Novas
 

Being i have very limited knowledge on 68-70 Novas i thought i would ask some questions here. Yesterday my GF and I rented a timeshare from a couple here in MN that we found on an add online. When i got there we started chatting about cars (weird huh LOL) and after a while i was looking at his 74 Z28 Camaro and 63 409 Impala. We then proceeded to go downstairs and talk more cars and have a couple brews.
Onto the Novas... He told me about a couple Nova's he had in the very early 70's. 1st was a 68 L78 Nova, 4spd with 4.56's. He stated that this Nova came for the factory with 4.56's, any truth to this? Car was green with a black vinyl roof and black guts. 2nd car was a 69 L78 Nova which we didnt get into much because the 68 interested me so much.

The prior owner had installed a tri-power off a Vette on the Nova and headers. Both of these cars were in the Maple Grove, MN area back in late 1970-1974. He bought the Z brand new and had only 1 garage stall so the 68 L78 had to go. Like I said my knowledge is limited so if you know something about 68's and i misspoke please clear up. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: Novas
 

68 novas could be ordered with a 4.56 BW coded rear. Any idea where the novas went?

Re: Novas
 

My 69 L78 Nova has a factory installed BW 4:56 rear, supposedly had to be copo'd to get that ratio.? Don' know for sure

Re: Novas
 

Ken, from was told a young fellow bought the 68 L78 and it stayed rather local (Twin Cities) area. Not sure on the 69 L78 but i will get further details. A funny story about the 68:
The owner was letting his wife use it as a commuter car too and from work. This is when it had all the goodies (tri-power, gears). One day she was coming home at night and another Nova pulled up next to her. The other Nova revved up and she graciously accepted the challenge. According to her story they both left the light and the other Nova got a descent lead because the 68 was burning them pretty good. Eventually she got some grip at the top of 2nd and once she hit third she held it there. Apparantly the lead disappeared rather fast and she forgot to shift into 4th. Either way once she blew by the other Nova she lifted and the end result was a broken rocker arm....but a win!
I will get some more info on theres 2 L78's because I have now booked a vacation with them.
Wes

Re: Novas
 

Fresh off the phone with the fellow who owned both these 68,69 L78's.

1st the 68. Bought in 1972 with 13K miles from a guy who lived in New Hope/Crystal. Didnt know the colors name but said it was green almost silver in color. The prior owner was a mechanic at Sears who added the tri power, headers, warner gauges... The mechanic bought this car new at Merit Chevrolet. Door was dinged and the owner had it re sprayed and it didnt match so he had the whole car resprayed. Car was sold in 73 to a kid who lived in Elk River. Mileage at time of sale was 33K, sold for $1,500

The 69. Bought out of St. Paul, MN in 1971. Black paint, Black interior, buckets, 4spd.

This guy also owned a bunch of other cars including a 65 Chevelle 327/350 L79. 300 deluxe sedan. Owned it from 66-67, dark green, 4spd, bench, rubber mats, lgt brown interior. Ran 13.2's in 66.

Also owned another 68 Nova 327/325hp bench.
Bought new, 67 Camaro SS 350

Hope the info on the L78's is helpfull. I can ask any additional questions as well.

Re: Novas
 

The color sounds like Sequoia green. When you get around to it can you ask if it had gold or black interior? Disk brakes? Maybe even a vinyl top.

Jason

Re: Novas
 

[ QUOTE ]
Didnt know the colors name but said it was green almost silver in color.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds like Seafrost Green. My '68 Chevelle was that color. Looked silver 'til you parked next to a Cortez car; then she looked like a pea. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif

My buddy ordered a similar car in Sequoia Green. It's closer to the '70 Shadow Gray. (Like Jason's above.)

Re: Novas
 

Just what we need https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/tongue.gif...another Sequoia Green L78 Nova https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/drool.gif

wilma https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/flag.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/headbang.gif

Re: Novas
 

Jason, in my first post i noted the 68 L78 had black guts, bench, and black vinyl roof. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: Novas
 

Sorry my bad!

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Great stories and histories. Especially about the '65 Chevelle 300 post with the L-79 327-350 HP. That's a car that's been in my Fantasy File for a long time!

Re: Novas
 

Small update. The 68 Nova SS was bought by a 17 year old kid who was going to Elk River High School in 1973.

Also, when my friend bought the L79 Chevelle he had the opportunity to buy a Z16 at that time. However, his budget was more in the $2,500 range as opposed to the 4K sticker price on the Z16.

Re: Novas
 

Long awaited update. Inserted are some pics of the cars!

http://i41.tinypic.com/14nohol.jpg

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A bit of more news. The 68 was bought new out of Merit Chevrolet and the guy was working at Sears in Brookdale when he installed the tri-power.

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I spoke with the original owner of the 68 SS and he has photo's of the car. The original color was Seafrost Green.

Re: Novas
 

Does anyone have an image of a 68 SS in Seafrost Green with a vinyl roof they could share?

Re: Novas
 

Some Camaro's and Nova...?

Dave
67 Nova Boy

https://www.google.com/search?q=68+Nova+...164&bih=552

Re: Novas
 

Thanks Dave. I searched through those images prior and hadn't located a 68 SS wearing a black vinyl roof.

