1966 Chevrolet Nova

Chevrolet designer Clare MacKichan recalled about creating the Chevy II: "There was no time for experimentation or doodling around with new ideas from either the engineers or from us in design; And it had to be a basic-type car." "I think that was the quickest program we ever did at any time," he continued. "We worked night and day on that car, and it didn't take very long to run it through our shop because we had a deadline." And that's what made the Chevy II one of the fastest new-car development programs in GM history – just 18 months after the designers got the green light, the first production Chevy II rolled off the Willow Run, Michigan, assembly line in August 1961, in time for its September 29 introduction. Unlike the Corvair, the 1962 Chevy II was deliberately never intended to be revolutionary in concept or execution; its mission was to give Chevrolet buyers a simple, back-to-the-basics compact car. When he announced the Chevy II to the press, Chevrolet General Manager Ed Cole described the car as offering "maximum functionalism with thrift."

Minimalistic with maximum function, thrift, not revolutionary in concept or execution, a compact grocery getter, pick the kids up kinda car, here in our Hallowed Halls. It is nearly so pedestrian you would walk by it and never notice it. However, while this was the initial thought for the Chevy II, this particular car goes above and beyond to meet every restomod expectation. With careful planning and the skillful hands tackling the build, near perfection has been achieved. Breathe in this multiple show winner with over 75 trophies and a few dollarinos to its award credit.

Exterior
The beneficiary of a total frame on restoration, countless hours were spent on the body with panel work, straightening, blocking and sanding. Then doing it all again to ensure panel fit and finish were better than anything to roll down the assembly line in Norwood, Oh. With hours of prep complete it was paint time and we see nothing but beautifully applied paint competing equally with beautiful chrome and trimmings. The car is now Viper Red with a cowl induction hood, billet style horizontal barred grille, single fender mounted headlight and expertly minded gaps throughout to bring out the smile in every gearhead. A mid belt line bump in the body is factory and helps break up the long slab sides. Make no mistake, the days of being a second car for the family are long gone and if the rest of the body doesn't tell you that the highly polished 15" American Racing Torque Thrust wheels surely do.

Interior
Straight and true black tweed, framed below by shiny black paint, cranks and handles and some tuck and rolling for the door panels are a preview of what's to come. Slipping inside snappy low back buckets grab your eye and your butt with tuck and roll bolsters, and smooth inserts in black tweed. These seats remain tear free and look just fab but do have some pilling of the material on the driver's bucket. In back a matching styled bench looks like it's never been sat in. A custom black plastic console runs between the front buckets that holds the B&M shifter. Black carpeting is flooding the floors and in front above the carpeting is a fully custom black padded top dash. On the polished tilt steering column is now mounted a rally style thick black rimmed wheel tachometer and in front of the driver is a mirrored panel holding a bevy of white faced AutoMeter Phantom gauges. To the driver's right is a septet of push buttons that control the lighting, the wipers as well as many other functions. A key card slot is noted on the dash and this functions as the ignition, much like opening a hotel room door. Meanwhile, above is a nice tight black headliner with a chrome trimmed dome light. A shout out to the well done trunk, fully finished in black carpeting with a red embroidered bowtie.

Drivetrain
Opening the hood we are hit with the money shot. Smooth mirrored panels cover the inner fenders and bracing to provide the backdrop for the blinged out consignor-stated 383ci stroker V8. This mill is topped with World Products cylinder heads and a Holley 750cfm 4-barrel carburetor. Dyno sheets are included which show this mill making an impressive 389 horsepower. Eye-catching polished aluminum and chrome abound in this bay and no stone has been left unturned, keeping things cool is an aluminum radiator and shiny chrome fan shroud. With all the mirroring and polishing going on in here you could shave and do your hair with perfect results. All of this is attached to a TH400 3-speed automatic transmission with a shift kit which sends power back to a 12-bolt Positraction rear axle with 3.73 gearing.

Undercarriage
Definitely involved in the redux, an independent suspension in front, and a leaf spring with traction bar suspension in the rear give this Nova a great ride. A strong black painted rust-free steel unibody with subframe connectors provides the backdrop for the flooring, which is seen with a heavy application of undercoating and is structurally sound. Hooker headers snake their way down past the front suspension and run to the rear of the car after passing through Flowmaster mufflers. Providing the stopping power are front disc brakes and rear drums.

Drive-Ability
There is nothing thrifty or stodgy about this once 6-cylinder any longer. With a slip in of the keycard the big V8 fired right up and settled into a nice lopey idle. I buckled my seat belt and was off to our well-hidden test track. In the straightaways this car had endless acceleration, and it handled the corners much like a modern muscle machine. Stop on a dime, bias free braking was noted, and I couldn't get enough of the sound of all 8 candles lit. True muscle car heaven here folks, oh and did I mention its FAST too?

Not exactly your mother's car that she took to the store to get the groceries anymore, although if she was in a hurry, it would be perfect. This car has been painstakingly restored with no stone left unturned and is absolutely beautiful. Plain Jane it ain't!

VIN DECODE
115376N161352
1-Chevrolet
15-Chevy II 400, Nova I6
37-2 Door Hardtop Sport Coupe
6-1966
N-Norwood, OH Assy Plant
161352-Sequential Unit Number

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.