1967 Chevrolet Nova Chevy II Restomod

Description

This 1967 Chevy Nova Restomod (aka the Chevy II) would look great no matter what you did with it, but even the original version can't compete with the amazing street machine it has become. Huge horsepower from a modern 6.2L LS3 V8, five gears in the transmission, and stunning Tuxedo Black paint all work together to create one of the cleanest, meanest pro-touring/resto-mod Novas we've ever had the privilege to feature.

The minimalist shape of the Nova can be traced to its origins as an economy car, but when everything is done to a high standard, it pops out as something very special. The sheetmetal is so tight it appears stretched over the Nova's chassis, and the single character line that stretches from nose to tail seems to visually make the car seem longer and lower than it really is. The brilliant Tuxedo Paint looks simply spectacular, with a miles-deep finish that only hours of tedious hand sanding can achieve. Sure, it's not a perfect trailer queen, and upon very close examination a flaw or two could be unearthed, but for a top-dog driver-quality sled you won't get much better than this around this price point. Great panel alignment also contributes to this car's almost intangible good looks, along with a brilliant shine that's a result of a good color sand and buff. A cowl hood always kicks things up a notch in the aggression department, but thankfully this isn't one of those 6-inch monstrosities that takes away from the rest of the car, but rather a more subtle piece of livery that looks perfect when matched-up with the pillar-less, hardtop body style. The slick body molding running along the bottom flanks only serves to highlight the car's most interesting features and it's all in fantastic condition that will stop people in their tracks at the next big classic car event. Up front the grille looks practically flawless, punctuated with the familiar 'Nova SS' badge embedded within, while the tail panel trim out back serves as the perfect bookend for the sinister black car. Big bumpers fore and aft add even more spark, and the oversized wheels fill the fenders so neatly it's as if a shoehorn was needed to get them tucked in just right.

For the most part, the interior was restored to stock condition, although a few choice additions have greatly improved the look and feel inside. There are fresh red vinyl seat covers on the factory bucket seats and rear bench, accented with contrasting white stripes down the center of the seatbacks, and the stock design is matched on the door panels that also look practically brand new. The matching red carpets below are plush and tightly insulate the cabin, and the center console houses a cue-ball topped Hurst shifter for an industrial-strength, sporty look. Upgrades like the polished chrome tilt steering column with 3-spoke steering wheel, Stewart Warner gauges inside a machined bezel, and chrome and billet knobs and handles give it a modern flair that's the essence of the restomod movement. A cleverly engineered A/C system integrates neatly into the original dashboard without significant modifications, as does the retro-style AM/FM/Cassette stereo just above it. The back seat is still comfortable and fully functional, so grab some friends and go cruising, and the trunk is finished neat spatter paint and floor mats carefully laid around the fuel cell and space-saver tire and jack set.

Big power in a little package was the Nova SS calling card from day one, and with a stout 6.3L LS3 V8 engine under the hood, this one carries some serious blasting powder. Tuned to run on pump gas and fitted with a Holley 4-barrel carburetor and GM air-gap performance intake, this isn't just some lazy truck engine, but rather a quick-revving, high-winding street assassin that perfectly complements the Nova's compact size and agile handling. The gorgeous engine bay has been built to show off, with fabricated and blacked-out inner fenders, a smoothed black firewall, and that incredibly cool, dual-snorkeled air cleaner adorned with bright decals. There's also a set of LS3 valve covers at the flanks of the motor, a serpentine belt system that powers all the modern accessories, and a big, aluminum radiator with an electric fan that keeps the whole show nice and cool. The chassis has been heavily massaged as well, including a Heidts front suspension set-up with tubular A-arms, coil-over shocks, power 4-wheel disc brakes, and a power rack-and-pinion steering system. Out back there's more performance goodies like a 4-link and coilovers, while a throaty dual exhaust system with Flowmaster mufflers sounds absolutely amazing, both at idle and full song. The Tremec 5-speed manual transmission features a pretty deep overdrive gear, so it doesn't mind the relatively short gears in the Ford 9-inch rear, which also has disc brakes on both ends. The suspension has been devilishly lowered, so it hunkers down just right over those beautiful polished Billet Specialties wheels which wear staggered 225/45/17 front and 275/40/18 rear performance redline radials.

Incredibly well finished, insanely fast, and still very easy to drive, early Novas don't get much nicer than this pro-built hardtop. Call today!