Rich " Mr. Chevy's" 1970 Chevrolet Nova SS 396/375

**Xplantdad** · #1 10-31-2011, 01:37 AM

After a long (too long) absence...I present the first of the new Members Rides! Thanks to Rich for sharing [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]

I purchased this car in the spring of 1997. The car retains all of it's original sheet metal, floors, trunk etc... The odometer displayed 21,000 actual miles when I purchased the car. Now it has 29,000 miles. The interior is all original to the car with the exception of the black colored carpeting. The car originally had a black colored rubber floor mat. The car is an original 396-402/375 horsepower Super Sport Nova. The car was sold new at Gillogly Chevrolet in West Seneca, New York. Delivery date of this car was March 6, 1970. The car lived most of it's life in the Buffalo, New York area as a street racer. I have been in contact with the second owner of this car who purchased it from the original owner in 1972. I was able to confirm much about the car and it's history through this second owner.

After purchasing the car I pulled the tired motor in 1998. I went through it, had it machined and rebuilt it. The motor was rebuilt to the stock 396/402 L78/ 375 horsepower specifications including the solid lifter camshaft. The motor was missing some of it's original components when I purchased the car such as the intake manifold, carburetor, air cleaner assembly, valve covers, water pump, exhaust manifolds and smog system. The car had headers on it and aftermarket performance items which most any muscle car owner would have done back in the day. My goal was to put everything back to stock.

I replaced the missing engine components with original, nos and date coded parts. The Turbo 400 transmission was in good shape and was just pulled out, cleaned and re installed. The engine compartment was freshened up and detailed before the motor was put back in with all of it's correct parts. The original 12 bolt/posi rear end is still in the car and was originally a 3.55 gear ratio as most SS Novas were. It once had a 4.56 gear in it and now has a 3.73 gearing which I like for the street.

I have mildly detailed the undercarriage and most of same is original. After doing the engine work I then decided to have the paint work done in the spring of 1999. The car is an original code 10 white car. The black vinyl top is original to the car and in excellent shape. The original white paint was very dingy and tired. My goal was to have the car repainted because it needed same. I wanted to paint it in the correct code 10 white which I did. This color was called "Classic White" in 1970.

I had a local body guy do the paint work. The body was extremely solid for being a northern car and I was told the car was never driven in the snow. The sheet metal and undercarriage proved same. There was ZERO rust on the body panels. The car sat in a climate controlled building for many years without being driven due to the fact that the second owner lost his drivers license due to street racing this car.

The car originally came with the body colored XT steel wheels and dog dish hubcaps. There was no trim package on this car. It was basically just a "plain Jane" Nova SS. I drive this car to local cruise inns and car shows, of course never in the rain!! The car is an absolute blast to drive and has no power steering. I have taken the car to some big shows and won awards. The car has earned awards at The Classic Chevy International Show in 2000, Super Chevy Show in 2001, A Gold Spinner award at Chevy Vettefest in Chicago, Ill. in 2008 while part of the SYC High Performance Nova Display and many trophies at small, local area car shows.

The car has had small feature magazine articles in the October 2000 Classic Chevrolet International Magazine and the November 2005 Muscle Car Enthusiast Magazine. Recently I have taken the car drag racing at National Trails in Columbus, Ohio. I have also done some "day two" modifications to the car. I installed a set of Cragar SS 14x7 wheels with reproduction M&H Racing Slicks, Hurst Drag Shocks, Dick Harrell Style Leaf Spring Clamps for traction, Vintage Stewart Warner Gauges, Chevrolet Dealer Installed/Over the Counter Dash Tachometer, and an original GM Carburetor Heat Shield. I have also installed a Vintage Chevrolet Dealer Tissue/Litter Container.

The car has the aux. lighting package as well as the rare windshield washer monitor light. The car also has the original Delco AM/FM radio.

Special Thanks to: "Big Daddy Steve" SYC member 68l30 for his help over the years with the completion and detailing of this car.

Thanks Bruce.....

Rich

**Xplantdad** · #2 10-31-2011, 01:37 AM

More...at the strip!

And lastly, at the cruise!

**mockingbird812** · #3 10-31-2011, 01:46 AM

[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img] I'm diggin' it Rich. Looks GREAT. Love white Novas! Nice touch with the Gillogly racing helmet. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

P.S. Day-Two rules!!!! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif[/img]

**brent396** · #4 10-31-2011, 11:36 AM

Very nice great looking car [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]

**Salvatore** · #5 10-31-2011, 02:19 PM

Lookin good Rich! Nice detail!!

**RPOLS3** · #6 10-31-2011, 02:30 PM

Nice ride - like the detail.

Jake

**SS427** · #7 10-31-2011, 03:42 PM

VERY, very nice!

Plowman · #8 10-31-2011, 04:45 PM

Looking good,and Day-2 too. Paul

**CC Rider** · #9 10-31-2011, 05:26 PM

Nice! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

ORIGLS6 · #10 10-31-2011, 06:36 PM

I'm a little partial to White Novas myself. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/wink.gif[/img]

This car looks even better up-close. Very, very nice Rich! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Dedicated to the Promotion and Preservation of American Muscle Cars, Dealer built Supercars and COPO cars.