1969 Chevrolet Nova

Description

The recipe is as old as the automobile itself. Take one giant engine and stuff it into the smallest, lightest body you have. This neat little 1969 Chevy Nova takes it to the next level as a very potent SS tribute that's both fast and comfortable.

Originally a code 14 Olympic Gold car, this neat Nova now sports a lovely shade of metallic plum that actually works really well on the trim Nova bodywork. The restoration is a few years old, so it's got some signs of use and age, but good gaps all around indicate that someone knew what they were doing and cared enough to get it all lined up pretty well. It's not a real SS, so all the correct SS emblems, including the rear valence and front grille, were rounded up and installed, along with the decorative hood trim and requisite 396 badges on the front fenders. It's a pretty convincing facsimile of a real SS, and anybody who isn't an expert at decoding VINs and cowl tags will probably never notice. Chrome items like the bumpers are beautifully done and are probably brand new reproduction items, and all the stainless has been polished. A black vinyl top adds a formal look, and you already know we love the hood inserts, which are preferable to a repro cowl-induction setup.

Inside, you'll find a cool bucket seat interior dressed in stylish gray tweed, giving this affordable muscle car a very upscale look. There's no console, but the industrial look of the shifter housing is cool by itself and the contrast with the luxurious fabric upholstery is appealing. The dash looks original, and is augmented by a trio of auxiliary gauges hanging down low and a monster tach with shift light up high. They extended the tweed look to the dash pad and door panels, so it looks custom and there's a newer AM/FM stereo in the dash. Like the body, the interior workmanship is nicely done and although the Nova was designed to be inexpensive, it doesn't feel that way from behind the wheel. Even the trunk was reupholstered to match and looks great.

A stout 396 cubic inch big block Chevy provides motive force for this Nova. Not the original, numbers matching engine, but it is detailed for show with lots of chrome and bright yellow engine enamel. Edelbrock supplied both the intake manifold and the 4-barrel carburetor sitting on top of it, and an Accel ignition system lights the fires. Long-tube headers feed a recent Flowmaster dual exhaust system, which snugs up to decent floors and a chassis augmented with subframe connectors. A 700R4 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission means this is an effortless cruiser, even with 3.73 gears in the rugged 12-bolt that should last virtually forever in this lightweight package. 15-inch polished aluminum wheels complete the look, and they wear staggered white-letter radials.

This is a tastefully done car that has had a lot more than the asking price spent on it. Attractive paint, that 396 under the hood, and a nicely refinished interior all add up to a great car you can drive and enjoy without a second thought. Always popular with Chevy fans, this Nova is a great-looking, practical, and surprisingly fast car that will make you smile every time you turn the key. Call now!