David Nelson took inspiration for this Nova from a buddy who was building one of his own. It was a very fine car and David really wanted one like it--but not exactly. The car had to reflect his personality and style, and be one-of-a-kind. Sound familiar? That's why car shows are so interesting; no two are alike, just like the people who build them.
To begin with, Nelson started on a nice little '67 Nova and wanted it to wear a two-tone, blue and silver coat. First, however, some things needed refining. He sent the car to Collision Specialists in Tacoma, Washington. There they reworked every panel on the Chevy II. After that, Ryan Butler Fabrication jumped in and made a custom front roll pan, along with a one-off custom dash, and a late-model Camaro gauge cluster.
The body was finally considered ready, so the gang at R&J Customs laid on the Sherwin Williams Blue FX and Porsche Silver. Not wanting to re-use the stock Chevy trim, Nelson had R&J apply graphics in place of the bright work. Marks Custom Upholstery used black and white vinyl to cover the interior. Those killer rollers are Billet Specialties 17-inch GTX10 wheels.
For power, was there any other choice but an LS1? It's topped with a Weiand Lingenfelter intake manifold blowing 10 psi of charge from a twin-intercooled ATI ProCharger, and adding about 200 ponies to the already potent Gen III V-8. Blood Enterprises fine-tuned and tweaked the electrical system. Down to the ground, the torque goes through a 4L60-E and a 9-inch rearend with limited slip 3.90:1 gears.
We're thinking that David got what he wanted: a one-of-a-kind Nova that also is a great car.
| Owner | David Nelson |
| Vehicle | 1967 Nova |
| Engine | '01 LS1, Weiand Lingenfelter intake manifold, ATI supercharger with 10 psi, twin intercoolers, tail blow off valve, Granatelli MAF, custom headers and exhaust, estimated 550 hp at 6,000 rpm and 480 lb-ft of torque at 5,000 rpm |
| Transmission | '01 GM 4L60-E |
| RearEnd | Ford 9-inch with limited-slip and 3:90 gears |
| Suspension | Martz 2-inch drop spindles, Martz tubular control arms, Martz 2-inch drop springs, Martz coilovers, Mustang II rack-and-pinion |
| Wheels | Billet Specialties GTX10 |
| Front | 17x7 |
| Rear | 17x10 |
| Tires | Cooper |
| Front | 215/45/17 |
| Rear | 275/40/17 |
| Body | |
| Color/Paint | Sherwin Williams Blue FX and Porsche Silver |
| Painter | Rich at R&J Customs |
| Interior | SS buckets covered in black and white vinyl, LS1 Camaro upholstered by Markscluster with Autometer gauges, custom dash by Ryan Butler, upholstered by Marks |