69 Nova L78 TH400

[Supercar_Kid]

Any ideas on the logic of Chevrolet's not offering the 396/325 in the Nova but in nearly every other Chevrolet in the '69 model year?

[WILMASBOYL78]

The 396/325 hp was not avaiable in 1968 either. If you look at factory brochures form the day the 396 engine is not even listed as an option. I have a feeling the BB was kinda of low key "in the know" type option that was only available in the 2 versions. Just a guess but it makes sense to me.

wilma

[Supercar_Kid]

[ QUOTE ]
I have a feeling the BB was kinda of low key "in the know" type option that was only available in the 2 versions.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think there's gotta be more to it than that. I dunno if I'd call this advertising approach "low key" either.

[WILMASBOYL78]

I was gonna mention that ad and didn't. It is strange the dealership brochures left out the BB motor but performance magazines talked them up. I just pulled out the 68-70 brochures and checked them, no mention of the "rat". Hard to figure???

wilma

But who needs a brochure? I just go out to the garage...

[Belair62]

I just go to my Photobucket Wilma

[Supercar_Kid]

I think "The Grump" certainly helped make people aware of the Nova SS 396.

I do agree it's odd that Chevrolet was so vague about the availabilty of some of their performance options, like L-78, LS-6, etc. being omitted from some factory brochures. Especially if you ever watch and listen to a Sports Department sales communication kit. I have a September '69 one and it hypes L-78, Z/28, JL-8, SS Chevelle Camaro and Nova. It's strange that Chevrolet insiders would go to the trouble of creating and distributing these kits to educate their sales staff on how to sell hi-perf Chevys, yet they seemed to drop the ball themselves when it came to letting customers know about the availability of some RPOs on their order forms, brochures, handouts, etc. I'm sure that's partially why some RPOs weren't built in bigger numbers, but I'm still at a loss for why the Nova alone would be restricted from carrying a 396/325HP engine, one of Chevrolet's most popular big blocks. Could it have been a way of giving the Nova SS an extra push away from it's former economy car image and an effort to make it more competitive with it's handsome sibling Camaro SS? Just a guess, but 25 free horses and a few extra dollars in your pocket may have been enough to swing some buyers towards the Nova SS.

[Mr70]

I wouldn't call it dropping the Ball.
Not every Chevy Dealership wanted to sell the Special Hi-perf vehicles.It is Us today who are romancing an idea that it was Special Hi-perf all over the place,when in reality it was more likely considerably much less then that.Probably fewer then 10%.
I recently sat down with a local salesman here who told me he wouldn't even entertain the fact they could order the LS6 Chevelle when he was selling cars..They just wanted to sell Trucks,Station Wagons, & four doors.They didn't want the aggravation & warranty work of those Special Hi-perf cars.
They survived throughout the 40's-50's-60's that way,& weren't about to switch to the latest Fad.
I was saddened to hear him tell me this,but I understand it.
Today he owns that dealership,& lives by that creedo.