468CI, BLUE PRINT HEADS, 720HP, NICE STREET/STRIP NOVA, RICHMOND 4 SPEED

There are a lot of guys out there who claim their cars make 700 horsepower, but the owner of this brutal 1972 Chevy Nova can back it up with a dyno sheet showing 720 real-world horses on tap. Freshly finished, this street/strip Nova proves that sometimes you really can have your cake and eat it too.

I suppose that if you're going to build a machine like this, there's no need to add flashy paint. Instead, they concentrated on getting the body straight and painted it Titanium Gray, a low-key color that seems to have an implied threat built right in. The Nova is always a great choice for a brute-force experiment like this, with a sturdy body structure, plenty of room under the hood, and a relatively light curb weight, and the 2-door post sedan is the right choice for channeling big horsepower. Fit and finish are above average, particularly for a car with this much performance, and the paint is so fresh that you can almost smell it. A professional cut and buff would take it to the next level, but the way it sits, especially with that big scoop on the hood, it has a very potent look. You'll also note that much of the trim was shaved, including the door handles, and a blacked-out grille was installed for a hardcore look. Chrome bumpers look right and add the perfect finishing touch to the all-business bodywork.

Race cars often feature bare-bones interiors in the interest of saving weight, but the fully finished passenger compartment of this Nova is simply impressive. New black upholstery was wrapped around a custom split front bench and the original rear seat, which, remarkably is still intact. The front seat offers a bit more lateral support as well as better access to the Hurst 4-speed shifter in the center. New white-faced Auto Meter gauges fit in the original instrument panel, along with a Monster Tach and shift light mounted up high. A blacked-out steering wheel matches the overall vibe of the car, and you'll have to forgive this shockingly fast machine for not having a heater or a radio, because they're just not part of the program when you're talking about something this fast. Everything is beautifully finished and brand new, and as I said, the level of finish is quite impressive. Even the trunk is neatly trimmed in matching black carpet, which frames a custom fuel cell and remote-mounted battery.

The 468 cubic inch big block sits proudly in the Nova's beautifully finished engine bay. With a big Holley double-pumper up top, high-rise intake, and blueprinted aluminum heads, and 11:1 compression, it's no secret where the horsepower is coming from. With just test and tune miles on the whole setup, it's fairly docile for having 720 horsepower on tap, and thanks to the professional build, it's got the supporting hardware to make it reliable. There's a big radiator up front, a new alternator, and a set of long-tube headers feeding Flowmaster mufflers with turndowns. The suspension was fully rebuilt and carries lots of fresh hardware, the 12-bolt rear has 3.73s and Moser axles inside, and the 4-speed is fed by a heavy-duty clutch. Right now it wears 215/70/15 front and 275/60/15 rear street radials, but something more sticky will make this car practically invincible.

Sure, there's always more in the car than a driver can get out of it, but with this Nova, astounding performance is quite accessible no matter who you are, and the exceptional finish quality makes it a pleasure to drive when you're not running hard. Call today!

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