Vehicle Description
1962 Chevrolet Nova AFX Gasser
By the mid-1960s the muscle car era was starting to hit its stride
and drag strip bragging rights had developed into a proven
marketing tactic. The NHRA's Super Stock and A/Factory Experimental
(A/FX) classes were among the most hotly contested battlegrounds in
drag racing at the time, giving the factory teams high visibility
to amateur racers and potential garden-variety buyers alike while
also showcasing the latest hardware that the companies had in
development. One of the most distinctive and interesting eras in
hot rodding was when Gasser-class and altered wheelbase machines
were changing the definition of what a hot rod was. Eventually, the
altered wheelbase machines gave rise to the Funny Car, but before
they did, they left a permanent mark on the history of drag
racing.
With form being dictated by function, this gasser appears very top
heavy and ungainly, largely due to its front end being raised
higher than stock, to assist in the weight transfer during rapid
acceleration (racing) . Having menacing looking twisted headers
exiting through the front fender well, and some outrageous gold
leaf style lettering and the rest of the car painted in a heavy
metal flake red, this car is ready for front lift off! Don't forget
the altered wheelbase and this baby, nicknamed "Novacaine", will
leave your competition feeling numb.
Exterior
The original Nova look on this car has been mostly retained on this
rarely seen 400 series model, but now it has a high stance. On its
sides a nice belt line trim spear which goes from a chrome stripe
to chrome with black highlighting towards the middle of the doors,
adds a nice accent to the metal flake red. Window trimmings and
drip moldings are shiny and brite and give the perfect backdrop to
the era correct red tinted glass. More chrome for the rear quarter
panel mounted Nova badging and trunk lid surround surround and
rectangular taillight bezels. The original Nova design has been
retained throughout but the injector hats poking out of the hood at
different heights tell us that this is no longer grandma's grocery
getter. And if that wasn't enough to make you do a double take, the
rear axle has been moved forward to not only create better
stability but to also enhance traction. Snarling silver headers
hover above 15-inch chrome 5 spoke Cragar wheels in front wrapped
by tiny 5.60-15's and on the rear wide and sticky N50-15's plant
the power. Bringing up the rear is a set of wheelie bars to try to
keep that front end firmly on the ground.
Interior
Opening the doors we can still see the original door panels fully
put in the game with their black embossed panels stamped into them.
This provides the background for the armrest, the doors handle and
window crank, along with a few more badges and an accenting bar top
and bottom in chrome. As we move inside up front is the factory
dash which is in pristine condition. We see a black padded dash top
with no cracks or errors here, and the black painted stamped steel
takes over for the dash front. 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 delete
dash is a metal flake red rimmed steering wheel with an archer
designed horn button. Strapped to the steering column is a Don
Garlits tachometer in a red, white, and blue mounting pod. A lineup
of knobs and pulls is on the lower portion of the dash, as well as
a trio of aftermarket gauges and all are nicely preserved. Deep
black carpeting keeps the front buckets and rear benches afloat.
These are made up of shiny black vinyl bolsters and upper backs
with more embossed panels and the inserts are a cool 60's tuck and
roll design. A shout out to the custom 3-point roll bar and hump
mounted Hurst shifter. Above is a very tight, clean, black vinyl
headliner and fully functioning light in the center of the
roof.
Drivetrain
Lifting the hood reveals the heart of this mundane grocery getter
turned street beast. Lying in wait is a fresh Merlin block 496ci V8
bathed in a beautiful red/orange color. Polished and ported
aluminum L88 cylinder heads are on top, and this mill is fed by
FAST fuel injection under the canted and polished Enderle stacks.
MSD ignition is on to light the fire within, and some snappy ribbed
and polished valve covers finish out the show nicely. On the back
is a Lakewood blow-proof bellhousing and an Autogear 4-speed manual
transmission and in its new location, a Moser big bearing Ford 9"
rear axle with 4.11 gears and Positraction is on to handle the gobs
of power the mill makes.
Undercarriage
A solid front axle with semi elliptic springs is up front and gives
this car its wild high stance and on the rear are ladder bars and
leaf springs. Drum brakes are all around and we note the snakelike
fenderwell headers flow down exhaust piping with glasspack mufflers
that end just in front of the rear axle. All solid for the chassis,
unibody and rockers with just some paint chip off and surface rust
being notable.
Drive-Ability
My crack decoder and all around good guy took the helm for this
drive, (actually he was begging and whining so to avoid him making
a scene I let him drive). He reported that this car lights right up
and after a few seconds of getting acclimated to the red tinted
glass it was a thrill and a hoot to drive and hear echo off the
exterior walls of the massive Classic Auto Mall. The only issue he
had during the drive was the Don Garlits tachometer failed to read
rpm but all else was working swimmingly.
A true gasser, never raced and only used for shows, runs on pump
premium gas, has the look with the raised front end gnarly exhaust
pipes, plenty of engine mods, and a nicely finished almost stock
appearing interior. All quality parts make up this wild and
wonderful wheelstander.
VIN DECODE
204370129497
2-1962
04-Chevy II Nova 400 I6
37-2 Door Coupe
O-Oakland, CA Assy Plant
129497-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
04B-2nd Week April Build
STYLE 62 0437-1962 Chevy II Nova 400 2 Door Coupe
BODY Illegible
TRIM 775-Red & Ivory Vinyl
PAINT Illegible
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.
