Vehicle 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 bright Mulsanne Blue 1971 Chevy Nova is a fantastic example, a very potent SS350 that offers all the things love about the Nova, including a 4-speed and a good list of options.
This is an original code 26 Mulsanne Blue car, and the recent paint job captures the original hue pretty well. So many of these were brown or tan or something equally dull, it's nice to see one that had some style when it was new. Today, it's very crisp and the bodywork underneath is very nicely done. A solid, southern car all its life, it didn't take a lot of work to make it this straight, although you can tell it's a lot nicer than the factory workmanship. Good gaps all around indicate that someone knew what they were doing and cared enough to spend a lot of time getting it all lined up just right, and the doors open and close with precision. There's no way to documented whether this is a real SS, but all the correct SS emblems, including the rear valence and front grille, were rounded up and installed, along with a cowl induction hood and requisite 350 badges on the front fenders. It's a pretty convincing presentation that looks right. Chrome items like the bumpers are quite well done and are probably brand new reproduction items, and all the stainless has been polished up so it really shines against the blue paint.
Inside, you'll find a stock bench seat interior, which is not uncommon in early Novas, and with fresh seat covers, it looks great. There's no console of course, but there is a Hurst 4-speed shifter with cue ball knob and that industrial look is way cool all by itself. The carpets also look new and the dash pad is in great condition, so we're guessing that's been replaced as well. There is no radio and it's possible that there never was, but that only means you can focus on the more important job of driving or upgrade it to something that suits you better. It does, however, have factory A/C, which is a nice find, although the system is in need of service to be fully functional. The trunk is also correctly finished in spatter-type paint.
Under the hood, you'll find a stout 355 cubic inch Chevy small block that's mild enough to drive every day but potent enough to be a lot of fun. No, it's not the original, numbers matching block, but it is detailed as if it were. Chevy Orange paint on the block and heads looks great against the satin black engine bay sheetmetal, while finned Z/28-style valve covers and an open-element air cleaner give it a little flash. Edelbrock supplied the intake manifold and 4-barrel carburetor sitting on top of it, plus a stock-style chambered exhaust system for that unique sound. The floors are so clean you can still see all the original seams and stamping marks, and with power steering and brakes, this car is never a chore to drive. A Muncie 4-speed manual feeds a rugged 10-bolt that should last virtually forever in this lightweight package. 15-inch Rally wheels look flashy and wear fresh blackwall radials for a race-ready look.
This is a tastefully done car that has had a lot more than the asking price spent on it and will make you smile every time you turn the key. Call today!
