With form being dictated by function, this gasser appears very top heavy and ungainly, largely due to its front end being raised higher than stock, to assist in the weight transfer during rapid acceleration (racing) . Having menacing looking twisted headers exiting through the front fender well, and some outrageous gold leaf style lettering and the rest of the car painted in a heavy metal flake red, this car is ready for front lift off! Don't forget the altered wheelbase and this baby, nicknamed "Novacaine", will leave your competition feeling numb.
Exterior
The original Nova look on this car has been mostly retained on this rarely seen 400 series model, but now it has a high stance. On its sides a nice belt line trim spear which goes from a chrome stripe to chrome with black highlighting towards the middle of the doors, adds a nice accent to the metal flake red. Window trimmings and drip moldings are shiny and brite and give the perfect backdrop to the era correct red tinted glass. More chrome for the rear quarter panel mounted Nova badging and trunk lid surround surround and rectangular taillight bezels. The original Nova design has been retained throughout but the injector hats poking out of the hood at different heights tell us that this is no longer grandma's grocery getter. And if that wasn't enough to make you do a double take, the rear axle has been moved forward to not only create better stability but to also enhance traction. Snarling silver headers hover above 15-inch chrome 5 spoke Cragar wheels in front wrapped by tiny 5.60-15's and on the rear wide and sticky N50-15's plant the power. Bringing up the rear is a set of wheelie bars to try to keep that front end firmly on the ground.
Interior
Opening the doors we can still see the original door panels fully put in the game with their black embossed panels stamped into them. This provides the background for the armrest, the doors handle and window crank, along with a few more badges and an accenting bar top and bottom in chrome. As we move inside up front is the factory dash which is in pristine condition. We see a black padded dash top with no cracks or errors here, and the black painted stamped steel takes over for the dash front. Within this long pointed oval stamped surface is the gauge cluster which is within a longer oval cluster with gauges and warning lights. Fronting this radio delete dash is a metal flake red rimmed steering wheel with an archer designed horn button. Strapped to the steering column is a Don Garlits tachometer in a red, white, and blue mounting pod. A lineup of knobs and pulls is on the lower portion of the dash, as well as a trio of aftermarket gauges and all are nicely preserved. Deep black carpeting keeps the front buckets and rear benches afloat. These are made up of shiny black vinyl bolsters and upper backs with more embossed panels and the inserts are a cool 60's tuck and roll design. A shout out to the custom 3-point roll bar and hump mounted Hurst shifter. Above is a very tight, clean, black vinyl headliner and fully functioning light in the center of the roof.
Drivetrain
Lifting the hood reveals the heart of this mundane grocery getter turned street beast. Lying in wait is a fresh Merlin block 496ci V8 bathed in a beautiful red/orange color. Polished and ported aluminum L88 cylinder heads are on top, and this mill is fed by FAST fuel injection under the canted and polished Enderle stacks. MSD ignition is on to light the fire within, and some snappy ribbed and polished valve covers finish out the show nicely. On the back is a Lakewood blow-proof bellhousing and an Autogear 4-speed manual transmission and in its new location, a Moser big bearing Ford 9" rear axle with 4.11 gears and Positraction is on to handle the gobs of power the mill makes.
Undercarriage
A solid front axle with semi elliptic springs is up front and gives this car its wild high stance and on the rear are ladder bars and leaf springs. Drum brakes are all around and we note the snakelike fenderwell headers flow down exhaust piping with glasspack mufflers that end just in front of the rear axle. All solid for the chassis, unibody and rockers with just some paint chip off and surface rust being notable.
Drive-Ability
My crack decoder and all around good guy took the helm for this drive, (actually he was begging and whining so to avoid him making a scene I let him drive). He reported that this car lights right up and after a few seconds of getting acclimated to the red tinted glass it was a thrill and a hoot to drive and hear echo off the exterior walls of the massive Classic Auto Mall. The only issue he had during the drive was the Don Garlits tachometer failed to read rpm but all else was working swimmingly.
A true gasser, never raced and only used for shows, runs on pump premium gas, has the look with the raised front end gnarly exhaust pipes, plenty of engine mods, and a nicely finished almost stock appearing interior. All quality parts make up this wild and wonderful wheelstander.
