Vehicle Description
1963 Chevrolet Chevy II
The popular Chevrolet Nova was introduced as the Chevy II in 1961
as a 1962 model. It offered buyers a third choice in terms of size,
standing between the compact Corvair and the full size Chevrolet.
The plans for the Chevy II began in December of 1959 with the code
name H-35. The Chevy II was designed as a relatively plain
intermediate "economy" car powered by four and six cylinder
engines, to steal sales away from the popular Ford Falcon.
Production began in August of 1961 and as the Chevy II gradually
became available with many engine, trim, and convenience options,
it joined in the performance ranks of the mid-60's as an
inexpensive muscle car. The 153-ci 4-cyl and the 194-ci 6-cyl were
all new engines when the Nova debuted on September 29, 1961. It was
the first car to offer a Chevrolet 4-cylinder engine since 1928.
That engine would later be used as a base for the development of
GM's 4-cylinder sub-compact engines of the late 70's and 80's.
In 1961 the NHRA decided to create a class for late model projects
from Detroit so they wouldn't be racing the likes of Stock and
Superstock competitors and embarrassing them on a weekly basis.
Come 1962, 3 classes were created for these cars based on cubic
inch to weight ratios. These classes were known as A/FX, B/FX, and
C/FX. For consignment, a very nice original example of the 1963
Chevrolet Chevy II built as a tribute to the B/FX class. Few faults
will be found on this clean white body with black interior classic.
Plenty of WOW factor, and spot on as to what a B/FX competitor was
showing off down the strips across our great country.
Exterior
No rust on these straight steel panels with well minded gaps. All
bathed in white paint showing a few frowns in the form of some
inclusions, orange peel and dry paint application are showing.
Everywhere you look is elegant simplicity and subtle hints of
speed...from the horizontal front shiny ribbed grille with blacked
out vertical bars to the beautiful bumper below you've arrived with
a shout! This 2-door sedan has been fully stripped of all its sides
molding and badging giving the body a nice unbroken look. The
window trimmings, door handles, and mirror are shiny and bright, as
are the curved rear glass trimming rear deck surround and
rectangular taillight/backup light bezels. More trim and emblem
shaving on the back and another shiny bumper bringing up the rear.
Wheels are a slightly darker painted steel blue, have nice polished
caps and are all wrapped in thin white wall tires. On the bottoms
of the rockers is a straight rust free stainless steel rocker
trimming, straight and true. Traditional American Racing Torque
Thrust wheels in 15" format fill the crisp clean wheel wells and
are shod in fat and skinny BF Goodrich blackwall rubber.
Interior
Much of the upholstery work was done by our consignor's wife and
let me just say, she could teach the boys in Detroit a thing or
two. Smooth black vinyl door panels with chrome delineation spears
provide the background for the door handle and window crank and set
off the black steel upper door section nicely. As we move inside up
front is the factory dash which is in pristine condition with a
fully black non padded stamped steel dash front and an aftermarket
tachometer added on top. Within this long pointed oval stamped
surface is the gauge cluster which is within a longer oval cluster
with gauges and warning lights. Fronting this radio and heater
delete dash is an original two-tone steering wheel in black with a
beautifully preserved horn ring and center badge. A lineup of knobs
and pulls are on the black lower portion of the dash along with a
trio of aftermarket gauges, and all are nicely restored. Deep black
carpeting keeps the two buckets and narrowed rear bench afloat and
provides nice mounting for the bolt in rollbar hoop. The front
buckets feature a horizontal tuck and roll central pattern with
smooth bolsters and the rear bench follows suit. We note some
wrinkling in the front seats but no wear or rips are evident. A
shout to the larger rear wheel tubs that look almost factory
installed and above is a very tight, clean black headliner.
Drivetrain
A rise of the hood and more visual excitement with the block bathed
in a thick coating of bowtie orange/red and black Edlebrock valve
coverings. An Edlebrock aluminum intake and 4bbl carburetor top
this mill off nicely. As to the particulars, the engine is in V8
format, is 350ci, it has within an Edelbrock Performer RPM camshaft
and valvetrain kit. An MSD ignition box, distributor and light the
fire and ensure that all the ponies are released. Bolted to the
back is a Tremec T5 5-speed manual transmission and in true drag
car B/FX format we see a narrowed 1963 Olds 9.3" rear axle with
4.11 gearing. A huge shout out to the engine bay with its support
bars and smoothed inner fenders which are part of the CPP front
suspension kit underneath.
Undercarriage
A mixture of black paint and some road dirt cover the well done
undercarriage of this rad ride. A strong aftermarket frame with the
rear section narrowed to accommodate the huge rear tires now
resting well within the mini tubbed wheel wells and this framing
continues supporting the floors with multiple support bars and
gussets. All supporting cast members are present and accounted for
like the front independent coil spring suspension courtesy of the
folks at CPP, a rack and pinion steering system, and a triangulated
4 bar system with coilovers for the rear suspension. Disc brakes
adorn the front and drum brakes are bolted on the rear. Snarling
snakelike headers work their way down to Cherrybomb mufflers before
dumping spent gasses out just in front of the rear axle.
Drive-Ability
I handed the keys to my muscle car aficionado and all around good
guy partner in crime for this drive and with a twist of the key the
tribute racer fired right up and settled into a healthy rumble. He
reported blistering acceleration, wonderful braking and good
handling for a car better suited going in a straight line. All
functions save for the wipers were working swimmingly during the
drive and he had a smile on his face that couldn't be erased.
A very nice full restoration with a now bigger engine, performance
extras and all the right looks to fit in at any nostalgia night at
the drags. Looking very 1960's on the interior and save for the
removal of the trim, American Racing wheels and huge rear tires one
would be hard pressed to know what lurks under the hood. Pull up to
the line, wait for the starter to drop the flag and give 'em hell
on your way to winning a Wally!
VIN DECODE
30111N230412
3-1963
01-Chevy II 100 Inline 4 Cylinder
11-2 Door Sedan
N-Norwood, OH Assy Plant
230412-Sequential Unit Number
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia
on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is
www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914.
Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the
vehicle in person.
