The history of the Nova....A "Star" is born.....

People may think of the '60's as freewheeling-Musclecars,Beach Party movies, sex drugs and rock-n-roll. But even in the early '60's-long before Toyota, Datsun, and Subaru came ashore-the automakers were trying to cover every niche-and their was a market for compact cars that got good gas mileage. The Ford Falcon and the Plymouth Valiant and Dodge Dart were all top sellers in 1960 and 61, and all 3 were compact sedans with fuel-efficient 6-cylinder engines. Chevrolet wanted a piece of this market. The Chevy II Nova as it was initially called was introduced in 1962. Powertrain options included a 153 cubic inch 4-cylinder, and a 194 inch six-cylinder. Not may 4-cylinder versions were sold; and they aren't collectible. The six-cylinder models were the most popular. Because of it's light weight-about 2,700 lbs-hot rodders began swapping in small-block Chevy V8s and discovered that Novas made fierce drag racers. My cousin had a '63 Nova in high school with a 283 V8 ( bored out to 301 and pumped up ) and a 4-speed that was a rocket. He showed his taillights to many a GTO, Road Runner and Mustang. In 1964 the old "Stovebolt" 194 inch six was replaced with more modern and more powerful 230 inch version. The 195 hp and 220 hp 283 V8 became a factory option. Transmission choices were 3 and 4-speed manuals, and the two-speed Powerglide automatic. In 1965 the 275 hp 327 V8 was offered as well-giving the lightweight Nova GTO like performance, at least in a drag race.  For 1966 the body was changed becoming slightly larger, and the interiors more luxurious. The vaunted L79 350 hp 327 V8 from the Corvette was offered in the Nova SS-making it a genuine muscle car. 1967 models were basically identical. For 1968 the car was completely re-designed and this platform would last, with minor changes, through 1974. Although the 4 and six cylinder engines were still available-it was the V8 models that were the most popular. The 283 was replaced with a 307 inch version, and a new 350 inch V8 was introduced. Since the Nova shared the same basic subframe as the Camaro / Firebird, for the first time the 396 Big-Block was offered in the Nova for the first time. These cars were terrors on the street. In 1969 the 4-cylinder option breathed its last. A new 3-speed TH350 automatic replaced the two-speed powerglide behind most six-cylinder and V8 models. In 1970, Chevrolet briefly considered offering the mighty LS6 450 hp 454 in the Camaro and Nova as well as the Chevelle. Since the 396 was already an option-it would have been a no-brainer bolt in. An LS6 454 Nova? Guess what-the Hemi 'Cuda and Boss 429 Mustang would have had a new "Boss". As we know, the brass changed their mind and the mighty LS6 was only offered in the Chevelle line. 1971-72 brought no real changes except that compression ratios were lowered to run on low-lead gas, and the 396 was dropped. A 350 V8 was now the largest engine you could get. It didn't seem to hurt, as 1972 was a record sales year, as was 1974. Other GM divisions got Nova clones. In 1971 Pontiac introduced the Ventura II which was available with the 250 inch Chevy six, or a 350 inch Pontiac V8.  In 1973 5 mph bumpers debuted, and a hatchback model was offered as well. 1973 also introduced the Olds Omega and the Buick Apollo, which were Novas with minor trim differences and either 250 inch Chevy sixes or 350 inch Buick and Olds V8s. All the names of the X-bodys spelled out NOVA. ( Nova, Omega, Ventura, Apollo. I don't know if that's a coincidence or not. ) In 1975 the body was changed again and this would be the last one that would soldier on until 1979. A new 305 inch V8 was introduced in 1976, that had nothing in common with the old 307 that had been discontinued in 1973. ( The 307 was a 283 block with a 327 crank. 3.87x3.25 inch bore and stroke. The 305 was 3.74x3.48 using a 350 crank. The engineers were thinking the longer stroke would give the little motor more low-end torque. They were wrong, we all learned through the '80's and '90's- that a 350 has way more power,and the 305 doesn't really get any better mileage. ) Although the 250 inch straight six was still available,the 231 inch Buick built V6 was also an option, as was the 350 Chevy. Sales were dropping badly, as this was clearly a car with out a market. Musclecar buyers were buying Pontiac Trans-Ams and Z/28 Camaros in record numbers. The downsized G-bodies- Malibu, Monte Carlo, Cutlass, Gran Prix outsold the X-bodies by a wide margin to people who wanted mid-size sedans. Economy buyers were buying imports like Toyotas and Datsuns in record numbers. In reality-these last X bodies were pretty bad. They had ugly styling, they had no power, and they got crappy gas mileage. Gee, who wouldn't want that?  In 1980 the front-drive X-bodies were introduced. Today Novas have almost a "Cult" following among the gearhead crowd-especially the '68-72 models ( pre-5mph bumpers). If you want one-the '68-79 models make great hot rods. The engine bays will swallow any GM engine-( a 455 Pontiac Ventura is a great sleeper ) and any suspension or brake upgrades that fit a Camaro or Firebird fit these cars so their easy to set uo for drag racing or autocrossing. Sadly-it will not pass this way again-a car that's economical, fast, fun and cheap. Mastermind