discussions include news on the six-figure Jeep Wrangler V8 Final Edition, and two AutoHunter picks: a nicely presented 1959 Chevrolet El Camino, and a Duramax-powered 2014 Chevrolet Express 3500 4X4 conversion.

    AutoHunter Cinema has plenty of other videos and podcasts created by the experts behind ClassicCars.com, the world’s largest online collector car marketplace. AutoHunter brings forth a dedicated live customer support team, quicker auction listings and exclusive benefits for both buyers and sellers.

    Forgotten Legends: Lesser-Known Corvettes That Will Blow Your Mind

    When you think of the Chevrolet Corvette, images of the quintessential American sports car come to mind. Since its debut in 1953, the Corvette has epitomized performance and innovation, becoming a symbol of speed, freedom, and engineering prowess. However, beyond the well-known models lies a treasure trove of Corvettes that have quietly made their mark on automotive history. The Corvette is unlike anything else that’s ever been on the road and it’s cultivated a following of loyal fans who collect and race these beautiful cars year after year.

    While models like the Z06 are the most common and well-known examples of the Corvette, the lesser-known models, and prototypes represent technological advancements and designs that have contributed significantly to the Corvette’s legacy. In this article, we’ll explore the forgotten Vettes that will blow your mind. Each gave its own unique story and contribution to the Corvette lineage. From experimental engines to lightweight designs, each added something truly special about the history of the Corvette.

    1953 Chevrolet Corvette 1 Jpeg Press F60ijz
    Photo Credit: silodrome

    1953 Corvette EX-122

    If the EX-122 model of the Corvette doesn’t sound familiar, it’s because this wasn’t even a production Corvette. The “EX-122” was the concept car that later became the Corvette. It was a first-of-its-kind sports car that birthed an entire segment of automobiles. Before the EX-122, there wasn’t anything fun to drive on the market and GM wanted to sell a dedicated two-seater (via Corvette Story).

    1953 Chevrolet Corvette 1536x864
    Photo Credit: Silodrome

    The EX-122 was notable for its fiberglass body, a novel material choice at the time that allowed for more flexible design options and reduced weight. Most other cars on the roadways were steel bricks, and the Corvette was light and nimble. While there were initial safety concerns about the design of the car, those soon wore off as more people got behind the wheel of it.

    Source

    Supercharged 383–Powered 1949 Studebaker 2R5 Pickup

    This 1949 Studebaker 2R5 pickup is powered by a supercharged 383ci stroker V8 paired with a two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission. Other modifications include yellow paint, pinstriping, side strakes, rear-hinged doors, aftermarket lighting, a sunroof, a rollaway tonneau cover, Boyd Coddington 16″ wheels, front disc brakes, a lowered coilover suspension, an Edelbrock carburetor, chrome valve covers, and a dual exhaust system with cutouts. The interior features brown leather upholstery and interior trim, bucket seats, Vintage Air climate control, a Grant steering wheel on a tilting column, power windows, shoulder belts, cupholders, aftermarket gauges, cruise control, and a Kenwood CD stereo. The vehicle was modified under prior ownership, and the seller acquired it in 2023. This modified Studebaker pickup is now offered with a clean California title in the seller’s name.

    Finished from the factory in Clover Green (2202), the truck has been repainted in yellow, and tan and beige pinstriping accents multiple body panels. The doors are hinged at the rear, and other equipment includes side strakes, dual side mirrors, a split windshield, custom windshield-wiper arms, a sunroof, halogen headlamps, and custom parking lights and taillights. The truck has a body-color front bumper, and dual Megs exhaust tips protrude through the rear roll pan. Damaged weatherstripping around the driver door is shown in the photo gallery below.

    Chrome 16″ Boyd Coddington wheels are mounted with BFGoodrich g-Force Sport tires that measure 205/50 up front and 255/50 at the rear. Braking is provided by front discs and rear drums.

    A Pace-Edwards Roll-Top-Cover tonneau with an integrated third brake light can be pulled over the pickup bed, which houses the battery and is lined in black material.

    Aftermarket brown leather bucket seats are complemented by leather trim on the door panels, pillars, rear panels, and headliner. Brown leather also covers the dashboard, which bears the embroidered word “Studebaker”. Other appointments include brown carpeting, a woodgrain Grant steering wheel, tilt steering, Vintage Air climate control, shoulder belts, door pockets, cupholders, power windows, cruise control, and a Kenwood CD stereo. Interior wear is pictured in the gallery below.

