Gibb 68 COPO Nova
 

The Casting number associated with the automatic transmission of the Fred Gibb 9738 Nova's & the input end of trans.

Gibb 68 COPO Nova
 

These are the application codes for the Turbo Hydramatic transmission. Note the date the CX code was added!

Any more details of your Nova, Ray? I love this car!!

Thanks for the interest within the Gibb COPO Nova's. It has truly been a blessing to associate a car bought through a local authorized Chevrolet dealer because of an article published and fully read in detail about the all new and available 396-427 automatic Nova. Fortunate to be successful in checking the availability of the 427 version, the local salesman called Dick Harrell Performance Center in Kansas City MO to check on one? No problem of it being available, so from there a price was quoted, which was agreed upon with a L-79 Nova trade-in, with the understanding there was a waiting period of about 10 days & the only choice of color was blue. Knowing from the beginning it was a Dick Harrell 427 Nova, it was about 20 years later that there was more to be learned about the history surrounding the Nova and about the involvement associated with another well known Hi-Peformance and successful Chevrolet dealer from LaHarpe, IL that had a special interest in keeping Chevrolet competitive. I am truly grateful & honored to speak with Fred Gibb a few times and uncover some history of the mystery 68 COPO Nova's.

Dave, too, just had a peak of your site noticing the very appealing 409. Never did own one, but have a soft spot in my heart for the old "W" engine powered cars.

Dave, Fred had 50 of these Novas built for this purpose. This picture had some modifications added from the original purchase with 4:88 gearing, Lakewood traction bars, & 10:50 X 15" slicks, plus a hi-stall converter. Notice the absence of the fiberglass hood with small hood scoop.

Ray, I was recently thinking about this car. I met you MANY years back, but please tell me you still have it? And if you don't mind me asking, how old are you now?

Frank,
Yes, I do still have the Nova. It has been with me for 57 years coming November 11. I, myself, have survived for 83 years, but still have the urge to talk & listen to others.

The Nova has led me to friendship with many special people in relation to so many stories of others cars or past experiences. Being able to look back in the past with others has been a highlight of my personal life!

I hate to ask as I should remember, but where was it we met?

I am betting it was as the Super Car Reunion the same year Frankie was having a pep talk with Annie before her run or maybe the year Frankie raced his Deuce. Those two could have been the same year. How may reunions did you make Frank.

Can I have it :-) ?

----Ray,,,I'm just at the cusp of the 80's (77 going on 78) and can say I agree with your comments. So wish I would have had a way to hang on to a number of the many cars that passed thru my hands. Payments precluded me keeping so many back then. Even so it has always been fun in so many ways. Feel the same way about friendships!....Bill S

Is there a tally about how many of the original 50 cars are accounted for?

‘
Link to the Registry here on the SYC, note Known column…
https://www.yenko.net/forum/showthread.php?t=125983
:beers:

.

Thanks pete! 11 out of 50

Pete, thanks for posting this link. Upon examining this, I immediately noticed my Nova isn't included in the list?

The late Kim Howie, I, and others shared information on these cars gathering that information with vin numbers. This information was recorded in a small notebook that seems to be lost or misplaced? This was mostly accomplished 25 years ago.

In searching old records, I did come up with 2 others that is known to exist, Vin; numbers
8W372933 & 8W372950. I think there might be others, such as a Grecian Green one that exists but do not have the Vin number? I do know that at least 3 were destroyed, but don't have the paperwork to show vin information?

Surprised more have not been found. There are probably a few hiding in plain sight.

Just remembering that most, if not all on the list, were discovered before Helen released the Vin number's list of the 9738 Gibb COPO Novas. After consulting with Fred Gibb, who disclosed the significance of these 50 Novas being built for his dealership that would get Chevrolet involved into the automatic class of NHRA SS racing.

The list compiled of known cars after Fred disclosed the history of these Novas being built under a special order to fill a void that yet had not been addressed by GM, then while attending and showing at some of the major car shows, owners or former owners came forth with their stories of ownership.

