I Towed My Restomod Vette to Vegas with My Restomod Nomad
This story first appeared in the September/October 2024 issue of Hagerty Drivers Club magazine. Join the club to receive our award-winning magazine and enjoy insider access to automotive events, discounts, roadside assistance, and more.
The West Virginia Department of Tourism sponsored a booth at the 2023 SEMA Show to promote the state and attract businesses. I have a hot rod and restoration shop and was invited to display my 1956 Corvette, which has a 6.2-liter LT1 V-8 backed with a T-56 manual transmission. The only catch: I would be responsible for getting the car to and from Las Vegas.
I couldn’t find a transporter willing to do the trip, so my only option was to tow the Vette myself. What better tow vehicle than my 1957 Chevy Nomad, painted the same shade—Sapphire Blue Pearl—as the Vette?
The Nomad is a restomod that we built from 2002 to 2007. It started out as a rust bucket and required all new floors, fenders, and one quarter panel to get the body in shape. I added air conditioning, cruise control, power rack-and-pinion steering, and Hydroboost power brakes. I’ve completed several full Hot Rod Power Tours in my LS1-engined Nomad, so I was confident it was capable of the trip. However, I wasn’t sure how its 4L60E automatic transmission and C4 Corvette rear suspension would hold up to towing, so I added an external transmission cooler and air shocks to compensate for the 4200 pounds of trailer weight.
With the Nomad prepped and the Corvette loaded on a trailer, my wife Joyce and I left West Virginia and began our five-day journey to Vegas. My preparations paid off, and even through the mountains, the Nomad performed well. On day three, the forecast called for serious snow on our route, so we redirected south, traversing a good bit of Route 66 across New Mexico and Arizona.
We arrived at the hotel in Las Vegas with several other SEMA-bound vehicles. The crowd reaction was fantastic. They were surprised to see a ’57 Nomad towing a ’56 Corvette, especially with the West Virginia tags on both.
At the show, I was kept busy as people talked to me about the Corvette all day long. The Vette was a four-year build that we started in 2016. It was a barn find that had been sitting disassembled and stripped since the 1970s. We restored the car and then added a Chassis Concepts chassis, C4 suspension, Schott custom wheels, as well as modern conveniences like air conditioning and power steering.
Our SEMA trip was a great adventure that spanned 5004 miles. It was terrific to validate the quality of my Nomad and gratifying to see so many real car people show their appreciation for both of my Chevys.
Were your cajónes provided by Chevrolet as well? Cause it took some brass ones to take on a trip like that with two valuable vehicles! Well done! 👍👍
Reminds me of the Spence Murray Dream Truck crash. They towed the Barris Dream truck behind a customer 58 Chevy truck back in the day. They lost it and flipped both trucks.
The Dream truck was found and restored so it is still around but that had to been a bad deal on a cross country trip.
The worst thing today is often rigs like this are stolen whole and by the time they are found they are gutted.
Tools and cars vanish only the rig remains. Even Race haulers are at risk.
I get ulcers worrying about my rod in motel parking lots overnight and it isn’t anywhere near as nice as these – can’t imagine worrying about two at a time. Very nice cars – would love to have one or both of them but out of my reach.
Why worry? If you’re like me ( & have some class) I wouldn’t steal those cars. I’d be embarrassed to be seen with two RUINED classic cars. Where did the class go? Does nobody have enough class to see that those two classic cars have been destroyed by this idiotic ” resto mod” destruction of factory beautiful classic cars?!,!?!?! I hate, yes hate seeing vehicles like that turned from factory original to some tasteless ( and expensively ) ghost of their former selves. ( Complete with cheesy wheels my 10 year old wouldn’t choose)? I watched in horror back in high school days as classmates cut sunroof into 1970 Malibu SS , original camaros and all of the cars available to us in the 70s due to the oil embargo and higher gas prices (gasp! .70 cents per gallon!) Even a hemi Daytona got twin sunroofs in it. And it was appalling. Keep it original used to be a mantra to tasteful people. Just because you have more money than class shouldn’t cost the world these irreplaceable vehicles.
I just have one question. Have you ever DRIVEN a classic car? I have a 65 Impala and without updating the car from bone stock it is/was a miserable experience. They have class and good looks but ergonomics are pitiful. I love my car dearly but I own it to drive, not to be a original garage queen. Don’t like the wheels? Easily changed. A hideously conceived sun roof? That can also be changed. Enjoy what you want and don’t get all out of shape criticizing someone saving a classic shape from eventual decay. I will agree with one thing, if the car survived unscathed it is sometimes a tragedy to have it cut up for major modifications but this example is the best outcome.
Beautiful combination of well designed and built Restomods. The mid to later 50s styling of these stunning cars were worthy of your dedication and exceptional talents. Very fine work and really enjoy the matching colors on the pair.
Speaking of class… 👍
Absolutely Gorgeous!!