'68 Dick Harrell Nova L88

[69hurstSC]

I have 60 classified ads for Dick Harrell cars in an excel spreadsheet and have been attempting to locate the folks (or kin) who had these cars.

I located David who told me his incredible story of buying his '68 DH Nova.

"I was too dumb to take pictures or keep paper work. I really didn’t know how special the car was. I was only 18 and Dickie didn’t want to sell it to me. He was afraid I couldn’t handle it. I had to get down on it in his parking lot to prove to him I could handle it. He had an ad in hot Rod Magazine. Best of my memory I gave $3200."

When asked what happened to it.

"I think my dad sold it to one of my relatives in Hammond, Indiana. Best of my memory they crashed it drag racing and that was the last I heard. I have a call in to my cousin hoping she can help."

When asked if he had any cool stories on the car.

"Not really. It was just a fun car to drive around. I did go to local drag strips. My biggest problem was I couldn’t get big enough slicks to hold it without cutting the fender wells. It was so light in the rear end it would just start turning circles if I came out too hard. I would ease off the starting line then get on it. It took awhile to figure out how to drive it. One of the local hot rodders from Paducah owned a speed shop and a 427/430 Corvette. He challenged me the 1st time at the track. Beat him twice in a row. He went home lol."

When asked about the transmission.

"Yes automatic. It was so cool, it would bark the tires changing gears at normal in town speeds. Cops always thought I was doing that on purpose."

Overall, I don't believe this to be a COPO converted car. David was adamant this car was Silver, and not Seafrost Green.

I'll have some more fun stories of Dick Harrell converted cars for you. I've been able to connect with 10 of the 60 people who placed the classified ads.

[TimG]

Great story.

[L78_Nova]

Reason for selling, left for service.

[67since67]

Originally Posted by L78_Nova

Reason for selling, left for service.

Happened all too often. I was fortunate that my 'ol red street fighter was paid for and my parents had a spare garage stall. In Vietnam other guys carried pix of their wives/GFs, I had a pic of the Chevelle. Actually the OO was in MC bootcamp when I bought the car.

In the spring of '69 one of my co-workers in the service dept of Schukei Chevrolet was all set to run down to KC to pick up a Harrell 427 Nova. Then he talked to his insurance agent....

Looking forward to more of these great stories!! I've always said that a big block Nova was best the car for laying endless pavement stripes.

[L78_Nova]

Originally Posted by 67since67

Looking forward to more of these great stories!! I've always said that a big block Nova was best the car for laying endless pavement stripes.

The Green Bastard Agrees !! Those little bias tires scream for mercy !

[markinnaples]

Thanks for sharing, would love to hear more of the stories you have.

[69hurstSC]

Originally Posted by markinnaples

Thanks for sharing, would love to hear more of the stories you have.

That's the plan! I look forward to sharing them.