Chevy Nova Forum banner
61 - 80 of 198 Posts
Is this the car that the original salesman was still working at the dealership within the last 10 years and fully remembered selling the car? I think I saw it at shows in its dark blue incarnation. Not many headrest, transistorized, dark blue L79s running around this area :)
 
Discussion starter · #67 ·
Is this the car that the original salesman was still working at the dealership within the last 10 years and fully remembered selling the car? I think I saw it at shows in its dark blue incarnation. Not many headrest, transistorized, dark blue L79s running around this area :)
First I have heard of anything you are saying. Very Interesting. It was Danube Blue when I purchased the car in 2009. It didn't stay Danube Blue very long. Do you have any connections to the story. Was it here on Steve's that the car was being discussed about the Salesman remembering selling it?
What years would you have seen the car at shows? Thanks SouthBay2s. Real good stuff.

Bill
 
With a car like this, verifiable history means everything. I spent months chasing history on my L79. It was GM Canada documented to start with, which sure helped. I found out the dealer himself died in 1969, but his son had worked for him and was now living just 4 hours away from me. He had no problem remembering the car, because he drove it as his demo during the summer of 1966. He said they couldn't sell it until the 67's came out and they discounted it $500 to move it out. Every owner of the car is known from that sale until today.

Bob
 
First I have heard of anything you are saying. Very Interesting. It was Danube Blue when I purchased the car in 2009. It didn't stay Danube Blue very long. Do you have any connections to the story. Was it here on Steve's that the car was being discussed about the Salesman remembering selling it?
What years would you have seen the car at shows? Thanks SouthBay2s. Real good stuff.

Bill
Did the car have 67 Nova disc brakes on it when you got it? The L79 I am thinking did. The car was not discussed here on SNS. Time frame... maybe 2008? Not terribly long ago.

If this is the car I think it is, which from studying the `as purchased` picture pretty sure it is, one of the owners was a friend of a friend type thing. I got to spend some time with the gentleman (John?) and the car on two or three occasions. This included some long conversations and a ride in it out to lunch. Things I remember:

~ The story you have here with the dealership matches what I was told. It has been in the PNW its whole life.

~ The car was a `special` order optioned extensively. It was meant to be seen by the public and showcase options. I remember we discussed the seat headrests and transistorized ignition and how it was such an incredibly rare option combo (I love that stuff).

~The dealership owner's son was driving it around while it was on the lot. There was some kind of back story to that I cannot recall at the moment.

~ The salesman that sold the car was still at the dealership into the late 90s, maybe early 2000s. He remembered the car well because of its uniqueness and the above mentioned shenanigans with the owner's son.

~ The car had been well taken care of for what it was. Ran like a champ and everything worked down to the radio. It had yet to have a true restoration like what you have going.

I will ask around and see if anyone can jog my memory or produce a name(s).

***UPDATE***
If this is the same car.... It was at one time owned by a guy named John who is from the Portland area. He had the car for some time. The story my buddy recalls, this was THE (as in one) Nova GM auto show circuit car. It ended up at that dealership in Portland as that was the final stop on the GM new model tour for 1966. We both agree the car had air shocks last time we saw it. It was at the west coast family reunion (mini nats then) at least once.
 
Discussion starter · #70 · (Edited)
Did the car have 67 Nova disc brakes on it when you got it? The L79 I am thinking did. The car was not discussed here on SNS. Time frame... maybe 2008? Not terribly long ago.

If this is the car I think it is, which from studying the `as purchased` picture pretty sure it is, one of the owners was a friend of a friend type thing. I got to spend some time with the gentleman (John?) and the car on two or three occasions. This included some long conversations and a ride in it out to lunch. Things I remember:

~ The story you have here with the dealership matches what I was told. It has been in the PNW its whole life.

~ The car was a `special` order optioned extensively. It was meant to be seen by the public and showcase options. I remember we discussed the seat headrests and transistorized ignition and how it was such an incredibly rare option combo (I love that stuff).

~The dealership owner's son was driving it around while it was on the lot. There was some kind of back story to that I cannot recall at the moment.

~ The salesman that sold the car was still at the dealership into the late 90s, maybe early 2000s. He remembered the car well because of its uniqueness and the above mentioned shenanigans with the owner's son.

~ The car had been well taken care of for what it was. Ran like a champ and everything worked down to the radio. It had yet to have a true restoration like what you have going.

I will ask around and see if anyone can jog my memory or produce a name(s).

Yep, same car. No doubt. Everything you mentioned is exactly correct. I had never heard about the salesman’s memory. Very cool. A friend of mine here in VA who used to be a dealer thinks Ron Tonkin JR now runs the dealership. If true, odds are he is the “son of the dealer” who was driving the car around. Guess I’ll give Ron Tonkin Jr a call and see if he remembers the car.

Yes, I bought the car from John P.. Dale from “Novas-r-Us put me in touch with John in the first place. Been trying to contact Dale for a while now. Anyone heard from him?

Bill
 
Love all the details like the green plug oil dip stick and heater hose corbin clamp color. Tape on the subframe shims! I have never seen an alternator belt done to that detail not on a Boss Mustang or similar.

My understanding was this car was pretty darn complete with the major hard parts like alternator, starter, etc. Was that the case?
 
Great Question Buccflyer! Had no choice. Engine was required to be bored to .040 due to minor cylinder wall imperfections. Even back in the day GM only had Standard, .001, and .030 pistons available. See parts listing below. Thanks for the question.

View attachment 374021
I was told TRW manufactured the pistons used in the 327/350 HP engines. I purchased a set of these off ebay for my build. Are they correct or at least close to correct?

https://www.stevesnovasite.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=374125&stc=1&d=1573355688
 

Attachments

Discussion starter · #80 ·
I was told TRW manufactured the pistons used in the 327/350 HP engines. I purchased a set of these off ebay for my build. Are they correct or at least close to correct?

https://www.stevesnovasite.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=374125&stc=1&d=1573355688
I asked Tom Migut and here is his reply:

"To the best of my knowledge GM cast their own pistons. Originals have the part number cast under the bottom. TRW pistons were mostly forged. To answer the question, the shape of the dome and valve reliefs are exactly like the originals. Are those a set of used Pistons? If so check the skirts for wear. Piston to wall clearance is different between cast and forged pistons due to heat expansion"
 
61 - 80 of 198 Posts