My first was a 69 Nova I bought when I was 15. The car was just a "plain Jane" 307 car but had a 327 in it when I got it. The body/floors were rough, was nothing real pretty but all I cared about was going faster. I remember making weekly trips to Super Shops, Midwest Auto Specialties and Summit Racing in Akron spending my hard earned gas station job money on speed parts...
I added a nitrous power shot system, 411 gears in the 10 bolt rear, very good B&M shift kit in the turbo 350. Motor was mildy built with an Edelbrock Performer Cam, stock bottom half, stock compression/pistons, Edelbrock performer intake, Holley 600, Blackjack headers and Sonic Turbo Mufflers that turned down just before the rear axle.
I put the nitrous system on my senior year of High School. My buddy had a 72 Plymouth Scamp with a built 340 and nitrous. We had the fastest cars in our senior class. I remember street racing another buddy that had a 65 Mustang with a built 289/4 speed. I literally blew his doors off and remember smoking the tires and burying the tach at 8 grand with the NOS system on!! Car was really fun. I also had a big ole' Hurst Indy auto shifter sticking up out of the floor. Everyone thought the car was a 4 speed. The trans that was in that car was the best I ever had. That thing would literally slam into gear and chirp the tires between 1st and 2nd gear even if you were not "in it."
I parted the car out and sold it back in 2000 and kept the motor/trans. The motor is now sitting on an engine stand in my garage. Someday I want to go through it and rebuild it and maybe put it back into a Nova..
Thats how I acquired my first love and passion for Novas!! Here are some old photos of the car...
Rich