    Aftermarket instrumentation is composed of a 160-mph speedometer and gauges monitoring oil pressure, coolant temperature, fuel level, and battery voltage. The digital odometer shows 2,800 miles, approximately 200 of which were added under current ownership.

    The 383ci stroker V8 is equipped with a B&M Forced Induction supercharger topped with an Edelbrock carburetor. Chrome finishes adorn the valve covers and other components, and an MSD Blaster 2 ignition coil also has been fitted.

    Power is sent to the rear wheels through a two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission. The dual exhaust system has cutouts ahead of the mufflers.

    392 Hemi-Powered ’32 Ford Roadster Highboy Hot Rod

    This fiberglass-bodied ’32 Ford highboy hot rod was built by Davviki LTD. of Kankakee, Illinois circa 2008. Power comes from a 392ci Hemi V8 featuring a lake-style exhaust and linked to a Chrysler-sourced TorqueFlite push-button three-speed automatic transmission and a Ford 9″ rear end with a 2.85:1 limited-slip differential. Finished in black, the body features a steel radiator shell and a black soft top and is built on a fully boxed Pete & Jake’s frame that is fitted with a drilled dropped front axle, a front Panhard bar kit, a triangulated four-bar rear suspension, 15″ Halibrand wheels, and finned front drums and drilled front backing plates. The interior is trimmed in red vinyl upholstery and incorporates a banjo-style steering wheel, a tilting steering column, a push-button gear selector, and AutoMeter instrumentation. The car was acquired in 2019 by the seller who oversaw a rebuild of the engine in January 2020. This Deuce highboy is now offered with build documents, spare parts, workshop manuals, and a clean Florida title in the seller’s name listing the car as a 1932 Ford.

    The fiberglass body is finished in black and mounted to a color-matched Pete & Jake’s boxed frame. Exterior details include a Brookeville steel radiator shell, a tilt-out windshield, teardrop taillights, a power-operated trunk lid, and a Time Machines Unlimited convertible top frame fitted with a black E-Z On Auto Tops cover.

    Polished 15″ Halibrand Sprint wheels wear faux knock-off spinners and are mounted with 195/55 Cooper Endeavor tires up front and Michelin LTX M/S with shaved outer sidewalls out back. The front suspension incorporates a Super Bell drilled and dropped front axle, a transverse leaf spring, and a Pete & Jake’s front Panhard kit, while the rear has been fitted with a Pete & Jake’s triangulated four-bar setup with Aldan adjustable coilover. Braking is handled by four-wheel drums with Buick-style finned drums and drilled backing plates up front.

    The bench seat is trimmed in red vinyl upholstery, which extends to the door, side, and trunk panels. Interior elements include a Wolf Whistle horn, lap belts, a push-button gear selector, and a banjo-style steering wheel mounted to a polished Ididit tilting steering column.

    AutoMeter instrumentation consists of a tachometer mounted to the steering column as well as a centrally positioned 120-mph speedometer flanked by gauges for fuel level, oil pressure, coolant temperature, and voltage. The digital odometer indicates 16k miles, approximately 5k of which have been added under current ownership.

    The 392ci Hemi V8 was rebuilt in January 2020 by Frank’s Engine Building of Punta Gorda, Florida. Work included honing the cylinders, polishing the crankshaft, and replacing the piston rings, cam and main bearings, lifters, and oil pump in addition to resurfacing the cylinder heads and performing a valve job. Additional engine details include a chrome air cleaner bonnet, valve covers, and alternator in addition to electronic ignition, a Walker radiator, an electric cooling fan, and Sanderson lake pipes linked to a custom-fabricated exhaust exiting at the rear.

    Power is delivered to the rear wheels through a Chrysler-sourced TorqueFlite push-button three-speed automatic transmission and a Ford 9″ rear end with a limited-slip differential and 2.85:1 gearing.

    The reproduction ID tag affixed to the firewall displays serial number 181369884, which matches the VIN listed on the title and describes the car as a 1932 Ford.

    A binder documenting the build will accompany the car along with spare parts and workshop manuals.

