If you were going to comprise a list of the all-time meanest Chevrolet muscle cars ever produced, the car you are looking at now has to be very close to the top of the list.
‘Red Hills Rods & Classics’ is proud to offer you this absolutely gorgeous numbers matching, frame-off restored & heavily documented 1969 Chevrolet Nova SS 396/375hp L78! This car is a show-stopper folks! Wearing its factory correct (Code 69) Cortez Silver exterior wrapped around a perfect black vinyl bench seat interior w/ original Muncie M22 ‘Rock Crusher’ 4-Speed transmission, this 1969 Nova SS L78 was built for one thing and one thing only, and that is to ‘take care of business’! Featured in ‘Muscle Car Review’ magazine in November 2017, this spectacular L78 Nova left the factory w/ all of the ‘right stuff’ so to speak. Sold new on August 28, 1969 @ Kidder Knoepfler Co. in Sioux City, Iowa, original factory options include: 396/375hp L78 Turbo-Jet Engine, Muncie M22 4-Speed Transmission, 3.55 Positraction Rear Axle, Nova SS Equipment, Power Steering, Exterior Decor Package, Custom Interior Package, AM/FM Pushbutton Radio, Soft-Ray Tinted Glass, etc. It is one of only (682) L78 Novas that left the factory equipped w/ the M22 ‘Rock Crusher’ 4-speed transmission in 1969, and for Bowtie muscle fanatics such as myself, that is huge! The second owner, who had possession of the car for over 32 years, completed a comprehensive body-off restoration in 2012 w/ the final result being nothing short of breathtaking. Since then, it has amassed too many ‘Best Of Show’ and ‘First Place’ trophies to count. All of the original sheet metal is as straight as an arrow all the way around the car, the factory correct Cortez Silver paint shows ‘as new’ w/ no scratches, chips, or distractions whatsoever, and all of the chrome & stainless trim is in absolutely beautiful condition throughout. She also has the perfect stance, sitting on the original 14” Magnum five-spoke ‘SS’ wheels wrapped in Firestone Polyglas F70-14 tires. You can walk around this car a hundred times and never find a bad angle!
Open the driver’s door and you will find a gorgeous factory correct (Code 732) black vinyl bench seat interior that looks exactly as it did on the showroom floor back in 1969. There is nothing quite like the feeling of sitting behind the wheel of a mean big-block Nova SS w/ your right hand firmly gripping the factory Hurst 4-speed shifter. All of the gauges, lights, blinkers, etc., are in perfect working order. Even the original radio & lighter function properly. From front to back and from side to side, the interior is as perfect as you will ever find in a classic muscle car.
Now, let’s get to the heart of this beast, shall we?
Pop open the hood and nestled inside the beautifully detailed engine bay resides the numbers matching 396/375hp L78 motor, w/ correct (JH) suffix code & partial VIN, dressed in Chevy orange w/ the correct chrome valve covers & chrome air cleaner, topped w/ the original aluminum intake manifold & original Holley carburetor. The massive L78 motor is linked to the numbers matching Muncie M22 ‘Rock Crusher’ 4-speed transmission w/ correct Muncie code & partial VIN, which is linked to the numbers matching 3.55 Positraction rear axle. She fires up instantly, settling into a nice smooth idle and she runs, drives & performs beautifully in every way! There is a reason that these L78 cars have the reputation that they do! They are very, very fast, w/ tons of power/torque, and they are a BLAST to drive! When I drove this gorgeous L78 Nova what I noticed the most was that there were no rattles, squeaks or unwanted noises that so many of these cars have. Even w/ the skinny F70-14 Polyglas tires, she drives like a dream, and the factory power steering makes driving around town effortless. Simply stated, she runs & performs just as good as she looks!
My favorite thing about this wonderful 1969 Chevrolet Nova SS L78 is the massive amount of original documentation, which includes: Original Broadcast Sheet, Original Protecto-Plate, Original Owner’s Manual, Original 1969 Chevy II Dealership Brochure (from Kidder Knoepfler Co., the dealership that sold the car new), Original 1969 Chevrolet Chevy II Accessories Catalog (from Kidder Knoepfler Co., the dealership that sold the car new), Title & Registration History, N.C.R.S. Shipping Report, etc., and as I mentioned previously, she was recently featured in ‘Muscle Car Review’ magazine in November, 2017, which will all go to the new owner.
If you are searching for a collector-grade classic muscle car that has everything you look for when it comes time to invest, this gorgeous 1969 Nova SS L78 simply has it all. Considering the gorgeous original color combination, numbers matching drivetrain, body-off restoration and extensive original documentation, it just doesn’t get much better than this.