Round2/ AMT '55 Chevy Nomad Wagon Kit Coming in 2023

[Mark]

Often, but not always.  An automatic in a gasser or early funny car would probably need a "torque" oriented engine, and those generally had the longer stacks.  But that wasn't always the rule.  

[stavanzer]

I wonder if there is any chance that the Centerlines and Hood scoop from the '55 Sedan kit, might make it into the Nomad?

I would guess not, but you never know.

[Snake45]

20 minutes ago, stavanzer said:

I wonder if there is any chance that the Centerlines and Hood scoop from the '55 Sedan kit, might make it into the Nomad?

I would guess not, but you never know.

I'd MUCH prefer the American Torq-Thrust Ds of the original Nomad--among the very nicest wheels ever put in a kit, IMHO. 

[roadhawg]

I'll definitely be getting at least one or two. Regarding the El Camino conversion, my cousin and I built a REAL '55 El Camino back in the 80s....I say "built", but the conversion was already done when we got it, we just took it apart and rebuilt it from the frame up for ISCA competition. We never really figured this car out....it most certainly had Nomad doors and tailgate, but regular sedan quarter panels. We sort of had the feeling that the pickup conversion might have been a fiberglass kit that was offered at some point by some aftermarket company, as the entire bed area was fiberglass. 

Anyway, guess what I'll attempt to build with this kit?

[Plowboy]

On 11/23/2022 at 10:18 PM, stavanzer said:

I wonder if there is any chance that the Centerlines and Hood scoop from the '55 Sedan kit, might make it into the Nomad?

I would guess not, but you never know.

Yeah, I'd rather have those than the five spokes it comes with. Never did like those wheels. No stagger and the spokes are too skinny. 

[stavanzer]

12 hours ago, roadhawg said:

I'll definitely be getting at least one or two. Regarding the El Camino conversion, my cousin and I built a REAL '55 El Camino back in the 80s....I say "built", but the conversion was already done when we got it, we just took it apart and rebuilt it from the frame up for ISCA competition. We never really figured this car out....it most certainly had Nomad doors and tailgate, but regular sedan quarter panels. We sort of had the feeling that the pickup conversion might have been a fiberglass kit that was offered at some point by some aftermarket company, as the entire bed area was fiberglass. 

Anyway, guess what I'll attempt to build with this kit?

Cool Real Life Build!

Have you ever seen any other Real Cars built like yours?

[roadhawg]

11 hours ago, stavanzer said:

Cool Real Life Build!

Have you ever seen any other Real Cars built like yours?

Thank you, sir. I've only seen a couple others in my lifetime, and they had the Nomad type quarter panels. 

[Motor City]

On 11/25/2022 at 6:27 AM, roadhawg said:

I'll definitely be getting at least one or two. Regarding the El Camino conversion, my cousin and I built a REAL '55 El Camino back in the 80s....I say "built", but the conversion was already done when we got it, we just took it apart and rebuilt it from the frame up for ISCA competition. We never really figured this car out....it most certainly had Nomad doors and tailgate, but regular sedan quarter panels. We sort of had the feeling that the pickup conversion might have been a fiberglass kit that was offered at some point by some aftermarket company, as the entire bed area was fiberglass. 

Anyway, guess what I'll attempt to build with this kit?

Do you still own this '55 or know what happened to it?

[roadhawg]

4 hours ago, Motor City said:

Do you still own this '55 or know what happened to it?

I didn't own it, it was owned by a doctor that hired my cousin and I to build it and take it to ISCA car shows....the old "World Of Wheels" series. The doctor had deep pockets, and my cousin and I had a ton of fun, lol. As to what happened to it, that's a good question. I'm going to ask around and see if I can find out. 

[blizzy63]

Will be glad to have the early gasser parts back. They are useful for the AMT '55 Bel Air Sedan kit (which should have them too).

Taillights were not the best on this old 1965 kit. I tried to improve the stock taillights but they were not to my satisfaction.

[Snake45]

Blizzy, that is an OUTSTANDING model! VERY well done and model on! 

[Robberbaron]

8 hours ago, blizzy63 said:

Taillights were not the best on this old 1965 kit. I tried to improve the stock taillights but they were not to my satisfaction.

I used to think that the taillights in this kit depicted a car ordered with no backup lights, but apparently all '55 Chevys got both the red and clear lenses.

