Nova 1 1976

[Yamila Comejo]

My mom sold it to my brother in-law when I was about 21, and he drove it from CA to FL, and then 3 years later he drove it back and I bought it back from him. I then drove it for another few years with trouble free use.

I bought "Linda" - 1976 Nova - about eleven years ago. Not only is it still running, but also, I'm the first one off the line when we go racing. Guess what powers it? An inline 6, 250 with dual Webers built by Clifford Performance.

My Nova was the best car I have ever driven. It handled really well for a car that big and powerful, and being a young female, it was really great to win every time I raced it on the street! It had a lot of character.

Hey, I am actually looking to buy a 1976 Nova SS, and am quite glad I stumbled upon this site. There isn't a whole lot on the net about the 76 Chevy Nova's and this was good to hear that although it was one of their late years of production, people still really liked them. I'm sure this will influence my decision weather or not to buy the nova I'm looking at or not!

Space utilization was at a low point in Detroit during the seventies, one of the worst aspects other than quality issues. The Nova was a bit better than the Malibu, but not by much. There was still a highly unfavorable relationship of real estate wasted to oversized front and rear ends, and not enough where it actually counted. At least the Nova came in a hatchback version, which made access to a long but shallow cargo area easy. But rear seat leg room was mediocre, and the non-opening rear side windows were a royal put-off.

This is a response to Paul, the author, indicating falsely that the Nova is a good driving car. I happened to know better as this was my first car behind the wheel. I first drove a 1977 Nova and later the newly downsized 1978 Malibu Classic in HS driver ed for a semester. I still remember the back and neckaches I got after driving the 1977 Nova with its harsh and bouncy ride, hard to turn steering and difficult braking. When the dealer took back the Nova and substituted the newly release 1978 Malibu Classic, it was simply day and night. (Back in those days before liability issues, the dealers would lend out cars to HS driver ed training as a way of advertising.) The new Malibu was simply better appointed, more quiet, easier to drive, and better built overall. It truly made the process of getting my driver license more fun and less of a chore. Yes, to me, driving that Nova was a chore. As for the first generation Accord, a typical Nova buyer would NOT be able to afford the Accord as it was at least a $1000 to $1500 higher or even appreciate the sophisication of this car. That Accord was marketed more as a little Mercedes with its better build quality and rounded corners and roof mouldings similar to the Mercedes coupes of the time. It is because of American compact cars like the Nova, Valiant, and Maverick with their harsh ride and crude features that people turned to foreign cars. Definitely, a Nova is not a car I lust after in that era like a 1976 Seville or 1976 Ford Granada Ghia.

I bought a new accord in 1976 for $3600. It got 32 and 42 mpg with good power range and cramped seating for four people while riding good enough. After three years and 89k miles of proper maintenance it burned oil, clutch was shot, paint was failing, was jumping out of gear, bad head gasket... The fit and finish was ok and the inside held up ok. The rest was cheap junk. That is why there are none left, ashes to ashes dust to dust. False economy pure and simple. I have owned cars from 1960 to 2010. Right now I like my 1976 New Yorker. Super stiff body, big smooth drive train, sofa front seat...

The Chevrolet Chevy II/Nova is a small automobile manufactured by Chevrolet, and produced in five generations for the 1962 through 1979, and 1985 through 1988 model years. Built on the X-body platform, the Nova was the top selling model in the Chevy II lineup through 1968. The Chevy II nameplate was dropped after 1968, with Nova becoming the nameplate for all of the 1969 through 1979 models. It was replaced by the 1980 Chevrolet Citation introduced in the spring of 1979. The Nova nameplate returned in 1985, produced through 1988 as a S-car based, NUMMI manufactured, subcompact based on the front wheel drive, Japan home-based Toyota Sprinter.

There was a lot of debate within the Chevrolet organization over just what to call this new car, and the decision to go with "Chevy II" was a very late one. Among the finalists was Nova. It lost out because it didn't start with a "C," but was selected as the name for the top-of-the-line series. Ultimately the Nova badge would replace Chevy II, but that wouldn't happen until 1969. In almost every way, the creators of the Chevy II used Falcon as a benchmark. The 1962 model range included sedans and wagons, as well as a two-door hardtop and a convertible. The only body styles it didn't offer which the Falcon did were a 2-door wagon/sedan delivery and coupe utility (the Ford Falcon Ranchero).

Available engines for the Chevy II in 1962 and 1963 included Chevrolet's inline-four engine of 153 cu in (2.5 L) and a new 194 cu in (3.2 L) Hi-Thrift straight-six engine. All Chevy II engines featured overhead valves. A V8 engine was not available in 1962 and 1963. With no documentation proving it, the legend of a dealer installed V8 engine being in a 1962 or 1963 model year Chevy II is a myth. Refer to the GM Heritage Center 1963 Chevrolet Nova information available on the GM Heritage site.[5] In addition, that documentation does not list a V8 engine as a possible dealer installed option.

