PDA

View Full Version : Jason 68 L78's 1968 Nova


jason 68 L78
13th-February-2008, 08:56 PM
I
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/novaarticle.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/2004_0101_044042.jpg

This is my father and me in the news paper!

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/novastory1.jpg

I finished the restoration in the spring of 2006 on my 68 Nova SS L78 4 speed car. The car was an old drag car and hasn't been on the road since the late seventies. I have tracked previous owners all the way back to 1978 and they all wish they held on to this one. Exterior color is sequoia green and the interior color is ivy gold. The car has the following options bucket seats, console with factory gauges 6,000 redline tachometer, custom interior, tinted glass, power 4 piston disk brakes and a black vinyl roof. According to the broadcast sheet it was the 4th car in sequence on the assembly line May 31, 1968.
I did all the work myself except assembling the engine and having the seats recovered I left that to the experts. I have a lot of pictures throughout the restoration. I will try to explain the story of the car that I know of.

I bought the car out of the local want ad in 2003 as a parts car for my 70 Nova. The guy I bought it from thought It was an original BB car but wasn't sure. The drive train was long gone. I bought the car and got it home and did some investigation. The BB heater core was there, bb core support, bb motor mounts, 4 speed cross member and it had the 6000 redline tachometer.

I have talked to 4 of the last owners all the way back to 1978. This is were my investigation trail ended. This young man in 1978 was only 15 when he bought the car. The owners told him then, it was a rare car originally a BB car but the motor was long gone. He bought complete minus the motor. He painted it silver and ran a small block for a year then sold it to his friend who owned it until 1980. He sold it to the next guy who held onto it for 18 years. It was in and out of storage never doing any thing with it but new its rarity. Then he sold it to the guy I bought it off of and he owned it for 5 or 6 years again never doing anything with it.

I bought the car in Highland NY where it has been since 1978. The young man bought it in Pleasant Valley, NY from a couple going through a divorce. The car had a piston ring winner circle sticker on each quarter window. I am told these were winner circle decals.

I hope someday to find the full history of the car. It was in a local hot rod magizine last year, I even had the local news paper do a story on the car but no luck. I have loved the nova since my very first field car which was a 64 4dr. Who new some day I would own a rare limited built car! (1 of 667)

Novaddiction
13th-February-2008, 09:11 PM
That's a cool story,

I am trying to track down the owners of my car as well. It's a 69, 396/350HP, Dusk Blue with black buckets. It had all of the signs of an original BB car. I'm not restoring it totally original because of the lack of drivetrain. When I bought the car I didn't know much about Nova's other than the fact I liked them. What a jouney it has been.

69ss3964spd
13th-February-2008, 11:08 PM
jason, your car is amazing. a fine example of g.m":s finest :yes:

novas4life
14th-February-2008, 01:01 PM
Great story,and great restoration!
Brandon

David_D.
14th-February-2008, 02:15 PM
Good lookin' car!

shawner
15th-February-2008, 12:56 PM
very beautiful job on the restoration:yes:

jason 68 L78
18th-July-2008, 10:59 PM
My newest picture from the other night!

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/jasonchale/0007-9.jpg

68MotionL88Nova
19th-July-2008, 12:03 AM
Jason,Your car rocks!! You did one heck of a job on that extremely rare 68 Nova SS L78 4spd car!! Hope you keep digging up the past on your car and find more history on it!! Good luck! Dan

novanutcase
19th-July-2008, 02:14 AM
Beautiful car! Welcome!

John

1968chevyII
19th-July-2008, 01:24 PM
nice find, great resto! :thumbsup:

Chemik
19th-July-2008, 02:43 PM
nice ride. pardon my lack of knowledge but whats a bb car?
I too am about to track down the history of my car :) I just dont know where to start.

Mark Keenum
19th-July-2008, 04:58 PM
That car is amazing! Great story too. Good luck on tracking down info.

my 69 rat
19th-July-2008, 07:27 PM
Jason, That is one beautiful car. I love to hear stories like that.

'69Novajoe
19th-July-2008, 07:50 PM
Hey Jason, Cool car!! I really like that color combo. BB's (big blocks) have all the fun!!:D
Joe

Nova_Guy
19th-July-2008, 08:49 PM
Looks great! The 68 are one of the neatest cars out there.

Novajay
21st-July-2008, 08:17 AM
Great story and excellent car.

L78 Nova
21st-July-2008, 09:46 AM
WAAAAAAAAYYY COOL !!!

Love the car, I hope I can get my 70 looking that good some day.


Nice Work.

Gary

Boseefus402
21st-July-2008, 11:46 AM
Awesome car, awesome job with the restor. Funny how jsut wanting to know the history pulls you in to it. Gotta love the nostalgia of it, eh? :cool: How'd you manage to get in the paper?

jason 68 L78
21st-July-2008, 12:50 PM
Thank's guy's. As far as the paper ad, I just e-mailed the editor the story and he gave me a call. He was a car guy from way back. He did get a couple of things wrong but I gave him so much information in the hour we talked on the phone I must have fried his brain.

Jason

stylinnprofilin
22nd-July-2008, 08:15 AM
beautiful car!!