I saw my first Nova at the age of 14—a stunning Aztec Bronze ’66 SS—and from that moment, I was hooked. Now, decades later, my collection boasts not only a sleek black ’66 hardtop but also a classic wagon.

But the dream didn’t stop there.

I’d been mulling over the idea of a 2-door conversion for years. When I stumbled upon a solid car on eBay located in Grants Pass, Oregon, I knew I had to have it. Winning the bid at $4,200, I embarked on the 550-mile trek back to Central Washington to bring my new project home.

This car, a 6-cylinder automatic, was drivable right off the bat, so I enjoyed it as it was for a couple of years. It wasn’t long before I located a pair of 2-door sedan front doors right in my area, and that’s when the real work began. Transforming it wasn’t as daunting as you might think.

Yes, it was involved, but the body lines matched up, so there was minimal fabrication needed. I tackled the driver’s side first and was genuinely pleased with how it turned out. In fact, I drove it around half-converted—two doors on one side and one on the other—for about three years. It sure turned heads and had people scratching theirs in confusion.

Finally, I got serious and completed the other side. The entire transformation spanned about six years. Now, we enjoy the car immensely. It rides beautifully, drives well, and even manages mid-20s for fuel mileage. I took on most of the work myself, apart from the paint and interior, making this project not just a labor of love, but a true testament to the joy of restoration.