Tom Bresnahan’s 1955 Nomad Raises the Bar for Custom Tri-Five Chevys
Congratulations to Tom Bresnahan and Southern Comfort Customs for being named a Finalist for the Vintage Air Custom Rod of the Year with an amazing 1955 Nomad
Over the decades, Tri-Five Chevy Nomads have been the basis for many amazing rides that raised the car-crafting bar constantly higher for future builders. That means, of course, that someone will try – and often succeed – in pushing the proverbial bar skyward.
Tom Bresnahan’s Ridler Award-winning 1955 Nomad may have raised the bar so far into the stratosphere that it’s untouchable. Consider how Tom describes the modifications made during the car’s 10-year build at Southern Comfort Customs and Interiors: “Everything on this car has been modified, cut, changed, or CNC machined from scratch,” he says. And he truly means everything.
Listing all the modifications would require hours, but a few of the more subtle changes are telling. At first glance the front turn signals look stock, but they aren’t. The corner curves of the originals were sharpened. The rear taillights are works of art, with thinner frames and small back-up lenses recessed into the red lenses. The iconic hood bird is redesigned so the “beak” curves to match the curve of the hood and the tail is extended back toward the windshield.
Almost every inch of the sheet metal is massaged. Wing vents are deleted, as is the windshield trim, while the rear side windows are now one piece. Front and rear bumpers are custom and mimic vintage pieces, but with smoother lines. The vertical chrome ribs on the Nomad tailgate are recessed into the metal. The grille is custom machined and provides a refined take on the original design. The headlight brows and front fender trim are also custom machined, chromed, and recessed in the body. When the modifications were complete, the crew and Southern Comfort applied the BASF Moonwalk Gray paint.
The underside is equally updated, with a modified Art Morrison chassis that has been welded into the custom floor and features hydraulic shocks on all four corners and a Strange rear axle housing 3.89 gears. Evod 18×8- and 20×12-inch custom wheels are wrapped in Diamondback tires. Power comes from a 600-horsepower 6.2-liter LS3 Chevy V8 that’s beautifully detailed and backed by a GL90E transmission controlled by an electric shifter.
Next, the crew turn its attention to the interior. A custom dash features one-off Dakota Digital gauges in a center-mounted cluster. Custom seats are covered in maroon leather and suede. Custom touches abound, from recessed floor mats to one-off pedals and other trim pieces, including the Nomad-specific headliner bars that were CNC machined and chromed.
After 10 years of work, Tom was asked if he would do anything differently if he did the project again. “Nothing at all,” he says. With a custom 1955 Nomad that is this ground-breaking, we can’t imagine doing anything differently, either.
Photos: John Jackson
