A while back, we told you about the “Heavy Chevy” Chevelle, a sporty-looking trim package that added things like a blacked-out grille and hood pins. But Chevy didn’t stop at the Chevelle when it came to adding a go-fast appearance option to its lineup.
Enter the Chevy Rally Nova.
Only available in 1971 and 1972, the Rally Nova package gave you SS style without the SS performance—and perhaps more importantly, without the Nova SS price and insurance premium.
The Rally Nova option was exclusively available on the coupe, and could not be ordered in conjunction with SS package’s 200 horsepower 350ci L48 V8 (though buyers could opt for the 165 hp 350).
In other words, it was all show with—maybe—a little bit of go.
Similar to the aforementioned Heavy Chevy Chevelle, the Rally Nova’s go-fast look was accented by a unique stripe package, rally wheels, a blacked out grille and rear panel, and body-colored sport mirror on the driver’s side. But the Rally Nova kit also meant that other options were eliminated, like some external brightwork and other shiny accents.
There was a small vestige of performance included in the Rally Nova package too, in the form of an upgraded heavy duty suspension.
If you like under-the-radar GM performance cars, you’ll probably appreciate this story: Pontiac’s Sleeping Goat, the GT-37.
We spotted this particular 1971 Rally Nova at the recent 2023 Goodguys Summit Racing Nationals. It is impeccably clean…
…but far from stock.
Remember how we said the Rally Nova couldn’t be ordered with any serious performance engine options? Well, someone remedied that by stuffing in a glorious 454 Chevy big block under the hood.
From what we could tell, it’s mated to a TH400 transmission, but alas we couldn’t track down the car’s owner to get the full scoop.
This specific car is also missing the Sport Mirror and the unique wheels that original came with the Rally Nova, so we’re not sure if it began life as a Rally Nova or is now a tastefully-done tribute car.
But it doesn’t matter to us—it’s super clean and all sorts of amazing, either way.
Third gen. Rally Nova production ran from 1971 to 1972, with a little over 40,000 Rally Novas produced out of the 400,000+ total Chevy Nova models made during that timespan.
So seeing any Rally Nova is a rare example of a budget-friendly car with gobs of go-fast style—just don’t tell the insurance folks about the 454 lurking under this one’s hood!
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Update! An intrepid reader pointed out that we had overlooked the brief appearance of the “Nova Rally” package on the fourth-gen. Nova X-body platform. Produced from 1977 to 1979, the Nova Rally replaced the SS trim as the “sporty” variant of the Nova. Clicking the Rally box on the option sheet got you a different grille than a stock Nova, along with an upgraded dash cluster, a special stripe/badge package, and Rally-style wheels.
Sadly, the Nova name disappeared after 1979, only to return briefly on a front-wheel drive platform in 1985, before vanishing entirely in 1988.
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This article is a little lacking and does not have any photos of a factory stock Rally Nova. The car in the photo is not a good representation of a true Rally Nova. It has the wrong wheels, does not have a driver side sport mirror, which all Rally Novas came with, and the fully blacked out grill and headlight bezels are also incorrect. They should have bright bars at the top and bottom. Also, no Rally Nova came with the bright trim around the side windows. I did a Wikipedia article about the Rally Nova that is much more thorough and has a photo of a factory stock Rally Nova. You can find the article part way down on this Wikipedia page. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Chevy_II_/_Nova
Great Wiki article. Thanks for putting it together. I have a ’72 SS with the Skyroof option. You’ve helped confirm the rarity.
I grew up with a friend of mine, whose older brother, had a 1971, rally Nova, in Red. 350 engine, black interior. Nice car , but he never drove it over 75mph. And dude is 70 yes old ,and still drives it
Is this car still available
I had a 1972 Rally Nova it was Brown with metallic gold flake. 350, 3 speed. I loved that car, trade it for the Buick Regal (dump). Wish I could find it now. LOL!
I owned a 72 Rally Nova and drove it in High school.Loved that car.My senior yr.I rebuilt the motor and trans.Had it built a little stronger than stock.Then about 4 months of it being back on the road.A lady ran a red light Hit me and totaled it.Man I was sick.
Maybe it was a “rare car” until they put an incorrect motor in it. If it’s not original it’s just another base value used car
I owned a 1972 rally nova it was a burnt orange with a black vynl top and black interior factory 307 2bbl and power glide automatic those are not the correct wheels or center caps and you’re right the black out grill had silver bars on top and bottom and chrome headlight bezels I beefed up the 307 for barrel cam and headers and changed it over to a four-speed with a Hearst super shifter. It was very quick after that.
I had a 1972 Rally Nova, orange with the black stripes,350, black bucket seats 3 speed transmission Craiger wheels, traction bars , M-50 tires in the rear. I’m trying to find it for my son and daughter, they would like to get it back with us.
That was a darn nice looking car Snake!! It had a unique looking shifter in it, not sure if that was a factory shifter or not?
I had a 71 rally nova 350 3speed with rally wheels and no rally markings now that was fun
My dad had a 72 rally nova it was orange/gold ish with white stipes and said rally nova in back quarter panel it had a 3 speed. I was just a kid we used to play dukes of hazard racing around the Iowa gravel man those are great memories
I bought a 72 rally nova new right after graduation cranberry red black stripes 350 3spd. Yes the wheels are incorrect as the mirror wish I had a better view of the front end. These cars also came with rubber floor mats ,when you ordered the rally package you got carpeting instead.
I had a 1972 Rally Nova.It was green and black stripes. With a 307 in it. It had a automatic.
I’ve got a green one! With a black vinyl top…
I had a 1971 Rally Nova in burnt orange, black stripes. It had a 350, 245 horsepower, 2 barrel rochester carb backed by a muncie 4 speed. Other than a set of appliance headers and Eldebrock valve covers it was all stock. To say they didn’t have much get up and go is wrong. I ran it at a 1/4 mile track once when it had over 100,000 miles and ran a 14.10.
I feel like I have a yellow factory car. I need to know what it is.
I bought a new 1972 rally nova in January of 72 for $2915.00 cash out the door, was 17 years old,mine was pewter silver with a 307 with three speed on the floor sold it 6 years later, I wish I had it today
By the way they made Rally Nova’s in 77- 79 also. So u guys get the story right!!
Hey Mike, Yup, you’re exactly right. We completely overlooked the 4th-gen “Nova Rally” coupe. Thanks for reading and thanks for the reminder–we made the tweak in our story.
Yes. I owned a 1972 blue with white stripes. paid $2911.86 for it. unfortunately I wish I had keeper it. But traded it off on a 1974 Chevell Laguna.
There was a red one with black stripes running around town for years then one day i spotted it stacked on top of 2 cars at a scrap yard, i went inside and begged them to sell it to me but they wouldn’t, was a sad day.
Ive got a 1971 Rally nova, 1 owner my Dad Bought brand new waiting to be restored…….