    No Reserve: 1929 Ford Model A Speedster

    This 1929 Ford Model A is equipped with steel speedster-style bodywork that has been fitted over a narrowed and tapered frame and finished in yellow with #12 graphics. The modifications were performed at some point prior to the seller’s 2021 acquisition. The car is powered by a 201ci L-head inline-four paired with a three-speed manual transmission, and additional features include an aluminum radiator with an Arro-Meter, a single side-mounted exhaust outlet, red-finished 19″ wheels, a wood dashboard, a push-button starter, and a bench seat trimmed in black. This Model A is now offered in Colorado with a spare set of wheels and a Montana title in the name of the seller’s LLC.

    The steel speedster-style bodywork was fabricated under prior ownership, fitted over a narrowed and tapered frame, and finished in yellow with #12 graphics. An Arro-Meter is mounted atop the radiator, a single windscreen is equipped, and a decorative hand pump is mounted on the left side of the car. The fuel-filler cap is adorned with wings, and the fuel tank has been modified to fit the tail of the car. Areas of touched-up paint are noted around the car, and the seller reports that an area around the gas tank was touched up in preparation for the sale.

    Red-finished 19″ wire-spoke wheels are equipped, and wings have been added to the bright hubcaps. A spare set of black-finished 16″ and 17″ wheels is included and pictured in the gallery below. Braking is provided by drum brakes. The seller reports a wobble from the rear wheels.

    The two-person cockpit houses a bench seat upholstered in black vinyl.

    The four-spoke steering wheel sits ahead of a wood dashboard that houses a single vacuum gauge. The dashboard was reportedly installed in October 2023. An odometer is not installed, and total mileage is unknown.

    The 201ci L-head inline-four is topped by a single carburetor and equipped with a revised exhaust manifold that terminates in a single outlet, which exits from the right and extends the length of the vehicle. Service since 2022 has reportedly included replacing the radiator and drive belt. A push-button starter solenoid is also installed. An oil leak and a noise from the water pump are noted.

    Power is sent to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual transmission.

    Spare parts accompanying the car include a floor push rod for the starter, a replacement brake light switch, six-volt headlights, and two leather racing helmets. A spare set of wheels is also included.

    1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Convertible Fetches Almost $4M

    The Duesenberg name may have only been a blip along the automotive industry’s vast timeline, but it left a lasting mark that ensures its cars today typically trade hands for multiple millions.

    That’s why it isn’t surprising at all that a 1930 Duesenberg Model J with coachwork by Murphy sold at an RM Sotheby’s auction in Miami earlier this month for almost $4 million. The final price paid was $3,855,000.

    This particular Duesenberg, which bears chassis number 2369, was originally ordered in 1929 by Esther Fiske Hammond, the granddaughter of the head of department store chain Jordan Marsh at the time. Duesenberg delivered its cars as unfinished chassis, and Hammond had her chassis given a body by the coachbuilder Walter M. Murphy Company based in Pasadena, California, close to where Hammond lived.

    The body was one of Murphy’s signature convertible coupes with a roof known as a disappearing top. Only about 25 Duesenbergs featured this body style, and according to the listing only two examples remain with original rear-mounted spares, one being this car.

    1930 Duesenberg Model J with coachwork by Murphy – Photo credit: RM Sotheby’s

    The car doesn’t feature its original engine, though. Hammond sold the car in 1934 and after trading hands several more times, Charles Allen, a radio host, had the car’s engine changed at some point during the 1950s. Like all Duesenbergs, the car features an inline-8 which in Model J specification delivers around 265 hp.

    The car also lost its original rear-mounted spares at one point. Fortunately famed Duesenberg restorer Randy Ema of Orange, California, had spotted the original dual rear-mount spare hub at a swap meet and held onto it for almost 30 years, saving it for the day when it might be reunited with the car. That happened in 2017 when Paul Petrovich of Sacramento, California, brought the car in for a full restoration by Ema. It was the last restoration handled by Ema before his retirement.

    Other highlights of the recent RM Sotheby’s auction included a 1990 Ferrari F40 that sold for almost $3.4 million, a 1930 Cadillac V-16 that sold for just over $1 million, and a 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster that sold for $2.2 million.

    HIGH-RES GALLERY: 1930 Duesenberg Model J with coachwork by Murphy – Photo credit: RM Sotheby’s

    This article was originally published by Motor Authority, an editorial partner of ClassicCars.com