Introduced in 1961 as a response to the highly successful Ford Falcon, the Chevrolet Chevy II / Nova was the company's second foray into the compact market after the Corvair. But unlike its predecessor, which sported a rear-engined layout, the Nova was a simpler, back-to-basics vehicle.
The Nova developed into a full-fledged muscle car in 1965 when Chevy added the 300-horsepower 327-cubic-inch (5.4-liter) V8. But up until 1964, when it gained the smaller V8 with 195 horses, the Nova was mostly a mundane car with inline-six power.
All told, pre-1965 Chevy IIs are rather dull regardless of whether they're range-topping Novas or not. But while they're far from pretty, and their six-cylinder engines are underpowered by most standards, these cars are great platforms for drag racing due to their small footprint and lightweight construction. The 1964 Chevy II you see here is the perfect proof that a dull compact can become a ten-second beast with the right upgrades.
Nicknamed "Tuff II" and spotted at Glory Days at Byron Dragway, this Chevy II is as mundane as they get if we ignore the drag-spec goodies. Because, let's face it, you wouldn't turn your head after a white two-door Nova on the street. But the gasser-style upgrades put a radical spin on the compact. And it's not just about the straight front axle, the skinny front tires, and the meaty rubber in the back.
This Chevy II also packs a massive small-block V8 that displaces 400 cubic inches (6.6 liters). There's no info on how much oomph it sends to the rear wheels through the Jericho four-speed manual gearbox, but it's safe to say the mill cranks out more than 700 horsepower. And that's enough to push the Chevrolet down the quarter-mile in less than 11 seconds.
The footage below shows the Nova doing three different runs. The first one stops the clock at 10.19 seconds and almost 133 mph (214 kph). The second pass is virtually identical, while the third run sees the compact crossing the finish line after 10.26 clicks. Now that's what I call consistency.
There's no point in comparing these times with a stock 1964 Nova, but it's worth pointing out that the beefed-up two-door is almost a full second quicker than a Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat. What's more, it's about a half-second faster than the Hellcat Redeye, which packs a supercharged V8 good for a whopping 797 horsepower and 707 pound-feet (959 Nm) of torque. It's also a couple of tenths quicker than the 807-horsepower Super Stock version.
Yup, this is one mean first-generation Chevy Nova. In fact, I'm pretty sure it's the nastiest 1964 example I've seen so far. Hit the play button below to check it out, and make sure you crank up the volume. You're in for a tasty all-motor V8 treat.
Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer. Full profile
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