1966 Chevrolet Nova

Coupe

427

Manual

Clear

I know I will regret selling this car but I desperately need the room. This Nova was built as a Marina Blue Super Sport with an AM radio, clock, and factory 4-speed. Previous owner told me it was an L79 car but I have no idea how to prove it. What’s unreal about this Nova is that it was converted into a serious street machine in the early 1970s and never changed back or restored. I guess you could call it a ‘gasser’ today, but it is more of a Street Freak. All the patina on this car is as God intended since it’s been this way for 40 years. This car gets more attention than any rare/restored/stock muscle car I own. It is the ultimate time capsule and I have tried to keep it totally period correct. The only modern parts on the car are the mufflers, battery, and aluminum radiator. The Nova has a straight axle from a mid 60s Ford Econoline and retains the stock relay rod to steer the wheels. Engine is a 427 – a 1971 454 block with a 1968 427 rotating assembly and heads and GM aluminum intake. It has a solid cam and Holley 800 and runs well. Trans is a 1968 Muncie M21 and the rear is a correct width 10-bolt with an Eaton posi carrier and 4.56 gears. The car is very fast. The lacquer paint from the early 70s and it’s tired like you would expect. The car has minor dents and dings from storage and the paint is crazing with areas of lifting/missing paint as you can see in the pics. I love the way it looks and had no plans to paint it. There was definitely some filler used on the quarters and the rear wheel areas have some rust which I tried to show in the pics. LH quarter was replaced very early in the car’s life and fits well. Floors are very nice after I replaced the center braces which were starting to get weak around the seat belt anchors. Trunk pan has some pinholes and isolated thin areas toward the back corners, see pics, that are cosmetic only and easy to fix if you wanted. There is a small rusted area in front of the rear bumper as shown in the pics. There is some rust at the back corner of each door jamb as shown in the pics. All in all this is a solid early Nova that was clearly not on the road for very long. Interior is pretty stock except for the shag and wood wheel (dated 1972) and Sun gauges (dated 1970) and fire extinguisher (dated 1973). I recovered the buckets and replaced the door panels as both were showing age. Hurst shifter is an old version with the big HURST block letters. Vintage chrome reverse wheels on the back with BFG Belted T/As, and 3.5” Fenton Gyros on the front with 6.00x15 Goodyears. The 427 has fenderwell headers with capped-off dumps and 2.5” tube to Pypes Street Pro mufflers. The headers are very old Hooker Super Comps and had to be welded near the collector to fix rusty/thin areas but they work and fit very well. I have spent a lot of time getting the Nova running and back on the road after decades of storage, and have driven it a few miles around town. However, this is not a new car and it does not look or behave like a new car. It still needs to be sorted out before I would drive it any distance. The brake pedal is a little soft, the rear howls at speed and there’s a driveline vibration that might be the tailshaft bushing on the trans. It handles like an old racecar and not like your Prius. The radio and clock don’t work, the speedometer isn’t accurate, the air shocks clunk, etc.... And even though the Nova was built with the current steering system I would convert to cross-steer steering to reduce bumpsteer. I did find the broadcast sheet in the passenger seat – see pic. The Nova has a clear Michigan title in my name. Terms of sale: $1000 non-refundable deposit due via Paypal within 48 hours of auction end. Balance of payment is due by certified funds (cashier’s check, USPS money orders or cash) within 72 hours of auction end. The Nova is sold as-is, where-is, with no warranty expressed or implied. It must be picked up within one week of auction end unless alternate arrangements are made with me. Winning bidder responsible for all shipping / transportation. High-res pics below: