Jim has owned his Nova for over 30 years, and has no plans of letting it go any time soon. We can't blame him, since it's in gorgeous condition and the sentimental value is priceless.One of our favorite qualities of classic cars is the history and sentimental value they carry. The 1970 Chevy Nova seen here is no exception. Jim Turner, of Van Nuys, California, drove out with his best friend to purchase the car over 30 years ago. Sadly, his friend was killed in a motorcycle accident a year later, but this tragedy brought Jim closer to his friend's family. Soon enough, Jim had married his best friend's sister, and the pair decided to hold onto the Nova and the memories that went along with it.
When Jim pulled into our showroom parking lot in the silver and black SS, we knew we had to get a closer look. The car has been beautifully maintained and restored inside and out, thanks to the addition of a few parts from Classic Industries and plenty of elbow grease. Jim cares deeply about this car, and it shows.
The "502" emblems on each fender indicate the addition of a GM Performance Parts crate motor, which helps this car produce far more power than its stock configuration.Keen-eyed readers will have already spotted the "502" badge on the car's fenders, indicating that this is no standard Nova. Jim replaced its original motor with a potent 502ci big-block, ordered from the pages of a GM Performance Parts catalog. A few years later, he also dropped in a new five-speed manual transmission for the true row-your-own muscle car experience.
Although the car will easily smoke its tires off the line in its current configuration, Jim isn't willing to leave well enough alone. With a glimmer in his eye, he told us of his plans to drop in a 620hp 572ci crate motor someday. We can't wait to see the results.
If you've got a Nova, Camaro, Firebird, or any other classic car project, bring it by our Huntington Beach showroom—we'd love to check it out, and help you find the restoration parts you need. If you're not local, don't worry, you can also pick up a free parts catalog on our web site.
