Survivor! Brian Stone’s 1956 Nomad
Brian Stone is the proprietor of Stone’s Metal Shop (stonesmetalshop on Instagram), which specializes in precision, high-end sheet metal fabrication for hot rods, exotics, and restorations. His personal ride is this well-weathered 1956 Nomad, which eschews fancy custom metalwork (at least on the outside) and paint in favor of flaunting its well-earned patina.
Brian has owned the Nomad for a few years and likes to use it for daily driving and weekend cruising with his young family. Negotiating the freeways of Southern California in a 65-year-old car can be tough, though, so Brian decided to go all-out with a complete mechanical and interior overhaul.
A new Art Morrison frame provided modern ride and superior handling thanks to performance-based independent front and rear suspensions with JRi coil-over shocks and massive Wilwood disc brakes. A potent LT5 engine and Tremec six-speed with an S1 Sequential shifter make sure this wagon can roar. The 18×8- and 19×12-inch Schott wheels were even aged to match the car.
It’s the details that really set this Nomad apart, from the sanitary and well-organized engine compartment, to the fresh Ciadella upholstery inside using original-style materials on modified seats. Like any good hot rod, everything was done with purpose and built to look like it belongs – right down to the custom roof rack built with weathered wood planks.
Photos by Brian Stone
