A Look Back At The Amazing Ron Pratte Car Collection

March 16, 2016

1955 Chevrolet Nomad Autorama Custom Wagon

The sleek Chevy Nomad Autorama custom offers a look at what happens when a 1955 Nomad, ’53 Corvette and ’94 Corvette ZR1 are blended together by a master fabricator with an appreciation for GM Motorama history. This fully streetable custom is based on a real 1955 V8 Nomad but trades the vintage Nomad king pin front suspension and live rear axle for superior C4 Corvette ZR1 components. Taking the ZR1 theme further, the original 265 small block V8 has been replaced with a fully polished 405hp, DOHC ZR1 engine backed by a ZF 6-speed manual transmission. The exhaust system consists of long tube headers, large diameter stainless steel head pipes and an Edelbrock stainless steel crossflow muffler. Corvette ZR1 brakes with drilled rotors and polished 17″ 1994 ZR1 wheels riding on huge ZR-rated Goodyear Eagle tires assure Supercar braking and cornering ability. The genuine steel Nomad body shell has been merged with a fiberglass 1953 Corvette nosepiece and quarter panels to capture the spirit of the almost-was Corvette Nomad show car of 1954. Inside, gray tweed and leather covers the four bucket seats, center console and vertical surfaces of the cargo area. Half Nomad, half Corvette, this sleek hybrid pays tribute to two of GM’s greatest styling triumphs.

Photo: Barrett-Jackson

Battle of the Pony Cars: Camaro vs. Mustang

October 29, 2025

The battle between the Ford Mustang and the Chevrolet Camaro is the biggest, most lasting rivalry in American car history. These two cars didn’t just…
Read more
The RM32 Ford Fastback Mustang Build Breakdown

October 24, 2025

The Ford Mustang: Historic Start The Ford Mustang is one of the most iconic muscle cars in American history, capturing the imagination of car enthusiasts…
Read more
6 Things to Consider: Keep Your Classic Muscle Car Original or RestoMod it?

October 15, 2025

When tackling the big question that has become a debate on the internet: Is it better to keep your classic muscle car original or turn…
Read more

Show more articles

Become a Car Club Member

Car Club Members Get Entries to Win, Discounts in our Shop, Discounts with our Preferred Partners and more!

Membership benefits

By joining the RestoMods Car Club Today, you will receive amazing perks plus 15 bonus entries into our sweepstakes for every month you are an active member

Auto Discounts:Curated Discounts From Your Favorite Parts Companies
Restomods Monthly:Monthly Magazine With The Latest Industry News
Classified Ads:Get Free Postings seen by 300,000 enthusiasts monthly
Car Show Tickets:Check out the biggest vintage car shows on us.
Exclusive Car Deals:First chance to purchase any prize cars not selected