Vehicle Description
The formula was a good one: take a great-looking and lightweight
car and stuff it full with a feisty small block V8. This 1963
Chevrolet Nova SS Tribute (also known as the Chevy II) is a
road-ready, turn-key example of that formula in action, offering a
host of upgrades to make it a first-class cruiser with a ton of
eyeball appeal.
Deep, lustrous colors like the vivid Palomar Red paint on this Nova
help give Chevy's compact an imposing street presence. They're not
exactly big cars, which is integral to why they're so potent out on
the road, but in high-visibility colors you have no choice but to
treat them with respect. The paint and bodywork on this car are a
few years old and the paint remains in great, top driver-quality
condition with only a few very minor signs of age and use. It's not
a perfect show pony, of course, but if you like to drive, there
aren't many better Brawling Bowties for the job. The steel
underneath is quite straight and shows off good gaps, suggesting
that when the work was done they took really their time, and we
love the restraint shown by the builders for not altering the
Nova's original style - no cowl hood, no extra decals, no awkward
raked stance. Just good 'ol fashioned GM 'shoebox' design. Very
nice chrome and brightwork, including the factory grille,
tailpanel, and the 'Nova SS' logos on the quarters and rear end
give it just enough flash to get plenty attention as you go rolling
past, and that ample profile trim breaks up the red paint just
enough to keep things interesting.
The stock-style interior is neatly presented as well, offering
factory-spec seat covers, door panels, and carpets, all in black to
contrast the car's extroverted bodywork. Buckets are a nice find
and the rest of the interior pretty much sticks to the factory
recipe. If it was replaced, it was quite a while ago, but if it's
original it's remarkably well preserved, and its condition really
could go either way. The floor-shifted automatic has its own neat
little consolette that splits the front seats and the three-spoke
steering wheel was a Chevy favorite for years, adding a sporty
look. Even in an SS, the gauge package was little more than the
speedometer and fuel gauge, and the dials in this Tribute appear to
be original, so you know the car has led a pretty good life.
Options include an under-dash A/C system that's blowing cold thanks
to modern hardware behind it, a tilt steering column that provides
the driver with more room behind the wheel, and a new retro-style
AM/FM stereo that handles the tunes. And to complete the illusion,
a 'Nova SS' badge was added to the glove box to help the folks
inside remember that this is a special little car. The spacious
trunk was neatly restored using correct spatter-finish paint and
what could easily be the original mat, spare tire, and jack
set.
Due to pressure from sales of the all-new Chevelle, the Nova's
option list finally received a 283 cubic inch V8 in the mid-60s,
and although it decodes to a 1965 model block, that's exactly
what's under the hood of this bright red 2-door. With plenty of
chrome and polished pieces on the motor and accessories, the engine
bay really pops, especially with the contrast of the beautifully
finished black inner fenders and firewall. Upgrades ranging from
the chrome Chevrolet air cleaner and valve covers to a 4-barrel
Edelbrock carburetor atop a polished aluminum intake mean that it
all looks as great as it runs. Chevy Orange paint on the block
provides a classic touch, and the added bling of the chromed
alternator, A/C compressor, and power brake system all add to the
modern flavor under the hood. The 4-speed 200-4R automatic
transmission is plenty tough for V8 duty and provides an overdrive
gear that readies this shoebox for highway speeds, and it channels
power back to a heavy-duty 10-bolt rear end that's more than
capable. Ceramic coated long-tube headers feed into a dual exhaust
system underneath that gives the car a sinister voice and you'll
note that the chassis is very solid with no signs of trouble to
report. A modern front clip features tubular A-arms, coilovers, a
sway bar, power rack-and-pinion steering, and power front disc
brakes that improve this Chevy IIs road manners, and the upgraded
shocks and stock leaf springs in the rear help set the car's
stance. Classic Cragar S/S wheels really fill the wheel wells just
right and keep the '60s performance look intact, and they carry
215/65/15 BFGoodrich white-letter radials at all four corners.
A slick V8 SS tribute that has an awesome look with a
high-visibility punch. If you like the promise of light weight and
horsepower, then perhaps this Nova deserves a closer look. Call
today!
