1967 Chevrolet Nova

Description

The old saying in racing asks, "How fast can you afford to go?" but this brutal 1967 Chevrolet Nova neatly answers the question by saying that you can own a legitimate street/strip race piece for pennies on the dollar compared to building one yourself. The fact that it also looks so nasty is only icing on the cake.

Any car with a stance like this and a big engine hanging out of the hood means serious business. Notice the huge meats out back, the cage, and the thundering exhaust note, none of that is purely for show. This Nova is an apex predator on the street and at the strip it's an absolute blast. Of course, you'll have to get past the nicely rendered bodywork and paint first, but that shouldn't be hard. It looks fantastic in every way, from the traditional Marina Blue paint to the nicely finished bodywork that keeps all of the original looks with none of the grocery-getter hardware. Despite the massive horsepower, the doors open and close easily, the big fiberglass hood fits right, and all the lights, trim, and glass were retained so it's a legit street car. It's not perfect, but then again, perfection wasn't the point. Up front it's got a stock grille along with a cool bumper with a built-in air dam, while out back there's stock trunk trim and a chrome bumper, so it keeps some semblance of an OEM look.

Yes, it's race-car basic inside, but with leather-wrapped buckets for two, the track isn't its only home. However, the full cage is built to withstand the rigors of 10-second passes and the controls are set up for getting the most out of every run. The basic Nova instrument panel remains, but it's been gutted and the important gauges have been upgraded, including a big tach on the dash and a set of auxiliary instruments underneath. No radio, no A/C, not even a clock, but things like the race shifter and the brain box on the dash suggest that commuting isn't this car's primary mission. Full carpets help civilize the beast a bit and control noise and heat, too, so you really can drive it on the street. Heck, it still has windshield wipers! Thanks to the wheel tubs, there is no back seat and the trunk is filled with a fuel cell and a battery, all nicely finished for the track.

Big horsepower comes from big engines, and this is a GM ZZ454 crate motor stacked with a Weiand blower making 10 pounds of boost. Inside there's a Howard's blower cam, stainless rockers, and a double-keyed crank to keep the big pulley in place. A pair of Holley 4-barrel carbs feed the beast and while it's set up for nitrous, it's never been on the gas. There's an aluminum radiator and electric fuel pump to keep it cool and we love the look of those twin scoops on top. The cage reinforces the front end and it's fitted with 4-wheel disc brakes for safety. A TH400 3-speed automatic transmission was built for abuse with a trans brake and a reverse manual valve body, and it spins a custom-made Ford 9-inch that launches the car like a Saturn V rocket. The reinforced chassis makes it light, strong, and safe, while the tubbed rear wheel housings permit the use of those stock rear quarter panels and mammoth Mickey Thompson meats.

Yes, this is a full race piece. Radical and fast, it isn't for everyone. But if you are familiar with what it takes to make a car this fast, then you'll recognize that this is one heck of a bargain. Call today!