Re: Novas
 

Vinyl roofs are tough to find...I'll keep looking.

Dave
67 Nova Boy

Re: Novas
 

not an SS, don't think it's seafrost green, believe it's an L79... [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif[/img] https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...5-dsc00024.jpg

Re: Novas
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 300deluxeL79</div><div class="ubbcode-body">not an SS, don't think it's seafrost green, believe it's an L79... [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif[/img] https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...5-dsc00024.jpg
</div></div>

Nice pic! That is why I regret my H pipe exhaust.

Re: Novas
 

Thanks for the attempts so far. Must be a tough car to find actual images of.

Re: Novas
 

Still looking for any pics of a 68 Nova wearing Seafrost Green w/ Vinyl roof.

Re: Novas
 

Sorry, dont have a Nova, but I have a photo of a 68 Camaro Seafrost Green, black vinyl top I used to own, if it helps

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...psb8ef5c49.jpg

Re: Novas
 

Thanks Greg. The car I'm helping my friend track was sold to a younger kid who lived in Elk River, MN around 1974. I've been in contact with some of the &quot;car guys&quot; from Elk River's graduating classes of 74/75 to see if anyone remembers a classmate with this car. Unfortunately a pic of a Camaro might through them off too much. The color combo is spot on, however people with limited memories on old cars may not truly remember a Camaro vs a Nova.

Just to reiterate my search, I'm looking for a friends 68 Nova SS 396/375 car that had a Corvette Tri-Power installed under the hood. It was Seafrost Green w/ a bench seat and a black vinyl top. It was sold by the owner in Big Lake to a highschool age kid who lived in Elk River, MN circa 1974ish.

The car would have been quite a formidable little weapon with the L78 and the factory 4.56 stump pullers. I'm working with the former owner on digging out some of his old photography which hopefully has shots of the Nova. I've posted some of the other cars he owned on prior pages.

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Good news. I'm meeting with the original owner tomorrow who has photos and possibly paperwork from the car.

Re: Novas
 

Great have a beer with him for us and snap some pictures of his pictures.... I still have never seen a 68 78 nova in sea forest green but you can't rule any out. I have been in contact recently with a guy who claims to have 5 1968 BB novas. I have seen pictures of 3 of them and documentation for 1. One of the three is the earliest 68 BB nova I have ever seen it is an 04D car. He is supposed to have all the documentation for all the cars. His father was a 68 Nova nut. He has a tone of NOS nova parts. He has several 68 Novas a couple 4dr cars and a couple SB SS cars. His father actually tried to buy my old 68 L79 multiple times. The guy also tells me his fathers friend has multiple 68 BB novas also but I have never seen any pictures. Just talked about in conversation.

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5 68 BB' cars? Now that would be a hell of a sight. Hoping to have the photos and info today.

Re: Novas
 

I now have a copy of the Invoice and about 12 photos of the car. I won't have access to a scanner until Monday, but will post some of the shots when I can. Need to find a source to run the VIN.

Re: Novas
 

I read about a Nova like this on one of the Nova sites about 4-5 years ago that was in the Twin Cities area. If I remember correctly it still had the three deuces on it and was unrestored from when the guy bought it in the early 80's.

Re: Novas
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 69hurstSC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">5 68 BB' cars? Now that would be a hell of a sight. Hoping to have the photos and info today. </div></div>

Good for me he wants me to restore them....

Looking forward to seeing the information on the car.

Re: Novas
 

Alas.

http://i58.tinypic.com/10holfc.png

http://i61.tinypic.com/wjck5f.png

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WOW!

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Disk brake car.... exterior trim package... what a sharp car. I don't think there is a sea frost green 68 bb nova out there that I know of what a cool color. Any more pictures?

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WOW IS RIGHT !!!! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif[/img]

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Sweet car. Outstanding perseverance and detective work! Well done! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

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L[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/drool.gif[/img]VE IT T[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif[/img][img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif[/img]...your friend sure had great taste in performance!!!
Is the white Post car a '62 Pontiac also hoping the '61 Poncho behind the Camaro in the shot w/ the '63 Chev in the background is a post car too!
Can't wait for more, good luck w/ your search!!!
[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]
~ Pete

Re: Novas
 

Great reference guide for nice Day 2 upgrades !

Bow tie script M/Ts ,,,aluminum intake Trips..970 SW tach &amp; box ? ......even a Delco battery
......aluminum slots .....!!!!

Nice !

Re: Novas
 

Now for the reveal. I've found this car. It has survived the tests of time and is currently living in Georgia.

Now for the sad news for us purists. The car is currently very heavily modified with a 502 crate Chevy, bucket seats and black cherry paint. It retains no allegiance to it's originality. I'll post a few more pictures of the vintage shots but I'm saving the best ones for my Lost Muscle Cars book project. I do have a copy of the Bill of Sale showing the color and the L78. Thanks for the interest and although it's not back to original, at least the car has survived.

Re: Novas
 

http://i61.tinypic.com/2h36knk.png

http://i61.tinypic.com/2m7ubz4.png