Vehicle description
This 1971 Chevrolet Nova custom coupe is powered by a Mercury Racing SB4 7.0-liter V8 engine rated at 750hp, naturally aspirated, featuring dual overhead cams and based on the LS7 platform. The engine is paired with a Chevrolet Performance 4L80E 4-speed automatic transmission. The car began its custom build in 2018 with all original floors, including the trunk and package tray, removed before being fitted with a full-frame Fast Track chassis from Roadster Shop, featuring a heavy-duty four-link rear suspension and 9-inch rear end. The body was welded to the chassis to form a unibody structure, and new bead-rolled and hand-fabricated floors, wheel tubs and driveline hoop were added. The rear bumper was reimagined as a trimmed, molded accent piece integrated into the quarter-panels, while the front end underwent a complete redesign taking over 600 hours to complete, including a hand-built front valance with dual grille openings and a reshaped, body-contoured front bumper. The car's most significant transformation was the conversion from a factory coupe with B-pillars to a true hardtop, requiring over 900 engineering hours of precision measurement, scanning and custom fabrication to ensure full window functionality. Extensive bodywork followed, with more than 2,700 hours invested to perfect and seal every panel, including the underside. The exterior is finished in a Kindig-It Design color called Opalcetic, a blue base with gold, green, gray and black accents. The custom Terracotta interior, also designed by Kindig-It and crafted by JS Custom Interiors, features a rear seat delete, bespoke steering wheel, Dakota Digital gauges and a Kicker Bluetooth stereo system. The car rides on Schott wheels measuring 20x12 in the rear and 18x8 in the front, complemented by a 3-inch stainless-steel exhaust system with Borla mufflers. All chrome components were triple-plated by Ogden Chrome. The 14-month build was featured on Season 9 of "Bitchin' Rides" and has been shown at SEMA 2022, Goodguys events in Pleasanton, California, and Colorado, as well as the Boise Roadster Show and the Salt Lake Autorama. With its craftsmanship, engineering precision and rare SB4 powerplant, this Nova represents a high-caliber, show-winning custom build.