Patina Rat Rod: 1966 Chevrolet Nova SS
Chevrolet gave its popular compact the Chevy II a facelift in 1966 and sales improved by more than 50,000 units. And the Nova Super Sport could be had with some power under the hood, like the 275 hp 327 cubic-inch V8 as with the seller’s car. The original engine is not in the automobile but comes with the deal, so that would still make this Chevy numbers-matching. Located in San Diego, California, the Nova seen here has loads of patina with its Danube Blue paint and is available here on eBay where $29,700 is the current bid. The car reflects dealer plates in the back.
For most of the first decade of the Nova, that moniker represented an upgrade to the basic Chevy II which had debuted in 1962 as Chevrolet’s second compact car. The first was the Corvair, which was considered unorthodox because of its rear-mounted, air-cooled engine. The Chevy II/Nova was more routine, like a scaled-down version of the bigger Chevrolets. With 1966’s restyle, 172,500 copies rolled off the assembly line, with nearly 21,000 wearing SS or Super Sport badging. A few more than 5,100 copies of the SS came with the 327 that was in the seller’s car. But that powerplant once went bad and was replaced by a similar 327 with a few performance upgrades.
The seller indicates that this SS is authentic, not a facsimile which have become popular in the era of cloning. This machine was also built with a 4-speed M20 manual transmission, so it’s a true muscle car (you may recall the Chevelle SS 396 became a series of its own in 1966, the year this Nova was produced). As the story goes, this was a California car from the get-go, which has helped lead to a rust-free body and original paint that is well-worn. But a lot of folks like this look and would rather clearcoat what’s there rather than go for a repaint. Consider it a high-class rat rod with a patina.
Though no photos of it are provided, the original damaged block comes with the car and is said to need some machine work if you wanted to reuse it. Besides a rebuild of the current motor, new items include the Dynamax exhaust, aluminum radiator, and brakes. The interior was lifted from a 1967 Nova and looks rather good except for one gash in the driver’s seatback. We’re told this is a two-owner automobile, which explains its preservation. If you were to take this car home, would you leave it as is or take steps to make it look new again?
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Comments
Please explain how this is a rat rod???
This is NOT a rat rod. It’s just a car that needs finishing. Just my two cents, but rat rods are the worst.
I agree. The term “rat rod” does not describe this car at all! Someone hasn’t been to enough car shows. Put a decent paint job on it and enjoy it. Patina looks fake anyway.
Because it looks ratty…
Definitely a paint job! Got to have something to Wax. Shine on, Shine off! Probably fun to drive with that small block in it, ” if it’s running right”.
Rat rods are the creative Frankensteins of hot rodding. Using random body parts to put together a one-of-one car from the grave is a backyard art form. It’s a unique way to recycle, too!
This Nova is still alive and thriving. It’s just old looking, like me.
I like this body the best,in the late 80s in California a neighbor down the street had a white one.would often run at Riverside Raceway,it was a 11.50sec car that he drove on the street as well.
Nice ride. The “patina” doesn’t look real. The stipes on the hood and roof look odd for a real patina, i.e., left outside. Door jamb and lock jamb both look over done. Usually, those jambs are not as bad as the outside.
Very nice sounding vehicle! Looks to me like something I definitely would buy!
I always thought a L79 was 350 horsepower, it was in the Corvettes, They were feared on the street and the drag strip too. I wonder if it spent a few hours at the detailers if the paint could be bought back ?
“The L79 V-8 has staked out a special place in Chevy lore, thanks to its 350 horsepower at 5800 rpm, and 360 lb. -ft. of torque at 3600 rpm, out of a mere 327 cubic inches. Available in the Corvette from 1965 to 1968, the L79 also turned pedestrian Chevy II and Chevelle Malibu SS sedans into true musclecars “.
Yes, you are correct, the L79 327 V8 was rated at 350 HP. This car was built with the L30 engine, which was rated at 275 HP.
It just a nice Street car. What’s not to like SS,327, 4 speed and rare.
I bought one of these new in 66. It was yellow with the 275hp, 4-speed, and posi rear. $3k out the door.
It was fast in a straight line but no brakes or steering. It had better be pointed straight when you floored it.
I only had it for one year because of a divorce and the fact that I was going to kill myself if I kept it.
It’s not a rat rod, it just has ratty paint. It appears to be a created patina to me, it just doesn’t look natural at all. The bottom of the car was treated to a rattle can restoration in some locations. But overall, cool car!
Looks more like a Rattle Rod, the claimed “patina” looks like a krylon job.
I’m imagining a conversation something like this….”ok Joe, we only have one can of spray paint to do this whole car. So go ahead and spray. Don’t worry about coverage, just keep moving, fast!”
It looks like someone had a car with a decent older paint job and decided to sandpaper it down to make it look like an older sun baked paint job
I agree.Definately not a ratrod.Do it up nice and enjoy it.
I have to agree with everyone else PAINT THE CAR!!!! Have never meet anyone yet who doesn’t like a deuce. Enough said.