@Witchhammer Compare the 58 Nomad to 59 Nomad to 59 Station Wagon Custom 1959 Nomad Station Wagon Hello, We grew up involved in hot rods and custom cars/trucks during the late 50s to throughout the 60s. After my brother bought his 280 hp, 348, 1958 Chevy Impala and raced it for several years in the A/Stock car class. There were a few moments in late 1959 that had him rethinking about another choice for his hot rod sedan needs. That was fine for me as I would then have the 58 Impala. I know one thing was that the 59 Chevy cars had a 4 speed, a 335 hp 348 motor and several cooler styling factors. Sure, the 58 Impala was a one-of-a-kind design in the long Chevy sedan lineup. But, an El Camino car/truck with a 335 hp, 4 speed, Positraction rear was leaning heavily on him. The 59 El Camino racing against our nemesis, a 1957 supercharged Ford Sedan in a LeMans race… 55 HP difference was no laughing matter and he knew something was making him rethink his need to create something. The trophies he won were nice and were displayed in our study den. But, there was the need for something else. I knew he still wanted something to compete against his friend with a 34 Ford 5 window with a big Oldsmobile motor that ran in A/Gas and was a daily driver to school. So, as the year rolled on, several trips to the Chevy dealer to see a new 59 El Camino was a nice brotherly road trip. He had plans, but in our discussions, he knew he just bought a new Impala in late 57. So, the timing was not going to go well with our parents. But, did I care? No worries about a new car for him. I was going to get the Impala if he bought a new 1959 El Camino. Impala vs supercharged Ford Sedan A/Stock class Lion's Dragstrip Jnaki Yes, the dealers had 1958 and 59 Nomads, but they left the great two door design on the drawing books and took the easy way out with 4 doors, not two. So, that was not going to cut it for a couple of two door design teenagers. Well, the buy and sell did not happen and talks about getting a El Camino waned. When we started with his latest idea of a gas coupe build, talks turned into modifying an El Camino into a station wagon. The wagon was secure for our tools, parts, and other racing stuff we would be transporting around. It would also be a great tow vehicle and be able to take on surfing vacations in Mexico or elsewhere. The popular metallic purple color was also tossed around. The idea morphed into what I recall as an exercise in frustration. We knew we towed the 40 Willys with the 58 Impala. But, in the long run, the Impala was not a tow vehicle. While we went through phase one of the Willys build, there was no time to getting a station wagon built at the same time. He did not want a 59 4 door wagon. So, it was an idea left on the boards. A customized 1959 Chevy El Camino/Nomad for the teenage hot rod enthusiast. The sleek Nomad roof support design just looked like it would fit with the El Camino cab top build. It was just an idea we had as teenagers... YRMV
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