In 1962 and 1963 the Nova option for the Chevy II was available in a convertible body style, and a two-door hardtop was available from 1962 to 1965, although the hardtop was dropped when the 1964 models were first introduced, but subsequently brought back to the line later in the model year. Like all Chevy two-door hardtops, the body style was marketed as the Sport Coupe.

For 1964, sales were hit hard by the introduction of the new Chevelle,[8] and the Chevy II received its first factory V8 option, a 195 hp (145 kW) 283 cu in (4.6 L), as well as a 230 cu in (3.8 L) straight six.[9] The six-cylinder was all-new, replacing the older Stovebolt engine. Rival manufacturer Chrysler had earlier developed the Slant Six in their Plymouth Valiant, a Chevy II competitor, when the cars were introduced to the public in late 1959 as 1960 models. At introduction in the fall, the hardtop coupe was missing in the lineup, contributing to a loss of sales (as well as showroom appeal). Chevrolet subsequently reintroduced the Sport Coupe in the lineup later in the model year, and it remained available through 1967.

The 1965 Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova were updated with cleaner front-end styling courtesy of a fresh full-width grille with new integrated headlight bezels. Parking lights moved down to the deep-section bumper, and sedans gained a new roofline. Taillight and backup lights were restyled, as was the rear cove. The 1965 Chevy II came in entry-level 100 form or as the posher Nova 400, each in three body styles. The Nova Super Sport came as a Sport Coupe only, and its production dipped to just 9,100 cars. Super Sports had a new brushed-chrome console with floor-mounted four-speed manual transmission or Powerglide automatic, but a column-mounted three-speed manual remained standard. Bucket seats wore textured vinyl trim, and the dashboard held ammeter, oil pressure, and temperature gauges.An expanded engine lineup gave customers six power choices of the six-cylinder or V-8 engines; the four-cylinder was available only in the 100. But, for Chevy II enthusiasts, 1965 is best remembered as the year the Chevy II became a muscle car. A 327 cu in (5.4 L) V8 was available with up to 300 hp (220 kW), suddenly putting Nova SS performance practically on a par with the GTO, 4-4-2, and 271 bhp Mustang 289s-at least in straight-line acceleration. Midyear also brought a more potent 283 with dual exhausts and 220 horsepower.

1966 Chevy IIs introduced an extensive sharp-edged restyle based in part on the Super Nova concept car. In general, proportions were squared up but dimensions and features changed little. Highlights included a bold grille and semi-fastback roofline. "Humped" fenders in an angular rear end were reminiscent of larger 1966 Chevrolets, though the 1966 Chevy II and Nova had vertical taillights and single headlights. The lineup again started with Chevy II 100 and Chevy II Nova 400 models.

The 1967 models received nothing more than a touch-up after a restyling for 1966. All Novas got a crosshatch pattern that filled the deck lid trim panel. The Nova officially was still called the Chevy II Nova and had overtaken the bottom-rung Chevy II 100 in sales. The Chevy II 100 lacked much in the way of trim or brightwork. 1967 models carried significant improvements in the area of safety equipment. A government-mandated energy-absorbing steering column and safety steering wheel, soft interior parts such as armrests and sun visors, recessed instrument panel knobs, front seat belt anchors and dual brake master cylinders, were included in all 1967 models.

For 1969 the Chevy II nameplate was retired, leaving the Nova nameplate.[18] The "Chevy II by Chevrolet" trunklid badge was replaced with "Nova by Chevrolet" and the "Chevy II" badge above the grille was replaced with the bowtie emblem and the 1969 model was promoted under the Nova model name in Chevrolet sales literature.[19]

As with other 1969 GM vehicles, locking steering columns were incorporated into the Nova. Simulated air extractor/vents were added below the Nova script, which was relocated to the front fender behind the wheel-well instead of the rear quarter panel. The 350 cu in (5.7 L) V8 with four-barrel carburetor that came standard with the SS option was revised with a 5 hp (4 kW) increase to 300 hp (220 kW), while a two-barrel carbureted version of the 350 cu in (5.7 L) V8 rated at 255 hp (190 kW) was a new option on non-SS models. The SS option price remained US$312[20] A new Turbo-Hydramatic 350 three-speed automatic was made available for non-SS Novas with six-cylinder and V8 engines, although the older two-speed Powerglide continued to be available on the smaller-engined Novas. 1969 SS models were the first Nova SS models to have standard front disc brakes.

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