Gibb 68 COPO Nova

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Would Like to mention, the GM warranty on these Nova's was for only 90 days.The POP was used one time for a voltage regulator.

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William has been providing a lot of interesting documents concerning the 9738 COPO Fred Gibb had GM build revised version of the Turbo 400. 50 of these were built coupled to the newly introduced 396-375 SS Nova. Documents from NHRA files show that 50 RPO L-78 Novas being sent from the Chevrolet Motor Division and signed by Paul Pryor notifying them that 50 of such Novas were built in a letter dated April 24, 1968. Another letter sent to NHRA states that 73 RPO L-78-375 RPO Novas were built and available by May 1. But it wasn’t until July 24, NHRA was notified that the 50 automatic Fred Gibb Novas were built and delivered to the Gibb Cheverolet dealership on July 15. Most know NHRA required 50 factory built units with the same identity to be available before they would set up a new competition class.

These documents I have were brought about by discussion about the E3 engine code. This has been a point of interest since early on when these cars were uncovered as something that was mainly hidden away without owners of the few in existence knowing the story behind them? The Fred Gibb dealership had advertised them in Drag World as "There're Here, Be one of the Few 50 396-375 Nova Automatics." Some realized the difference and bought them as such, yet didn't realize and know the story of what they really were?

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It all started from this publication.

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The above publication introduces the available options of the 396 & 427 Chevy11's in the November issue of PHR. The only hint of having an origin from the Fred Gibb stables, was the experimental automatic transmission coupled behind the L-78 or the L-72. Before this publication came out, Fred Gibb had advertised that 50 of the all new 396-375 horsepower Nova automatics were here in "Drag World," the publication of the American Hot Rod Association. The National Hot Rod Association were notified by GM and signed by Paul Pryor concerning that 50 L-78 Chevy11's with automatics were special factory built, being available & delivered to Fred Gibb Chevrolet by July 15, 1968.

In a previous post, is a newspaper clipping given by Helen Gibb, advertising the joining forces of Dick Harrell & the Fred Gibb dealership. Gibb was the Chevrolet dealer while Dick Harrell did the conversions & modifications that GM didn't offer.

Below are the advertisement ads that Fred Gibb exhibited in "Drag World upon the arrival of the 50 396-375 h.p. Chevy ll Hydramatics. Drag World came to those who were American Hot Rod Association members.