It seems like every vehicle restoration story begins with an unexpected barn find forgotten and buried under decades of dust. But Rick had waited 40 years to own a 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad. He had no patience for dust. For him, owning a Nomad was a lifelong pursuit that ended when he came across a barn find well into the restoration process. 

1956 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad 

Photos by Carson Montague

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Rick's obsession with Nomads began when he was sixteen. It was love at first sight, and he was ready to part with his hard-earned money and make an offer on a Bel Air Nomad. That was until a friend talked him out of making the purchase.



That missed opportunity in his youth stuck with him, and he always wondered what could have been if he had not been so young and easily persuaded. 



Four decades later, there is no need to wonder. Rick achieved the perfect balance of original classic styling and modern touches with the Bel Air Nomad he purchased as an older and wiser man.



It is no surprise, as Rick, owner and operator of RLC Group, a landscaping and maintenance services company based in Victoria, British Columbia, is meticulous—detail-oriented almost to a fault.



Rick hired Kaotic Kustoms to help fully restore the vehicle to his exacting standards and received exactly what he ordered, with an extra helping of personality. Like all Bel Airs, the car is radiant, with sweeping side trim, bold colour, and soft lines. And then comes the surprise station wagon ending. Only 7,886 Nomads were produced in 1956, making it a rare and desirable vehicle in the present day.

 

The wagon is both nostalgic, with its gentle slope and extensive brightwork, and futuristic, with its protruding taillight bezels and hidden gas cap (the cap sits concealed behind the left taillight). It seamlessly blends hardtop coupe styling with station wagon utility.  

Rick pops the hood and reveals a beautifully finished engine bay, a pristine metal shrine to the divine LS platform motor with Holley fuel injection. With power comes the need for control.



A robust Wilwood brake system, perfectly mated to classic American Racing wheels, provides stopping power far exceeding the vehicle’s original capacity and anchors the Nomad with unwavering confidence, at any speed. Rick can stop this Chevrolet almost in the millisecond it takes for the thought to cross his mind.

 
Wanting the best performance he could get for his LS motor, Rick opted for a complete Holley Sniper EFI (Electronic Fuel Injection) kit available at Lordco Auto Parts. Lordco offers a comprehensive selection of high-performance parts—from fueling and intake systems from trusted brands Holley and Edelbrock to tuning and CNC-ported cylinder heads. 



Whether your vehicle features a carburetor or EFI system, an absolute must-have is AEM's 30-0300 wideband for accurate air/fuel ratios at all times. As Rick has proved, dreams do come true. 

Lordco’s knowledgeable store representatives can help you take your build in the direction of your dreams. If you want serious power and performance, our machine shop journeymen can help you produce the torque and horsepower numbers of your own dreams.



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