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CHEVROLET NOVA History
Introduction: The
Chevrolet Nova SS represented Chevrolet's entry into the compact budget
muscle car battle. The Nova SS began life in 1962 as the meek Chevy II
but was soon made into a legitamate giant killer in 1964 with the availablity
of its first V8. It would soon adopt all the engines available in the Camaro
including the mighty 375bhp 396 V8. This all added up to the ultimate sleeper,
as well as the true reflection of budget performance.
1962 Chevrolet
Nova
 Comments:
The Chevrolet Chevy II was introduced in 1962 as a budget vehicle with
a more conventional front engine, rear drive layout than the unusual Chevrolet
Corvair. The Chevrolet Nova was the more upscale trim of the Chevy II.
The first engines were definitely not sporty, a weak 153 I4 with 90 bhp
and a 194 I6 with 120 bhp. A V8 engine swap was technically made available
in the mid year, but the option added another 75% to the car's price and
was not very popular.
Engines: 153 I4 90
bhp. 194 I6 120 bhp.
1963 Chevrolet
Nova SS
 Comments:
The performance image was added in 1963 with the addition of the Super
Sport package on the Chevrolet Nova. Strictly an appearance package, the
SS option added special trim and wheel covers, bucket seats, instrumentation,
and a deluxe steering wheel, all for the bargin price of just 1. This
was the only year that the SS option was available on the Nova convertible.
Production: 42,432
Engines: 194 I6 120
bhp.
1964 Chevrolet
Nova SS
Comments: 1964 saw
the introduction of true performance for the Chevrolet Nova SS with the
addition of its first V8 option, the 283 cid V8 with 195 bhp. Riding on
just a 110 inch wheelbase, the Nova SS low weight made it a contender on
the street.
Production: 10,576
Engines: 194 I6 120
bhp. 230 I6 140 bhp. 230 I6 155 bhp. 283 V8 195 bhp.
1965 Chevrolet
Nova SS
Comments: 1965 saw
the introduction of the L-74, a 327 cid V8 with 300 bhp (a 250 bhp engine
was also available).
Production: 9,100
Engines: 194 I6 120
bhp. 230 I6 140 bhp. 230 I6 155 bhp. 283 V8 195 bhp. 327 V8 250 bhp. 327
V8 300 bhp.
1966 Chevrolet
Nova SS
Comments: The Chevy
Nova SS was restyled for 1966 and finally joined the muscle car ranks with
the addition of the L79 option, a 327 V8 with 350 bhp that could propel
the light Nova SS to a 15.10 second quarter mile. Unfortunately, this engine
would be dropped for 1967.
Production: 21,000
Engines: 194 I6 120
bhp. 230 I6 140 bhp. 230 I6 155 bhp. 283 V8 195 bhp. 282 V8 220 bhp. 327
V8 275 bhp. 327 V8 350 bhp.
Performance: 327/350:
1/4 mile in 15.10 sec.
1967 Chevrolet
Nova SS
 Comments:
1967 saw no major changes except for the addition of optional front disc
brakes which came with beautiful slotted wheels. The introduction of the
Chevrolet Camaro resulted in the deletion of the mighty L79 in the Chevrolet
Nova. However, the L79 still made it into a few Nova SS and they made for
startling performers. A low profile exterior and a high power-to-weight
ratio made for the ultimate sleeper.
Production: 10,100
Engines: 194 I6 120
bhp. 250 I6 155 bhp. 230 I6 155 bhp. 283 V8 195 bhp. 282 V8 220 bhp. 327
V8 275 bhp. 327 V8 350 bhp @ 5800 rpm, 360 lb-ft @ 3600 rpm.
Performance: 327/350:
0-60 in 6.5 seconds. 1/4 mile in 14.9 seconds @ 96.5 mph.
1968 Chevrolet
Nova SS
Comments: The Chevrolet
Nova SS was redesigned alongside the new Chevrolet Camaro and thus shared
many of the mechanicals and powertrains. The Chevrolet Nova SS (the Chevrolet
Chevy II name was finally dropped) finally joined the big boys with a standard
350 V8 with 295 bhp and the addition of the mighty Chevrolet 396 V8 big
block. Standard in the Nova SS 396 was a 350 bhp while optional was a brutish
375 bhp which could propel the light Nova to a 13.85 second 1/4 mile at
104 mph. The 396 V8 with 375 bhp featured 11:1 compression, a big Holley
four-barrel on an aluminum intake, free-breathing heads, and solid lifters.
