Most of us know that concept cars, no matter how magnetic their appearance, usually only bear a passing resemblance to the production cars they inspire, but when Chevy unveiled its Super Nova at the 1964 New York Auto Show, it would prove to have a far greater impact than the norm, inspiring its manufacturer to give the already popular Nova II a revamped and decidedly more aggressive visage. This 1966 Chevrolet II Nova SS, with its attention-grabbing exterior, powerful drivetrain and fresh, well-appointed interior, is a great representative of the Nova's venerated muscle car heritage. Bright red paint, fitting for a timeless performance car like this, sits in place of its original ermine white and provides far more visual impact. Despite more than 50-plus years of action under its proverbial belt, this Nova remains an impressively straight-looking car, with level bumpers both fore and aft, tight lines between body panels and doors, hood and deck lid that all open and close smoothly. You can see the results of Chevy's aesthetic handiwork, inspired by that pivotal concept car, in the form of this '66's flowing, almost fastback-like rear roof line, more prominent front grille, and contoured "humped" rear fenders that are similar to those found on some of their larger models of the time. It's no accident that Chevy also chose to offer a far more powerful V8 option than ever before on this version, as it looks every inch the muscle car we now think of when the Nova nameplate is mentioned. A very impressive-looking black vinyl interior sits waiting inside. The wide-backed buckets up front look nearly new and straddle a well-fitted aftermarket console that provides welcome extra storage space and perhaps an even more welcome pair of cupholders. To both sides, the door panels have been completely refurbished, carrying very clean trim and sitting flush against their door frames. You'll find a great mix of stock and new components blended effectively here, as the dash area largely retains its original configuration, but now features an aftermarket air conditioning system under the dash to keep you and your occupants comfortable, as well digital Dakota gauges to keep an accurate read on your important motoring functions. The dash pad sitting above the gauges has a supple glow and sits flat with no cracks - an especially welcome sight with UV damage-prone black upholstery. In back, the trunk area is all tidied up, with a clean expanse of carpet lining the bottom and a full-sized spare sporting a cover with the signature Chevy bowtie, sitting securely stowed inside. Chevy may have had performance-centric aspirations for this Nova to match its more aggressive styling when it rolled out, but the 383-cubic inch stroked V8 certainly takes things a few steps further than they had likely envisioned. Topped with a 4-barrel Edelbrock carburetor, the engine pairs with a 700r4 4-speed overdrive transmission to make up a great drivetrain - providing enviable power off the line while still offering engine-sparing low revs at highway speeds. Despite all its rubber melting power, this Nova is an easy driver, with power steering that features a newly replaced steering box, a host of new front end parts for an improved ride, and power brakes at all four corners. A sizable aluminum radiator sits up front to keep temperatures in check during more demanding driving conditions. This pivotal Chevrolet muscle car classic has a great stance on its 17" Ridler wheels, outfitted with Ironman Imove Gen 2 radials. Looking for the quintessential '60s American muscle car? Look no further than this 1966 Chevrolet II Nova SS. Call today!
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