Would you like to have a 1967 Nova as your first car?

This 1967 Nova was purchased to be Brian’s daily driver for High School when he was 14. His father, Scott, is the local “speed shop” owner. Scott’s first car was also a 1967 Nova and wanted to pass on the tradition.

This “mild hot rod” was supposed to take only a couple years to finish before Brian was able to drive it. Brian and friends totally disassembled the Nova and S/W Performance in Glassboro, NJ installed a fresh 355 small block with powerglide trans, new floor boards, fenders and quarters, along with numerous other parts.

Paint was coming up on the schedule when life changed. After about 24 years of marriage and business, one ended and one was sold. The `67 project had to be set aside and Brian chose to go the Compact Sport route while Scott entered a different profession.

A few years later, Scott reentered the performance parts industry and acquired a new residence and shop. Thankfully Brian still has an interest (building “slammed” duallies) and the project gets back on schedule.

Scott wanted to take the Nova to the National Muscle Car Association drag racing route, but Brian had a different opinion. The new chassis/cage process and drivetrain process began. Then it was decision time again… Let’s make a “street car” instead of traveling up/down the East Coast racing. But, we have all the racing stuff? Spool, 40’ spline axles, fiberglass parts, etc. No problem. Steel parts are purchased, and racing supplies were put aside. The only inconvenience will be climbing over the cage to get in/out. So, let’s call it “Semi-Pro Street” now. Then another idea… How about we build the car similar to the 1965 Pro Street Nova Scott had back in the 80’s – 90’s (less the 6-71 blower).

Brain and his sister Lauren spent many hours driving around attending car shows with Mom and Dad in that car, and it had some notoriety. Same color, mono-chromatic paint scheme, and most importantly, use brand name parts that would typically have been purchased at your local Speed Shop in the 80’ – 90’s.

After a few more years of cutting, fitting, fabricating, and more life changes, we built a car that looks like something you would have built in the 90’s. Bright orange, a clean simple interior, NO extras, just the essentials and …. the “then” Popular Brand Name parts.

A father-Son, lots of friends, many hours, sweat and tears, Back-Yard built, 1990’s re-creation! Oh yeah… Brain’s now 32! So much for a High School car!

It took longer than we thought, but maybe his (future) kids can ride around in the back of this one!

Scott Hughes / Old Hot Rodder / American Autowire Sales
Brian Hughes / New Millennium Rods & Kustoms

Photos

Nova Info

Drivetrain

  • 454 Gen VI Big Block
  • Stock bore/stroke – OEM steel crankshaft
  • Comp Cams Hyd. roller camshaft
  • Edelbrock Victor Series Intake
  • Holley Dominator Series 750cfm carburetor
  • Mallory Unilite electronic distributor w/American Autowire OEM Spark Plug Wires
  • All the normal “good stuff” inside…..
  • B&M T400 Street/Strip transmission*, B&M Holeshot 3000 converter and B&M Cooler
    *manual shift
  • Hurst Quarter Stick Shifter
  • Performance Rod & Custom Radiator and Dual Fans
  • Ford 9” rear axle
  • Ford Motorsports “posi” unit
  • 3.70 Ford Motorsports gear
  • Moser 33 spline axles ⅝ studs and spacers
  • Custom made Air Cleaner w/K&N filter. (Motion Performance/Mr.Gasket replica)
  • Hooker Headers
  • Flowmaster 40 Series Mufflers

 Other Details

 

  • American Racing Torq Thrust II wheels
  • Front: 17×7
  • Rear: 18×10 w/Mickey Thompson Sportsman SR 28×10
  • S&W Race Cars Ladder Bar suspension
  • Aldan adjustable coil-over shocks (front/rear)
  • Wilwood Disc Brakes (front/rear)
  • Heidts Mustang II front suspension crossmember with manual steering rack
  • Heidts Tubular Upper/Lower Control Arms
  • Autometer Ultralite Gauges (Tach, Speedo, H2O, Oil PSI)
  • Grant 15” 989 Series Foam Steering Wheel
  • Scat – Procar Seats
  • Simpson FX Latch Type Safety Belts
  • American Autowire Highway 15 Series Universal Wiring Kit
  • American Autowire Battery Cable Kit
  • SEARS DieHard Battery
  • RCI Safety fuel cell

Notables:

  • Custom Roll Cage/chassis fabrication: Advanced Metal Craft, Vineland, NJ
  • Sheet Metal/body work: NMRK, Elmer, NJ – South Jersey Corvettes, Vineland, NJ
  • Paint: Street Rods by Michael, Shelbyville, TN – PPG – GM/OEM Hugger Orange
  • Interior: Action Rods, Williamstown, NJ – NMRK, Elmer, NJ
  • Vehicle design, cutting, fitting, fabrication, paint, assembly, engine assembly, start up, fix, repair,
    etc. NMRK, Elmer

Little details:

  • “All” mounting hardware (excluding 6 trans mounting bolts) are S/S Brushed Button Head. ALL wire and plumbing are throughout passenger compartment, roll cage and frame. No wire, hoses or steel lines, (excluding 4 flexible brake lines) are under car.
  • Exterior and interior trim, motor/trans/rear, suspension and wheels painted GM Truck Pewter
    color.
  • Front bumper fabricated without tag mounting and extended 2” metal valance.
  • Rear bumper narrowed.
  • Side/Trunk/Dash Trim – Clayton Machine Works
  • Late model GM door handles (rear doors w/o key)

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