Top speed was estimated at 121 mph. The SS 396 featured a favorable 45%
of its weight on the rear axle, a favorable weight balance few muscle cars
could match. Despite this, torque and tire slip were constant problems.
The SS package added SS badges, black-accented grille and tail, and simulated
hood air intakes but was basically still understated. The SS was listed
as just an option package from 1968 on, instead of a separate trim level
like before.
Production: Nova
SS: 5,571 Nova SS w/ 396/350: 234 Nova SS w/ 396/375: 667
Engines: 350 V8 295
bhp. 396 V8 350 bhp @ 5200 rpm, 415 lb-ft @ 3200 rpm. 396 V8 375 bhp @
5600 rpm, 415 lb-ft @ 3600 rpm.
1969 Chevrolet
Nova SS
 Comments:
There were no major changes for 1969 for the Chevy Nova SS. The standard
SS package with the 350 cid V8 cost just an extra 0 above a base Nova
coupe and included a special suspension, red stripe F70x14s, and power
front disc brakes. To replace the 350 with the L78 396 V8 375 bhp engine
cost an extra 0, but even with the 4 close-ratio four speed transmission,
limited slip differential, and excellent fast-ratio power steering,
the total cost was still under ,500. In 1969, a total of 5,262 Nova SS
were built with the 375 bhp 396 while another 1,947 were built with the
350 bhp 396 engine. Total SS production for totaled 17,654 units.
The biggest news for 1969
was the very limited Yenko Nova 427. Unlike COPO Camaros and Chevelle's,
the Yenko Nova 427 engines were not factory installed. Instead, Yenko ordered
Super Sport Novas equipped with the 396 V8 with 375 bhp and promptly dropped
in the Chevy 427 with 425 bhp at the dealership. As with the Yenko Camaros
and Chevelles, Yenko rated the 427s at a realistic 450 bhp. Yenko Nova
427s were available with either the close-ratio Muncie four speed with
Hurst linkage or a Turbo Hydra-matic with Hurst Dual-Gate shifter, mated
to a heavy-duty 4.10:1 Posi axle. The Novas had 14x7-inch wheels, as opposed
to the 15x7s on the Yenko Camaros and Chevelles but were available with
the usual Yenko supplied headers, Atlas mags, and tachometer. On the exterior,
they were dressed up with Yenko stripping, 427/Yenko badges, and "sYc"
headrests. Built in both 1968 and 1969, they were extremely rare with only
37 built in 1969, well short of the numbers of Yenko Camaros and Chevelles.
But with less weight than either -- even less than a 427 Corvette -- the
L72 Yenko Nova was probably the fastest automobile Don Yenko ever offered.
Production: Nova
SS: 17,654 Nova SS w/ 396/350: 1,947 Nova SS w/ 396/375: 5,262
Engines: 350 V8 295
bhp. 396 V8 375 bhp @ 5600 rpm, 415 lb-ft @ 3600 rpm. (Yenko) 427 V8 425
bhp @ 5600 rpm, 460 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm.
Performance: 396/375:
0-60 mph in 5.9 seconds. 1/4 mile in 14.5 seconds @ 101 mph. (Yenko) 427/425:
0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds. 1/4 mile in 13.2 seconds @ 103 mph.
1970 Chevrolet
Nova SS
Comments: The big
change for 1970 was Chevrolet's decision to slightly modify the venerable
396 engine to meet new emission standards. The result was a slight enlargement
of the big block to 402 cid although Chevrolet still refered to the engine
as the "396" or the "Turbo Jet 400" to take advantage of its name recognition.
Production: 19,558
Engines: 350 V8 295
bhp. 402 V8 350 bhp. 402 V8 375 bhp.
1971
Chevrolet Nova SS
Comments: The 402
V8 was dropped for 1971, leaving the 350 V8 with 270 bhp as the top engine
choice as General Motors dropped compression ratios to comply with Federal
regulations forcing the use of unleaded fuel. Performance suffered accordingly.
Engines: 350 V8 270
bhp.
1972 Chevrolet
Nova SS
Comments: The top
performance Nova SS for 1972 was powered by a meager 200 bhp four-barrel
350 V8 as performance continued to decline. Although the Nova SS would
live until 1976, true Nova SS performance ended in 1972.
Engines: 350 V8 200
bhp.
Performance: 350/200:
1/4 mile in 15.5 seconds @ 88.4 mph.
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