69 Nova L78 TH400

[daleroe]

I would greatly appreciate your help. I am researching a Nova. It is an unusal combination. Here are the particulars:

4th week Dec 1968 Willow Run Car
L78
M40
Power Steering
Power Disc Brakes
Multi leaf spring
12 Bolt Posi (ratio unknown)
Column Shift
Bench Seat
Floor mats
AM Radio

The car is complete numbers/date code match. 55,716 actual miles. The body is straight with rust in the ususal places. Cortez silver with a plain black interior. SS Rocker trim emblems and hood. Currently it has a small block installed but the big block is all there including the holley carb (list # 3310) however no air cleaner. Any information you might be able to provide would be greatly appreciated. A week doesn't go by with out someone wanting to buy the car. Thank you.

Sincerely
Dale

[Belair62]

What info are you looking for Dale ???

[daleroe]

It can't be a copo can it? Production numbers? Any cars built with that package? Any information at all. With so many people wanting to buy the car and some getting pissed off when I won't sell - I thought I'd better find out some more about this car.

[daleroe]

I am 4th owner of the car and I know history back to the 2nd owner who purchased the car late 69 early 70 with low low miles. 2nd owner drag raced the car regularly before selling the car. The 3rd owner didn't appreciate the car other than the masive amounts of HP and the cars inability to transfer that to the pavement. I have owned the car since about 1973-74. I pulled the engine and installed the small block but kept all the parts.

[camarojoe]

No, can't be a COPO in 69, but it IS a pretty rare and desireable car... not sure of the production stats on 69 L78s with the auto, But I'm sure they aren't too plentiful... if you have documentation and all the original stuff with it, I can see why people are trying to buy it. Hi-Po Novas are starting to become very desireable and expensive... Don't give it away! Post some pics of it if you can, it sounds like a neat one.

[NovaMob03]

Not a copo. All 50 were built in June. Four colors-no silver. They all had bucket seats, floor shift, radio delete, 4.10 rear/BV code. Sounds like a neat Nova though-I'd keep it if I were you as the real L 78's are gettin' hard to find.

[daleroe]

What makes a copo car? Whats the difference between a special order car and a copo? I realize this is not one of the 50 that were produced in July but was built in December. It was only after the engineers had specified the cars for Gibb that this package could have been ordered and the original owner would have to have known very early of the Gibb cars and codes to get this car so quickly. I think its obvious that this car was no floored by the dealer but was special order. I suspect that the owner didn't know the radio delete code since it only has an AM not an AM/FM radio.

[WILMASBOYL78]

Dale, your 69 Nova is the first year the TH400 trans was avaialble as a regular production option RPO M-40 behind the solid lifter BB engines. The 68 Gibb COPO Novas were the firsts and paved the way for the introducton of this special trans in 1969. The trans was available in a number of vehicles including the Nova, Chevelle, Camaro and even Pass cars equipped with either the L78 or L72 engines. The trans had higher shift points and beefed up internals to handle the revs and torque of these engines. I don't know how many Novas got the auto, but it is safe to say there were certainly many more 4 spd cars made. BB L78 Novas are neat cars and have become more popular with collectors in the last year or so. Please consider joining National Nostalgic Nova and pay a visit to www.stevesnovasite.com for lots of Nova discussion.

wilma

[Belair62]

Great info Wilma !

[lowmile]

There were about 7000 big block Novas built in 1969 @ 5000 L/78's and @2000 L34's of those 7000 there were 1411 M40/turbo 400 cars built. There were only 1236 M40 Novas built in 1970. BB are getting more desirable all the time. Sounds like a neat car. What are your plans for it and do you have any pictures. m