This 1973 Chevrolet Nova gets everything right: matching-numbers engine (upgraded) gorgeous paint (also upgraded) and fully documented with paperwork showing it's a real-deal SS. For 1973 this was still a potent performer and the modifications on this one transform it into the car that GM probably wanted to build.This Nova was re-sprayed with a correct 1973 GM color called Targa Blue.. With white stripes along its flanks it looks the part of a high-performance piece and the workmanship throughout is excellent. The Nova's clean lines were a slam-dunk at the time and have aged extremely well and this one is a rather rare hatchback body style which looks like a normal 2-door sedan until you pop the trunk. Body-colored bumpers and a cowl-induction hood help this one attract attention and the extremely nice workmanship doesn't hurt showing neat gaps and a lot of shine. The stripes match the Nova's angular bodywork and give it a familial resemblance to SS vehicles of the past which is a nice touch. A blacked-out SS grille is the right look since this is a legitimate Nova SS and it comes by those '383' badges on the front fenders honestly but we'll get to the engine in a moment. The high-performance attitude is even more evident inside where comfortable high-back buckets look very similar to those used in the F-Body twins Camaro and Firebird. It's nice to see that someone went the extra mile to restore this one to such a high level and they even kept the factory mini-console around the shifter for the TH350 3-speed automatic transmission. New door panels a taut headliner and fresh carpets give it a showroom feel and doing it in basic black works better than anything else in a car built for combat. The instrument panel is original with its factory tach and auxiliary gauges in the center console and that 120 MPH speedometer is probably no longer wildly optimistic about this car's performance potential. The hatch area is positively huge and beautifully upholstered with matching black carpet that looks completely untouched. Even the little booties on the struts are in excellent shape!The engine is the original 350 cubic inch V8 now bored and stroked to a far more formidable 383 cubic inches. Built to look very stock it wears Chevy Orange paint and Chevrolet valve covers but the Edelbrock intake Holley carburetor and throaty exhaust system tell a different story. Inside there are heavy-duty components including a full roller valvetrain and I-beam rods for durability. The engine bay is exceptionally clean and highly detailed with a bright array of colors and textures that give it an authentic look that doesn't need chrome to be interesting. The engine's backed by a quick-shifting TH350 3-speed automatic feeding a 10-bolt rear end with 3.73 gears from Moser Engineering. The front suspension is a QA1 coil-over setup and there are big sway bars at both ends so this Nova is a great handler. Jet-hot coated long-tube headers and Dynomax mufflers offer a spectacular soundtrack and with Calvert Racing traction bars it has no problem hooking up those 245/60/15 rear tires that are wrapped around 1969 Camaro Rally wheels.This might very well be the finest Nova we've ever featured. Fully documented with a build sheet restoration photos and receipts it's a no-compromises performance car with an awesome look. Call today!
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