68 Chevy Nova

Ride high, fast and long.  

Hotwheels '68 Chevy Nova produced in 2012.

While the first two generations Novas were genuinely nice cars with their clean, crisp styling (not to mention the incredible performance they had when fitted with the L79 350 horsepower, 327 incher), they were still, well, pedantic transportation devices. All that changed, however, with the introduction of the 1968 Nova. Conforming with the popular muscle machine formula of a relatively long hood and a short rear deck, the 1968 Nova launched itself right into the hearts (and garages) of those who wanted a subtle, yet effective street stomper. Small SS badges on the grille and between the rear taillights were the only tips that this was anything but granny's grocery getter.

The baddest of the bad were those who opened their eyes (and wallets) for the right option boxes. The 1968 Nova was the first of its kind to receive an infusion of big-block power. And, in order to ensure that you got what you wanted, you had to walk the salesmen through the ordering process. The big-block Nova simply was not a well-known option and early in the model year was not even included on the salesman's order forms. If you had the patience and perseverance, however, as well as the right option codes, you could be the first on your block to have one of these boulevard burners parked in your driveway. Only two big blocks were assigned to the Nova - the L34 350 horsepower (234 built), and the L78 375 horsepower (667 built). Because of their obvious rarity, they are both highly sought after today by Nova aficionados.

The L78 was doing well in the NHRA manual stock classes since its introduction in April of 1968. Fred Gibb was a drag racer and Chevrolet dealership owner so he convinced Chevrolet performance engineer Vince Piggins to install the TH400 automatic transmission in L78 Novas so they could compete in the NHRA automatic classes also. NHRA required at least 50 cars be built and available to the general public before they would recognize them as stock for the automatic class. The 50 L78's with the TH400 (COPO 9738) were built during the first two weeks of July 1968 and delivered to Gibb's Chevrolet dealership in LaHarpe, IL, on or before July 15, 1968.

If you weren't convinced that a big engine in a compact car was the way to go, you could opt for the 350, rated at 295 horsepower for 1968. Talk about your ultimate sleeper, this one could be delivered sans and performance emblems! Still, it could be ordered with any transmission, including the M22 four-speed, and any final drive ratio on the options list. It found favor with a total of 1,274 mouse motor maniacs who obviously believed good things came in small packages.

Just as Ford created the Mustang in 1964 from its intermediate Falcon, Chevrolet used the upcoming redesign of its intermediate as the basis for its own pony-car in 1967, the Camaro. While many say the 1968 and later Novas were just Camaros with a trunk and seating for five, the platform was actually designed first for the Nova and then quickly introduced in 1967 as the Camaro to catch up with the Mustang. From there, the Nova and Camaro would follow a similar evolutionary path, in terms of suspension and engine availability, until the Novas demise after 1979.