The Chevy Nova was a compact competitor in the legendary American pony wars. While the 1960s and 1970s witnessed a fight between American automotive manufacturers to produce the fastest and most powerful muscle cars, the Chevy Nova was just right when it came to size, speed, and affordability. But it didn't start out as the Chevy Nova…not quite, anyway. Eager to produce a budget-friendly compact muscle car, Chevy introduced the Chevy II. As a model name, Nova was relegated to runner-up name because it didn't start with C. However, Nova was chosen as the name for the higher-end, sportier trim option, and did eventually replace Chevy II as the car's official name in1969.
Dignifying our showroom space here at CBM Motors is this1969 Chevrolet Nova stunner. I say this because one look at the fit, finish, and paint on this car and you will not be able to restrain yourself from being impressed. A monster big block V8, aftermarket cylinder heads and an unassuming appearance that has made its quarter mile debut and tripped the lights in the low 11 second range. A certainly assured job well done, definitely a car that can be your "showpiece", however you do not need to be afraid of taking it out on the weekends and blowing out some of the carbon buildup as dad used to say!
Exterior
With a respray, the exterior bathed in an industrial silver/gray, retains its shine deeply and shows very few flaws even under our scrutinizing lights. All steel panels are straight, and have very well minded gaps. Chrome and brite-work is very clean and shiny with no dimpling or fading. Nice shiny trimmings for the glass surrounds and front grille. The black ribbed grille floats a SS emblem dead center and the hood has the requisite faux vent inserts. Correct gills grace the front fenders, and the body sides are void of any trimmings, just clean, straight, muscular lines. Bringing up the tail are outboard mounted rectangular taillights with inboard reverse lights and a black ribbed filler panel with another SS badge. 15-inch Chevrolet rally wheels hold the car to the ground while being finished off with chrome center caps and shod with 205/75R15 and 275/60R15 rubber front and rear respectively.
Interior
Passing by black vinyl ribbed horizontal pattern vinyl door panels which appear in nice condition with clean chrome and a small Nova badge we slip inside the driver's low back front bucket seat complete with headrests. These buckets are near flawless and present with smooth bolsters, tuck and roll inserts and a knitted vinyl central stripe. Just in front on the center of the hump is a Turbo-Action Cheetah SCS shifter and fire extinguisher. A rear bench in the same pattern and in good condition stretches from side to side. The original shaped dash remains, but a new tachometer has been mounted to the column along with extra gauges mounted to the bottom left. Peering closely we note a factory tachometer with the original cluster. A radio delete car still has the opening covering attached. Black carpet covers the floors and a tight black headliner in vinyl is atop. Boom shakka lakka...Boom
Drivetrain
Lifting open the hood we are met with the heartbeat of this Chevrolet. It thumps along in 468ci V8 form and has been fitted with a forged crank, H-beam rods, forged pistons, and a Howards roller cam with .601i/.612eof lift and 233i/247e duration. Starting under the chrome dressed open element air cleaner is a AED Pro-Race 750cfm 4bbl carburetor which feeds fuel and air into an Edelbrock Performer RPM Air Gap intake manifold then through the Brodix aluminum cylinder heads topped with Crower stainless steel roller rockers and Moroso chrome valve covers. This potent mill has been dyno proven to make499.6hp. Attached to the back is a Transmission Specialties TH400 3-speedautomatic with a 3500rpm stall converter and reverse manual valve body. Putting those 500, (let's round up shall we?), ponies to the pavement is a Moser12-bolt rear axle weighing in with 4.11 gears and Positraction.