Designer and Inspiration:

The Classic Nomad was designed by Ira Gilford. It is based on the 1955 Chevrolet Nomad, a uniquely styled two-door station wagon that has become a cultural icon.

Historical Context and Production Years:

The Classic Nomad was introduced in 1970 and was produced with Redline (RL) wheels until 1971.

Unique Aspects:

The casting features an opening hood that reveals a chrome-plated engine bay. One of the most sought-after features of this casting is the rare "roof-rack" variation, where a small plastic roof rack was included as an accessory. Most versions were sold without it. The casting accurately captures the distinctive grooved roof and forward-slanting B-pillars of the real Nomad.

Similar Castings:

This casting is a contemporary of other classic American car models from the 1970 Redline era, such as the '57 Chevy (a later casting) and the Heavy Chevy. It is the original Hot Wheels casting of a '55 Nomad.

Variations and Special Editions:

It was produced in various Spectraflame colors, with blue, green, and purple being relatively common. The interior color could be white, tan, or brown. Versions produced in Hong Kong have a clear windshield, while U.S. versions have a blue-tinted one.