1965 Chevrolet Nova

Description

When you're looking to do a job, sometimes you need finesse. A little file work here, a little fitting there and you're done. Sometimes, however, you just need the biggest hammer you can find. This 1965 Chevy Nova falls into the latter: blown alcohol stroker motor, built suspension, sinister black paint...it's a 3000 pound sledge!

There's no hiding a roots-type blower and injection hat, but the massive cowl hood does its best. It's held down with Dzus fasteners, which should be like your 34th clue that this shoebox means business. Checking out the trim and paint you can see, though, that winning at the strip doesn't necessarily mean that poor cosmetics would cut it. The front fenders are fiberglass but extra time as spent to make them fit right and they fit as well as the original steel ones did. The front grille is very nice and the rest of the stainless is shiny thanks to a thorough buff and polish. Black is always the right color for a hot rod, and it looks great on a Nova of any generation, accenting the chiseled sheetmetal. The bumpers are bright and the car runs full glass windows, so it's not completely uncivilized. Yeah it's rowdy but it's a terror that turns heads.

Inside, early Novas are known for their uncluttered interiors, and this one has just enough race bits to make it a complete package. Clean door panels still have the proper cranks and armrests, there's carpet on the floor and a headliner above. You're holding onto a Grant steering wheel and staring down some serious gauges like the Auto Meter 5-inch tach. Painless Wiring supplied the switch panel and wiring while more gauges lie below, keeping an eye on the stout engine up front. A Hurst Quarter Stick ratchet shifter controls the transmission while supportive buckets hold you in place. It's a clean, purposeful place to hit ludicrous speeds.

Under the hood is a 434 Chevy small block all set up to go very, very fast. It's got a fully forged bottom end and a roller valvetrain with Jesel rockers. Brodix X heads take in huge amounts of air and fuel from the BDS 8-71 supercharger, which is currently set up to produce more than 15 pounds of boost. And while it'll go like a scalded cat it's great to show up at a show...nothing says "serious business" like safety straps on your blower! There's more than $20 grand in the motor alone with great parts like an MSD ignition, a Miziere water pump, an Enderle fuel pump and a Griffin radiator. Up front you've got a Heidt's suspension with tubular A-arms, coil overs, rack-and-pinion steering and disc brakes. At the rear is a full back-half job with a four-link and coil-overs. Massive wheel tubs allow for huge 33x21.5x15 rear wheels and tires, and that means that the engine's huge power can do more than pull off smoke shows. The exhaust exits through where the inner fenders should be and on to massive side pipes. The running gear is bulletproof with a built TH400 3-speed automatic transmission with a 4500 RPM stall converter and transbrake feeding power back to a stout Ford nodular iron 9-inch rear with 4.56 gears. The money was spent, no doubt.

Few race cars look as good as this one, and that's a real temptation. How fast can it be, asks your soon-to-be victims. And you have to admit, the hammer IS your favorite tool. Call today!