1972 Chevrolet Nova

Description

Camaros and Mustangs are fine, but if you want to go fast and stay under the radar, something like this cool 1972 Chevrolet Nova might be a better choice. Freshly finished, this low-key Nova proves that sometimes you really can have your cake and eat it too.

I suppose that if you're going to build a machine like this, there's no need to add flashy paint. Instead, they concentrated on getting the body straight and painted it code 50 Covert Tan, a low-key color that also happens to be this car's original hue. The Nova is always a great choice for a brute-force experiment like this, with a sturdy body structure, plenty of room under the hood, and a relatively light curb weight, and the 2-door post sedan is the right choice for channeling horsepower. Fit and finish are above average, particularly for a car with this much performance, and the paint is so fresh that you can almost smell it. They added a cowl-induction hood with a pair of neatly done black SS stripes, but even that does very little to upset the car's subtle look. You'll also note that much of the trim was restored or replaced, including the door handles, and a blacked-out grille with SS emblems, just to be sure. Chrome bumpers look right and add the perfect finishing touch to the all-business bodywork.

These cars often feature bare-bones interiors in the interest of saving weight, but the fully finished passenger compartment of this Nova is simply impressive especially considering much of it is left original. This includes the dash, door panels, headliner, rear shelf and floors. New tan upholstery was wrapped around a factory split front bench and the original rear seat, which still offers room for some friends. It is very correct, combining cloth and vinyl in a factory pattern, and the beautiful beige interior really works. New white-faced Auto Meter gauges were installed under the instrument panel, along with a Monster Tach on the steering column. A three-spoke steering wheel matches the overall vibe of the car, and you'll have to forgive this shockingly fast machine for keeping its original AM radio, because music just isn't all that important when you're talking about a car this fast. Everything is beautifully finished and as I said, the level of finish is quite impressive. Even the trunk is tidy, with spatter paint on original floors and what might just be the original spare tire.

The 355 cubic inch small block sits proudly in the Nova's beautifully finished engine bay. With a big Holley double-pumper up top, a matching high-rise intake, and World Products steel heads, it's no secret where the horsepower is coming from. With a fresh tune on the whole setup, it's fairly docile for having all that horsepower on tap, and thanks to the professional build, it's got the supporting hardware to make it reliable. There's a big radiator up front, a new alternator, an electric water pump, and a set of long-tube headers feeding Flowmaster mufflers that sound spectacular. The suspension was fully rebuilt and carries lots of fresh hardware, the 12-bolt rear has 4.56 gears inside, and the beefed-up PowerGlide 2-speed automatic transmission has always been the drag racer's first choice. Right now it wears 165R15 front and 275/60/15 rear street radials, but something stickier will make this car practically invincible.

Sure, there's always more in the car than a driver can get out of it, but with this Nova, astounding performance is quite accessible no matter who you are, and the exceptional finish quality makes it a pleasure to drive when you're not running hard. Call today!