Chevrolet's 1955 model lineup included the entry-level One-Fifty, the intermediate Two-Ten, and the top-of-the-line Bel Air. Body styles included a two-door hardtop, 2- and 4-door sedan, convertible, station wagon, and Nomad wagon. The Nomad was derived from a Corvette-based 'dream car' by Harley Earl's styling that was part of the GM Motorama display and toured during the early 1950s. The first release of cars under the Nomad name came during the 'Tri-Five Chevrolet' era of 1955-57. The 1955 Nomad shared its front-end design with its sibling, but from the cowl back, it was unique. The roof design was more fluid than the larger wagon in the lineup, and the rear hatch wore chrome strips, transforming the traditionally utilitarian station wagon design quite stylistic. It used the standard length of a Chevrolet passenger car and was marketed as a sedan with a utility-based rear cab.

The 1955 Bel Air was available with both six- and eight-cylinder power, with the six-cylinder two-door sedan being the least expensive, with a price of $1,670. The eight-cylinder version added approximately $320 to the base price. The highest 1955 Bel Air body style, and the most expensive production model that Chevrolet ever produced, as the eight-cylinder Nomad, at $2,571.

Chevrolet introduced the 265 cubic-inch V8 in 1955, featuring overhead valves, five main bearings, an 8.0:1 compression ratio, and delivering 162 horsepower at 4,400 RPM. A three-speed manual gearbox with a column-mounted gearshift was standard on all models, with overdrive being a $108 optional extra. The Powerglide two-speed automatic transmission was also optional, adding an additional $178 to the base price. The engine could also be upgraded with the optional 'power pack' that included a single four-barrel carburetor, dual exhaust, and a boost in power to 180 bhp at 4,600 RPM.