I got my 1963 Chevy II Nova right after high school—a car my dad and I bought together by splitting the cost, with him covering the rest as my graduation gift. It was white with a 350 engine from a ’71 Corvette, giving it 330 hp, paired with a 350 transmission. The car had a racing history, with a patched hole in the wheel well for fuel and a slight tweak to the unibody from takeoff. 

I’ve had it since 1985 but my dad just gave me full ownership of it on my 21st birthday. In 1992, I rebuilt the engine, boosting it to 11:1 compression with a 650 carb and 2.02 heads, and had it painted blue with flames. 

In 2015, I swapped the engine for a Year One crate engine with aluminum heads and intake, a 650 carb, Hooker headers, and a MagnaFlow muffler, bringing it to 425 hp. And in 2021, I upgraded the interior with new seats, door panels, and a headliner in black.

It’s been a fun car, and my boys and I have taken it to Nova shows and car events. I’m a Chevy II enthusiast and would never give mine up.