Vehicle Description
Most of us know that concept cars, no matter how magnetic their
appearance, usually only bear a passing resemblance to the
production cars they inspire, but when Chevy unveiled its Super
Nova at the 1964 New York Auto Show, it would prove to have a far
greater impact than the norm, inspiring its manufacturer to give
the already popular Nova II a revamped and decidedly more
aggressive visage. This 1966 Chevrolet II Nova SS, with its
attention-grabbing exterior, powerful drivetrain and fresh,
well-appointed interior, is a great representative of the Nova's
venerated muscle car heritage.
Bright red paint, fitting for a timeless performance car like this,
sits in place of its original ermine white and provides far more
visual impact. Despite more than 50-plus years of action under its
proverbial belt, this Nova remains an impressively straight-looking
car, with level bumpers both fore and aft, tight lines between body
panels and doors, hood and deck lid that all open and close
smoothly. You can see the results of Chevy's aesthetic handiwork,
inspired by that pivotal concept car, in the form of this '66's
flowing, almost fastback-like rear roof line, more prominent front
grille, and contoured "humped" rear fenders that are similar to
those found on some of their larger models of the time. It's no
accident that Chevy also chose to offer a far more powerful V8
option than ever before on this version, as it looks every inch the
muscle car we now think of when the Nova nameplate is
mentioned.
A very impressive-looking black vinyl interior sits waiting inside.
The wide-backed buckets up front look nearly new and straddle a
well-fitted aftermarket console that provides welcome extra storage
space and perhaps an even more welcome pair of cupholders. To both
sides, the door panels have been completely refurbished, carrying
very clean trim and sitting flush against their door frames. You'll
find a great mix of stock and new components blended effectively
here, as the dash area largely retains its original configuration,
but now features an aftermarket air conditioning system under the
dash to keep you and your occupants comfortable, as well digital
Dakota gauges to keep an accurate read on your important motoring
functions. The dash pad sitting above the gauges has a supple glow
and sits flat with no cracks - an especially welcome sight with UV
damage-prone black upholstery. In back, the trunk area is all
tidied up, with a clean expanse of carpet lining the bottom and a
full-sized spare sporting a cover with the signature Chevy bowtie,
sitting securely stowed inside.
Chevy may have had performance-centric aspirations for this Nova to
match its more aggressive styling when it rolled out, but the
383-cubic inch stroked V8 certainly takes things a few steps
further than they had likely envisioned. Topped with a 4-barrel
Edelbrock carburetor, the engine pairs with a 700r4 4-speed
overdrive transmission to make up a great drivetrain - providing
enviable power off the line while still offering engine-sparing low
revs at highway speeds. Despite all its rubber melting power, this
Nova is an easy driver, with power steering that features a newly
replaced steering box, a host of new front end parts for an
improved ride, and power brakes at all four corners. A sizable
aluminum radiator sits up front to keep temperatures in check
during more demanding driving conditions. This pivotal Chevrolet
muscle car classic has a great stance on its 17" Ridler wheels,
outfitted with Ironman Imove Gen 2 radials.
Looking for the quintessential '60s American muscle car? Look no
further than this 1966 Chevrolet II Nova SS. Call today!
