1967 Chevrolet Chevy II Nova SS

As far Chevy Muscle Cars went, the ’67 Chevy II Nova SS was a real sleeper.  It was a rattlesnake wearing a rabbit skin.  From the outside it looked like a mid-sized grocery getter but underneath it might just have the nasty L79 small block, a high-revving 327 with 350 hp and 360 ft. lbs. of torque; essentially a corvette engine in a very light car. The Super Sport edition had some extra chrome, blackout trim details, and small SS emblems. Even with the slotted wheels of the '67 disc-brake option, a Nova SS was essentially a stealth machine.

I ran across one of these rare birds one night in 1969 and got my butt handed to me; my 1969 Nova had a 350 but it just couldn’t match the power-to-weight ration of that little ’67.  He left so fast I never got close.  Ouch!  I caught up with him at a What-A-Burger and asked what in the hell was under the hood.  “Just a little 327” was all he said.  After a bit of exchanging basic BS, he lightened up and told me about the car.  Would you believe 2,700 lbs?  To put that into perspective, a new Dodge Charger weighs about twice that much.  At 350 bhp, the power-to-weight ratio was 7.7 lbs per horsepower!  I felt better knowing I had lost to such an evil little machine (I thought, “Man I got to get me one of these!”).

I have never understood why Chevy only made the body style for two years – that cost them a pretty penny in tooling cost.  I think it was an attractive, if understated, Chevy Muscle Car and is worthy of honorable mention as a pioneer in the small car/big engine performance design.  It is rare but it has such potential for a street rod.  Try to imagine how quick one could be with say a 383 stroker with 450 hp; might want to get real serious about traction!