Vehicle Description
The formula was a good one: take a lightweight car like the Chevy
II and stuff it full of Corvette V8 prowess. This 1962 Chevrolet
Chevy II (also known as the Nova) is a road-ready example of that
formula in action, and it offers a host of upgrades and a
top-flight restoration that make it a first-class cruiser with a
ton of eyeball appeal. And yes, it's got a 4-speed manual gearbox
too!
Subtle colors help give Chevy's most popular compact a bigger
presence, and you're probably not going to see this one coming
until it's too late. They're not big cars, which is why they're so
potent out on the road, but in dark colors you have no choice but
to treat them with respect. The sinister, deep black paint and
bodywork on this car was done to a very high standard and remains
in excellent overall condition after only 1,376 reported miles on
the build. And because it's so fresh and has seen so few miles out
on the open road, there are really no signs of use to speak of.
It's not a perfect trailer queen that should be sealed away in a
museum (although we would rate it as a borderline show-quality
classic), of course, but if you like to drive, there aren't many
better Bowties for the job. The steel underneath is laser straight
and shows off near-perfect gaps, clear evidence that the builders
really took their time when they were putting this car together.
Tasteful pinstriping on the hood and deck lid add a touch of
sophistication to this black beauty, along with just enough
contrast to break up the black finish a little. Nice chrome and
brightwork, including the factory grille, bright bumpers fore and
aft, and finned rocker panel molding give it just enough flash to
get some extra attention as you go rolling past.
The interior is extremely well done too, offering fresh upholstery
and carpets throughout, all in bright red to perfectly complement
the car's miles-deep black paintwork. Period correct low-back
buckets up front are in fantastic shape, as is the matching rear
bench, and the rest of the interior is on the same high-end level
and manages to pretty much stick to the factory recipe throughout.
The door panels were restored to stock as well and look completely
untouched, an aftermarket 3-spoke steering wheel was swapped in for
some added sportiness, and the plush red carpets on the floors are
protected with black 'Bowtie' carpeted mats. A Hurst shifter with a
cue ball knob manages the 4-speed manual below and it's a whole lot
of fun racking it through the gears and hammering down the
throttle. The factory gauges in the dash cover the basics, but an
AutoMeter tachometer was neatly strapped to the steering column and
a trio of aftermarket dials were hung underneath the dash to
augment the original pieces. Above that aftermarket gauge stack is
a factory-style A/C unit from Old Aire Products that pumps cold
R134a air throughout the cabin. And just above it, an upgraded
retro-style AM/FM/Cassette radio lives in the center of the dash,
while a set of seatbelts were added up front for safety. The back
seat was upholstered to match the low-back buckets up front and the
super-clean trunk carries a correct mat, a full-size tire, and a
relocated battery inside a dedicated tray.
Factory Nova's didn't come with V8s until 1964, but nevertheless,
the powerful 350/375HP small block V8 that was swapped into this
lightweight car looks as if it always belonged. Donated from a 1970
Corvette with all the machine work completed by the pros at
Arlington Machine Shop, it utilizes authentic finishes and
equipment combined with polished and chrome dress-up pieces, and it
has a great period-performance look with plenty of horsepower on
tap. Upgrades include double hump heads, a Comp cam, Edelbrock
intake manifold, Holley 4-barrel double-pumper carburetor, a giant
aluminum radiator with an electric fan, and an HEI ignition. So,
it's not just pretty, it has plenty of pop for the modern
environment, too. The Muncie M21 4-speed manual transmission is
plenty tough for V8 duty and channels power to a 10-bolt rear end
with 3.73 posi-traction gears, borrowed from a 1964 wagon.
Sanderson shorty headers feed into a burly Flowmaster dual exhaust
system that gives it a sinister voice and you'll note that the
chassis is in great shape with clean floors and lots of newer
hardware, including a strut-rod conversion kit with a 1-inch sway
bar up front, and multi-leaf springs with adjustable drag shocks
out back. Shiny Rallye wheels really fill the wheel wells nicely
and keep the '60s performance look intact, and they carry staggered
195/70/14 front and 225/60/14 rear BFGoodrich T/A white-letter
radials with plenty of grip.
This is one mean little Chevy II with a ton of firepower on tap. If
you like the promise of light curb weight coupled with heavy
horsepower, all wrapped up in a show-worthy vintage package, then
perhaps this Nova deserves a much closer look. Call today!