1966 Chevrolet Nova Restomod

Description

Just when you think you've seen it all, a car like this 1966 Chevy Nova shows up and proves that there are still a few tricks to be found. The elegant, classic, and artfully done paint job makes it stand out, but it's still the big power in a lightweight package that makes this Nova truly sing.

This nasty black Chevy II is a showstopper, with a bit of attitude and a lot of artistic talent wrapped up in its gorgeous bodywork. The finish is obviously extremely nice with a brilliant shine, but that part's relatively easy. What's not so easy is getting the bodywork laser straight and the way the ultra-glossy paint emphasizes the slight kick-up in the quarters makes this former economy car look a lot more substantial and expensive. The black is deep enough to jump in and swim around in, and still looks super-fresh with only 2000 miles on the build. No alterations were made to the trim, which is all nicely restored or replaced, and even the hood is original, not some aftermarket cowl-induction setup. You'll note that the bodywork lines up well, critical on even the lowly Nova due to the body line that runs from nose to tail, and they made sure all the brightwork was up to snuff before bolting it back on.

The black interior looks new from the headliner to the carpet, and in the same way the exterior is expertly rendered, the passenger compartment is beautifully done. Factory seats were wrapped in new seat covers, and the back seat looks completely unused. The steering wheel is obviously a custom piece designed to look a bit like a later Camaro unit, but the shifter on the console looks vintage 1966, just as it should. Big, round Auto Meter gauges were installed in a custom panel that almost looks OEM the way it blends into the original dash, and discreet A/C vents were installed underneath. The original AM/FM radio remains in the dash and sadly, it's out of commission, but to be honest, you won't miss it one bit once you hear the cackling stroker motor under the hood. And in back, there's a very clean trunk finished with black carpets and custom side panels that really look well-tailored.

You could always get small block power in your Nova, so it should be no surprise to see a well-dressed 383 cubic inch V8 under that hood. Customized with chrome accessories that sparkle against the black inner fenders, it matches the rest of the car's highly detailed look. A Holley 4-barrel carburetor on a polished high-rise intake manifold help make horsepower and judging from the condition of the paint on the block, it hasn't been driven much since it was completed. Ceramic-coated long-tube headers and Flowmaster mufflers give it that familiar Chevy high-performance sound, and with a 700R4 4-speed automatic transmission and a 10-bolt rear end, you don't need to worry about damaging this car by having a little fun. The underside is quite clean, with the tub reinforced by subframe connectors, and the rear springs are monoleafs augmented by a set of coil-overs. Oh, and there's a giant front sway bar that really nails down the handling plus 4-wheel disc brakes to keep it all under control. The stance is perfect, sitting on those classic polished Torque Thrusts, which are wrapped in 195/65/15 front and 225/60/16 rear performance rubber.

A very trick, very fresh custom that takes one of the most popular cars of the period and turns it into something that'll look awesome for years to come. Call today!