After returning from service, I started searching for a Nova that wasn’t an SS but still had some power and looked like a sleeper. My dealer happened to have one that was ordered, but its original buyer never really got to purchase it.

My car was built around the second week of July 1970, probably one of the last orders before the 1971 model year began. It cost roughly $2,710, which was a lot for me since I had almost no money at the time. I asked the dealer to add an AM/FM radio and a rear deck defogger, and Allstate Insurance helped me secure a loan to buy it. Soon after, I installed a Sun Tachometer.

After about three years, the shifter stopped letting me access reverse, so I replaced it with a Hurst shifter. Years later, I upgraded to a 4-barrel carburetor. Around 2018, I accidentally dropped a carburetor needle valve inside the carb, not realizing it until it got sucked into cylinder #8 during startup, causing some engine damage.

While the engine was at the shop, I decided to spend some money to give the car more power. The engine was bored out .030 over, aluminum heads with roller rockers were installed, and a camshaft that’s a bit more aggressive than stock was added.

The rear end had an issue, too, so the shop replaced the gearing with 3.73 ratios. I also reupholstered the bench seat with a rolled and pleated design, and two years ago, I replaced the original rubber flooring with carpeting.

In 2015, I started a body restoration that included a new floor pan, repairs to the quarter panels and any rust spots, and a fresh paint job in the original color. The engine bay was sprayed with semi-gloss flat black paint.

The Saginaw transmission is the most worn part now and tends to whine. So I’m thinking about upgrading to a Muncie 4-speed, but I’m not sure if it will fit directly without having to modify the driveshaft length. I don’t race the car, and sometimes the power is a bit much for me, especially since the handling isn’t as smooth as most modern cars.