1972 Chevrolet Nova

Description

This 1972 Chevrolet Nova has come a long way from its commuter car roots. Instead of being a reasonably economical and practical 2-door sedan, it's been transformed into a sizzling red performance machine with 502 cubic inches' worth of big block, a hardcore interior, and underpinnings that can put all the horsepower to work. Yeah, this is definitely better.

Painted a few years ago and still crisp and fresh, this gorgeous Nova has a classic muscle car look. The paint is traditional bright red; no tricks, no metallic, no custom stuff, just pure tradition on well-done bodywork. The shop tasked with the job knew their stuff, because it's very nicely done with good gaps and very straight panels, something that's doubly important on a car like this because there are no body side moldings to hide behind. You'll note that they added black SS stripes and a 4-inch Harwood cowl-induction hood, giving it an aggressive look to match the performance underneath; there's no sneaking around here. And you probably shouldn't mess with a car wearing '427' badges, although as intimidating as those are, they don't tell the whole story. All the chrome was probably replaced or refinished when the car was painted, and it's holding up very well, adding some bright contrast to the vivid red paint.

This Nova's grocery-getting days are long gone, and the stodgy old bench seat has been replaced by a set of comfortable black vinyl buckets. Once you're settled in place, they're quite comfortable and supportive, and given the acceleration that this car can generate, they're probably not a bad idea. Fresh carpets, reproduction door panels, and a familiar-looking steering wheel keep it from being too industrial-strength in there, and the factory instruments are joined by a big Auto Meter tach on the steering column and auxiliary gauges in the custom center console. You'll note there are five gears on that Hurst cue ball, so you know this one is entertaining on the street. Creature comforts are at a minimum, mostly because they add weight and don't make the car go any faster, but there is an AM/FM/CD stereo in the dash so it doesn't look naked, and it does sound decent when you're not stomping on the loud pedal. There's still a full back seat that's in very good condition and the trunk is outfitted with black carpets that give it a far more finished look than you'd expect.

But the real story on this Nova is the 502 cubic inch big block, which makes massive torque yet loves to rev. The internals are built for combat, including a polished high-rise intake manifold which is mated to a Demon carburetor that offers instantaneous throttle response. Best guesses put horsepower around 700, so this isn't some poser, but a real-deal heartbreaker built for speed. The Chevy Orange paint is beautifully applied and offers a nod to tradition, but there's no sneaking around with this one. It's linked to a Tremec 5-speed manual transmission that means awesome acceleration but a tall overdrive gear for easy highway cruising. Long-tube headers and a Flowmaster dual exhaust system add to the already prodigious torque output and 4-wheel discs were installed to keep the party from getting out of hand. The tub is reinforced with subframe connectors and there are traction bars on the rear springs, which are probably a necessity at this point. Shiny Rally wheels add an appropriate OEM look and carry staggered 215/70/15 front and 265/70/15 rear blackwall radials.

Bloody fast and very nicely finished, this Nova doesn't pull any punches and delivers exactly the performance you'd expect from a car that looks this nasty. Call today!