Rare Nova at Russo and Steele Auction

[John]

This will be one to watch....Neat Nova!

http://www.russoandsteele.com/collec...olet-Nova/6616

[nova7579]

I wonder why they used a 62 from the doors back and made a 65 front end?
Brian

[John Brown]

From http://billthomasnovelnova.com/ over on page two,

<span style="font-style: italic">This Nova started life as a 1962 base model. Bill bought it at a used car dealership with one purpose, to promote Chevy’s newly released “Semi-Hemi” 396/427 engine. GM had the crate motors stacked against the wall in Bill’s Anaheim shop before “Porcupine Heads” was even a household term. He had a new idea in mind for these beasts. He had recently designed an ultra light sub frame kit that would replace the stock front clip of a Nova, saving 375 pounds. Besides the weight savings, the straight axle with dual leaf springs raised the center of gravity and moved the front axle forward to further help with weight transfer during acceleration.

<span style="font-weight: bold">In order for this car to compete in any of the Super Stock or F/X classes, it had to be a current model year. The ’62 was transformed into the then current year with the addition of an early Nova one piece fiberglass front end and a 1965 Nova grille, hood bar and headlight bezels. Now it was a ’65!</span> (By the way, this is the very front end that’s still on the car today.)</span>

[nova7579]

So I guess they never looked at the back of the car and noticed the non 65 taillights???
Brian

[ORIGLS6]

Cool car! Love the belts &amp; helmet. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

[Andy]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: nova7579</div><div class="ubbcode-body">So I guess they never looked at the back of the car and noticed the non 65 taillights???
Brian </div></div>

Exactly what I was thinking.

[427TJ]

Back in '65 they probably didn't care that much. '65 front end? Okay, you can race.

[Stefano]

This is the car Tom Clary documented along with Bill Thomas. It was red white and blue when found and in amazing condition. Tom even made some passes with it at the Super Car Reunion.