I purchased my 1969 Nova on March 18, 1969 from Summer Chevrolet in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

I was a Junior in high school, and I had $1300 saved up. I couldn’t afford to buy the $2,425 Nova outright, so I made payments and paid the rest off just shy of a year.

It was originally a small block with a factory floor shift. No power steering, no power brakes, no A/C. It was just cheap transportation, but I have so many memories in it.

It’s the car I had when I got married and the car that brought all four of my kids home from the hospital.

It has been thru many changes over the years. I had it redone in 1980 by Abe Verhey body shop of Galesburg, Iowa. He put on new inner fenders, complete rear quarters on both sides, and painted it in Imron paint. I have a whole album of pictures of just the work he did. It was done in time to drive it to my 10 year class reunion.

It’s the car I had when I got married and the car that brought all four of my kids home from the hospital.

—Michael Pitts Sr.

When the original small block went out, I put in a 427 with a tri-power from a ’66 Corvette. I had the Chevy 12 bolt rear end beefed up. Morose Power Brute posi unit, 456 Zoom gears, Henry axles. $600 in a rear end was a lot in 1975!

I would take it to The Eddyville Raceway in Eddyville, Iowa to run. Never got enough traction for great times, but it was fun!

When the 427 gave up, I put the ’93, 454 in it. I put a Weiand 177 blower on it, for more power. That’s when I changed the rear end gears to 3.73. It would break the tires loose at 70 mph in 4th gear!

Two years ago, I had the 454 refreshed at Karl Performance in DesMoines, Iowa. It now has 9.5 – 1 pistons, bigger cam, and an Edlebrock Torker II high rise intake with a Holly 750 dbl pumper on it.

It’s a head turner where ever it goes. It’s just fun to drive.

I also might include, that my two brothers also have Nova’s. They both have ’72 Novas!