Vehicle Description
For some guys, going too far is what it's all about. Don Yenko was
such a guy, and in 1969, he started stuffing 427s into the compact
Nova and created the Deuce, a car that really should be kept in a
cage. Since there are only seven or so known to exist today, you
can imagine how expensive and highly sought they are. So what's a
guy to do?
Well, you build your own. This neat little 1969 Nova gets the look
just right: one part low-buck grocery-getter, three parts street
brawler, and one part polished debutante. The result is more than
just a dressed-up Nova SS, but a car that will get attention just
for looking good. A lot of the credit must go to the handsome
Lemans Blue paint, which was apparently a favorite of Yenko's but
seldom seen on muscle cars of the era. Combined with the white
stripes, it has a very polished, upscale look that works rather
well here. Bodywork is good and the paint shines up beautifully and
you won't mind putting this one on the show field. But check the
weather report first, this car has never seen rain and doesn't want
to start to. Sure, there are a few imperfections here and there,
but they got the stripes right, so that's where everyone will be
looking anyway. Hood inserts are the way the factory made it rather
than some cowl-induction setup and with a blacked-out grille and
some nice chrome, the car looks bright, crisp, and nicely
finished.
The interior remains standard-issue Nova, albeit really clean and
nicely trimmed. Basic black is the color of choice in a car like
this, and the recent seat covers, door panels, and carpets really
dress things up inside. The 2-spoke steering with a skinny plastic
rim works with the no-frills look and the otherwise simple
surroundings. Factory gauges cover the basics of speed and fuel
level, with an auxiliary Sun Pro oil pressure gauge under the dash,
just for insurance on that expensive engine up front. There is a
basic AM radio, so it's ripe for the setup of your choice, and like
most Novas, it's light on options which is the only way to fly if
you're looking for maximum performance. The important thing here is
how nicely it's all finished, and in that regard, this car really
succeeds. Even the back seat looks great! The trunk is covered in
proper spatter paint and you can see that there's really nothing to
hide here.
Yenko was using big blocks, but the 454 cubic inch LS7 V8 in this
Nova gives it startling performance that even the original Yenko
427s would envy. It's obvious that good money was spent here,
starting with a 4-bolt main (casting number 3965774), a forged
steel crank, high dome pistons, and a Lunati solid lifter camshaft.
It looks right, from the bright chrome details to the Chevy Orange
block to the rumbling exhaust note, and they added a 427 decal to
the air cleaner to complete the illusion. A Holley 4-barrel
carburetor and Winters aluminum intake manifold are a combination
that was perfected years ago so the sucker runs superbly and with
long-tube headers, the torque curve is robust. A Muncie M21 4-speed
manual transmission snaps off easy shifts thanks to a Hurst shifter
and there are 3.73 gears in the 12-bolt rear end. Flowmaster
mufflers act as a warning to the unwary that this car is serious
about its job and the stance from the F70-15 Goodyears on Torque
Thrust wheels is pure 1969.
This is a spectacular nut-and-bolt restoration that has become an
icon. Better still, it's faster than any Yenko built and is
available for half the price. Now THAT is a bargain. Call now!