An example of this was the discovery of meeting the original owner of a 427 DH Nova while attending a Super Chevy Show in Topeka, KS. While the car was still in service as a tubbed race car, Rodney knew where the car was. Kim H had made the trip, was there, eventually wound up as the owner!

A picture of the Nova that came about from the Super Chevy Show in Topeka. This picture was taken in front of the building tha housed the former Fred Gibb Dealership.

Kim and I had some great times together. It started out talking cars… Then it got off the rails talking about everything but cars and then we laughed a lot. He was very good to me and no matter what if my phone rang. I would look down and smile, knowing when I picked it up him and I were going to be laughing at some point he is very well missed by several people .

Yep, for sure! Thanks for the messages yesterday, Doug!




Kim was good people...two of my favorite pics that I took of him at the SuperCar reunions...


https://www.yenko.net/forum/attachme...1&d=1692646360



Ken Tibor is standing next to Kim!




https://www.yenko.net/forum/attachme...5&d=1692646961

Kim was a hoot and there was never a dull moment with him. We sure had some good times at the reunions with him over the years.

That was Kim, not only as a hoot to be around, but became serious in the legendary Fred Gibb’s involvement with Chevrolet hi-performance.

In post #48 you posted a picture of a Grecian Green Nova that I believe he had ties with as owner. Dennis & Annie Hartweg, another important part of the Gibb legacy, would proudly purchase that car to represent the Gibb Chevrolet Dealership in its history of the COPO Novas.

Below, is another picture of the beautifully restored Grecian Green Nova, 1 of 10 in that color.

This picture is of the former Kim Howies Dick Harrell/Fred Gibb 427 COPO Nova.

I believe Dennis and Annie also owned this one. I think it is now in the hands of Kevin Suydam.

You are correct, Rick! Thanks for the reminder!

The number 50 Fathom Blue Nova finds its way back to LaHarpe, IL from where the Fred Gibb 68 SS COPO Novas were ordered and received the first 2 weeks of July 1968. Helen Gibb displayed & attended many shows that would draw attention where it was displayed.

WOW is that cool!!!! Thanks for posting

A clipping of Fred Gibb and racing of the Nova. T. L. Walker is shown with a 427 Nova, however in noticing it has stainless window & door trim, this feature wasn’t a part of the original feature of the Gibb COPO Novas?

This card displays only a small part of the enthusiasm Dennis displayed by by growing up around Fred Gibb Chevrolet.

Just a small portion of our showroom at our shop that Annie Hartweg and I dedicated to Dennis and his collection of memorabilia and memories.

----Thanks, Rick! I didn't know about your collection. So very cool!....Bill S

Its way cool!:biggthumpup:

‘

S:headbang: C:eek2::eek2:L!!!
:beers:
~ Pete

.

Is this at the shop I was at a month ago?

Yep, just a little harder to see as we had to put in many shelving units on the floor to accommodate all the freshly restored parts for customer cars so it became a little "cluttered".

Cool pic posted of the transporter. Why do they all have Cragars already mounted?

^That truck isn't coming from the Factory.
I'm guessing that photo was taken right after they were modified & converted with 427cid.engines from another jobber offsite,like Dick Harrel,then shipped back to Fred in LaHarpe,is why they now have Cragars.
After visiting Freds old Dealership in LaHarpe about 25 years ago,I saw how small their lot really was.Helen told me they didn't have much room for holding a large amount of anything,so Fred would sometimes ship vehicles to another area briefly,before quickly finding buyers.
Even 50 1969 ZL-1 camaros. :burnout:

All the 50 Novas were delivered to Fred Gibb Chevrolet by July 15, 1968. They all had the same specifications except there was 4 different colors ( Tripoli Turquoise, Grecian Green, Matador Red, & Fathom Blue) involved and a difference in interior colors,Black for the first 3 colors mentioned & Blue with the Fathom Blue cars. All 50 were delivered to Gibb with hubcaps in place, not Cragers?

My belief that the picture shows the Novas that are modified by Dick Harrell who used a lot of SS Cragers on the 68 Novas & Camaros he modified at DHPC in K.C., MO.