According to what I've read, it was more common for '55s to NOT have the backup light option, so the clear lenses were just dummies with plugs where the lamp sockets would otherwise go.  On some forums, people claim that the BU lights were only available as a dealer-installed kit, but I find it hard to believe that Chevy didn't offer the wiring, etc. from the factory.

Sure seems like the lights in the kit depict an aftermarket lens like the 1:1 in the B/W pic that you posted above.

 

 

Edited November 28, 2022 by Robberbaron

[blizzy63]

23 hours ago, Snake45 said:

Blizzy, that is an OUTSTANDING model! VERY well done and model on! 

Thanks, Snake.

I just had to have a '55 Chevy sedan in the flavor of the Staub Brother's circa-1963 gasser on my shelf...

Edited November 28, 2022 by blizzy63

[blizzy63]

19 hours ago, Robberbaron said:

I used to think that the taillights in this kit depicted a car ordered with no backup lights, but apparently all '55 Chevys got both the red and clear lenses.

According to what I've read, it was more common for '55s to NOT have the backup light option, so the clear lenses were just dummies with plugs where the lamp sockets would otherwise go.  On some forums, people claim that the BU lights were only available as a dealer-installed kit, but I find it hard to believe that Chevy didn't offer the wiring, etc. from the factory.

Sure seems like the lights in the kit depict an aftermarket lens like the 1:1 in the B/W pic that you posted above.

 

I've noticed that of backup lights for years. Back when I was a car nut in high school, the old pre-1967 cars that we liked and could afford were usually "low-price" models that did not come equipped with OPTIONAL backup lights.

Our family car was a 1961 Pontiac Laurentian with blank-outs in the rear bumper where the optional backup light would be.

Yet the '53-56 Chevy taillights were always the same: They included the clear backup lens even if the car wasn't equipped with them.

Edited November 28, 2022 by blizzy63

[Motor City]

1 hour ago, blizzy63 said:

Our family car was a 1961 Pontiac Laurentian with blank-outs in the rear bumper where the optional backup light would be.

 

same with the '57 Bel Air 2-door hardtop that Dad ordered (also no radio)

[Snake45]

4 hours ago, blizzy63 said:

Thanks, Snake.

I just had to have a '55 Chevy sedan in the flavor of the Staub Brother's circa-1963 gasser on my shelf...

Well, mission accomplished! Both the real car and your model pretty much epitomize the "feel" of the times.

I'm planning to build something very similar in the near future. I'll be using your pictures for inspiration. Again, well done and model on! 

[Scott8950]

On 11/27/2022 at 1:50 PM, blizzy63 said:

Will be glad to have the early gasser parts back. They are useful for the AMT '55 Bel Air Sedan kit (which should have them too).

Taillights were not the best on this old 1965 kit. I tried to improve the stock taillights but they were not to my satisfaction.

 

 

 

Very nice

[espo]

On 11/27/2022 at 12:50 PM, blizzy63 said:

Will be glad to have the early gasser parts back. They are useful for the AMT '55 Bel Air Sedan kit (which should have them too).

Taillights were not the best on this old 1965 kit. I tried to improve the stock taillights but they were not to my satisfaction.

The solid red tail lamps on the D/Gasser were a style then, guys would use the lenses from a '55 or '56 Buick. Made a big difference in appearance for little money. 

[BlackSheep214]

Oh yeah.... 

[ChrisBcritter]

Also popular were the Lee Plastics aftermarket lenses; see #5 for the '55 Chevy.

Edited November 30, 2022 by ChrisBcritter

[espo]

On 11/30/2022 at 4:38 AM, ChrisBcritter said:

Also popular were the Lee Plastics aftermarket lenses; see #5 for the '55 Chevy.

Lee Plastic's lenses were an inexpensive way to change the appearance of your taillights. I bought a set for my '57 Ford through the old J.C. Whitney catalog a very long time ago. 

[gary jackson]

when we going to see this on the shelves

[niteowl7710]

13 minutes ago, gary jackson said:

when we going to see this on the shelves

Looks like January. It was in this month's Round2 video, buts it's not part of the December releases on the distribution side.

[stavanzer]

That works for me.

 

[Joe Nunes]

Is it here yet...is that '55 Chevy Nomad Wagon here yet!  Dang... it's like waiting for Santa to get here on Christmas Eve with that Red Ryder air rifle I always wanted but never found under the tree. Oh well, at least Ralphy got his Red Ryder!  ?

Joe