Vehicle Description
Chevy's all-new Nova hit the streets in 1968 and despite its
mission as a modestly-sized, affordable car, the engineers at GM
made sure that a big block would fit comfortably under the hood.
Because of this, cars like this super-clean 1969 Chevrolet Nova
make for some very impressive street machines, offering a
strong-running 402 V8 LS3 big block in that lightweight 2-door
sedan body shell. And with all that pop you get a big heaping of
good looks too, with a sinister black-on-black color combination
set against some eye-blinding bright chrome that really gets the
crowds in an uproar. Take a closer look but do so quickly, because
whenever a mysterious black hat like this rolls into town, he never
stays long.
But before we get to all that power under the bonnet, let's have a
good hard look at how beautiful this street brawler actually is.
The finish is recent and gives the car a definite performance look,
with a depth of clarity that only comes from layers of high-quality
paint put down right over a straight body. Traditional 'SS' and
'396' badges, chrome vents in the hood, and the body-long trim
slashed down the profiles give it that street swagger that
practically defines the era. The paint is in great shape with nary
an imperfection to speak of short of one pinkie-sized touch-up we
found on the hood, with none of the hazing and light scratching you
usually see on black vintage metal after it's been washed
incorrectly a dozen times. Forgoing the requisite obnoxious stripes
down the middle of the car means that it's actually different
enough to stand out in a crowded field, and you can tell a lot of
care went into the restoration when you look down the sides and see
how straight the bodywork really is. The whole car fits together
rather well with doors that close easily, a hood that fits flush,
and just a bit of rake to accentuate the Nova's semi-fastback
profile. Always a favorite of Chevy fans, the '69 Nova's grille is
a very attractive design that seems to wrap around the headlights,
setting the tone for the rest of the car from the onset. Chrome
bumpers fore and aft, a bit of polished stainless around the
windows, and a tough-looking rear-end with a blacked-out tail-panel
and dual exhaust tips jutting out underneath result in one
clean-looking chunk of elegant vintage muscle.
You can tell the interior was built for combat as well, with
high-back buckets, 3-spoke steering wheel, and a console shifter
that set the tone inside. The Nova's no-frills attitude gives way
to restored comfort that includes those neatly appointed black
bucket seats up front and matching bench in the back - all
upholstered in vintage vinyl that still looks great today. Factory
gauges fill the stock dashboard, and they're joined by a pair of
auxiliary gauges in the usual spot underneath, while the dash pad
up top is crack-free and clean, matching the presentation of the
beautiful door panels. An older AM/FM/Casette 'Coustic' radio
handles the entertainment and the original heater/defroster unit
will need some service to once again be effective. The center
console splits the buckets and houses the chrome shifter for the
automatic transmission, and with plush black carpets at your feet
and a taut headliner above, the blacked-out cabin has a tidy
all-together feel that's just right for this vintage Nova. Out
back, the trunk is surprisingly spacious and clutter-free to show
off just how solid the pans in this '69 really are.
The aforementioned 402 cubic inch V8 LS3 under the hood is the star
of the show, putting big block punch inside the Nova's lightweight
package. Borrowed from a 1970 Chevelle and packing a factory-rated
330 horses, it's a neat fit in the Nova's engine bay that looks
great, so you can easily where the money was spent on this one. A
Holley 4-barrel carburetor lives atop a Weiand Stealth intake
manifold for easing breathing, and the bright chrome valve covers
and matching open air cleaner add a lot of pop to the otherwise
satin black engine bay. The Chevy Orange enamel on the block is a
familiar and correct look and with a nimble body and responsive
power front disc brakes, this Nova is always a pleasure to drive. A
big radiator keeps things cool while long-tube headers feed a
Flowmaster dual exhaust system underneath that's a perfect baritone
complement to the lopey 402 engine. The TH400 3-speed automatic
transmission shifts cleanly and the heavy-duty 12-bolt rear end
doesn't seem to mind the torque churning through it. Staggered
215/65/15 front and 255/60/15 rear white-letter Mastercraft tires
on polished Eagle Alloys wheels complete the potent look, giving
this Nova a perfect stance.
Nicely built, attractive, and impressively fast, this big block
Nova offers everything you'd want in a vintage muscle car. Call
today!
