The Quintessential 60s Muscle Car
The year 1967 represented an important milestone in the evolution of the Chevrolet Nova, cementing its status as a cornerstone of Chevy’s compact car lineup. Introduced in 1962 as an entry-level model, the Nova was redesigned in 1966 as a more upscale compact car, while still maintaining its affordable price point. The following year, 1967, saw the Nova receive its first major facelift.
Chevrolet aimed to bring the Nova’s styling up to date with the angular, squared-off look that was coming into vogue in the late 1960s. The most noticeable change was an aggressive new grille design, with a prominent center divider and Chevrolet logo front-and-center. The new forward-thrusting grille gave the Nova a bold, contemporary face. At the rear, revised taillights and trim modernized the look. Together, the 1967 styling updates made the Nova appear wider and more substantial than previous models.
Beneath the skin, customers could choose from carryover six-cylinder and V8 engines. Particularly coveted was the range-topping Nova SS with a muscular 275-horsepower small-block 350 cubic-inch V8, which could propel the Nova from zero-to-sixty in just 7.5 seconds. Transmission options included two- and three-speed automatics, as well as three- and four-speed manual gearboxes. With this combination of nimble handling and powerful drive trains, the Nova became popular on the drag racing scene during the 1960s and 70s.
Available Nova body styles for 1967 included two- and four-door sedans, along with two-door coupe and convertible models. This diverse model range, combined with its affordability, helped make the Nova a strong seller. Chevrolet moved over 96,000 Nova coupes during the 1967 model year, proving the car’s popularity with younger buyers looking for style, performance and value.
The 1967 model year represented the pinnacle for the third-generation Nova, which would undergo a more thorough redesign for 1969. Yet the 1967 updates left a lasting impact, reinforcing the Nova’s reputation as a peppy compact car with serious performance credentials. For these reasons, the 1967 Nova remains a favorite among vintage Chevy and muscle car fans today.
- Little Known Facts:
- The Nova was almost called the Chevrolet II when first introduced in 1962.
- A convertible Nova was offered only in the 1962-1967 models years.
- The Nova was sold in Japan through Toyota dealerships from 1969-1973.
- A Nova hatchback body style was introduced in 1971 but slow sales led to its cancellation in 1976.
- In a bid to boost sales, a Nova rally coupe package with gold trim was offered in 1971.
- Amazing Facts:
- Over 96,000 Nova coupes were sold in 1967 alone.
- The SS Nova could do 0-60 mph in just 7.5 seconds, very quick for the era.
- The Nova was Motor Trend magazine’s Car of the Year in 1963.
- Nova sales totaled over 2.5 million units during 1962-1979 production years.
- Certain Nova models came with innovative features like headlight washers and diagnostic connectors.
A five-year sales history can be seen at Classic.com. Valuation tables can be seen at Caaarguide.com. Current values can also be seen at Collectorcarmarket.com. Production data can be seen at Conceptcarz.com. In-depth production specifications and data can be viewed at Automobile-catalog.com. Additional specs can be seen at Classiccardatabase.com. For some reading on the history of the Nova, check out these articles: Motortrend.com, HHclassic.com, and Novaresource.org.
Nadaguides.com – Average price: $6,925
Image credit – Wikipedia.org
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