Words: Gary Rosier
Clark Clipps of New Smyrna Beach, Fl owns this wonderful example of an early "Chevy II," a Nova SS clone, but tastefully and beautifully done!
Originally from Oshkosh, Wis., he retired after 41 years from George Banta Publishing Co. in Menasha, Wis. He moved to Florida thanks to the lure of warmer weather and no snow, he says with a laugh (he was an avid snowmobile guy - but doesn't miss it either!). He's been here since 2002, and enjoys every minute of the Florida sunshine and cruising scene.
Clark has owned this Nova for over seven years and has extensively gone through the car from front to back including paint, drive-train and more! At one point in its life it actually was a drag car. Then it was retired to its resting place and yes - "found in storage" - just West of where he now lives.
Clark had just sold his '34 Ford 3 window coupe - not that he was trying to sell it, he said, but an offer was made he couldn't refuse! That led to a cruise night in Deland, Fla. where he spied this Nova that looked complete on the surface. "Buyer Beware" as they say, and Clark has spent a bunch of time and money getting her right, to the point you see here. It's a cruiser, right down to its 2:33 rear end gear ratio.
Now Clark likes a little "Go," and comfort too, so he picked a Chevy 350 Performance crate motor (300 hp) with a Turbo 350 transmission shifted by a B&M ratchet type shifter. It has Hooker headers, an Eldebrock 650cfm carb with an S/S Automotive fuel regulator and March Pulley system, as well as a Be Cool radiator with dual electric fans.
A custom coilover shock system and stock mono-leaf rear springs give him plenty of stability for the occasional throttle mashing. A dual exhaust with Flowmaster mufflers emits a sweet rumble. It does get hot in Florida, so a Vintage A/C system along with a March compressor keeps him perfectly cool. The hood is a functional all-steel air-induction piece.
The car is painted a PPG two-tone of colors: Torch Red up top and Midnight Black on the bottom, with a silver stripe running the length of the car and separating the two colors nicely. He notes that all the chrome trim except for the windshield has been replaced with new trim... and there is surprisingly a LOT of it! Dual side mirrors are from a '65 Impala with long stems.
It rolls on a set of 17 inch low profile Nitto radials, 205/45ZR17's up front and 225/45ZR17's in back. It stops just fine, he says (remember, this is barely a 2400lb car), with disc brakes up front and drums in the rear.
The interior is a mixture of red door panels, red headliner and Chevelle bucket seats up front, finished in a black leather with black loop carpeting. The gauges are a 3-pod design to include Tach, Speedometer, oil, fuel, temp and volt, by Autometer. He likes to listen to the "oldies," he says, and does that with a stock-looking but MP3 custom Auto Sound radio and custom speakers in dash and rear shelf.
While a "supernova" might be an astronomical event that occurs during the last stages of a massive star's life and subsequesntly provides the appearance of a new bright star, this Nova IS a bright star - resurrected if you will - from the ground up, and we are LOVIN' it! Nice job, Clark!