Photo credit: Mecum Auctions
1969 Chevy Nova Yenko SC 427
You know the car has to be a wild one if Chevrolet flat refused to make it as ordered, even through the Central Office Production Order, or COPO, program. Chevy would not deliver the 1969 Chevy Nova to Yenko Chevrolet with the L72 427 installed. Instead, Don Yenko had to order them as 396 COPO cars, order the L72 427s separately, then swap the L72 for the 396 upon delivery. The 396 COPO package was preferred as it already came with more robust frames, brakes, suspensions, and drivelines. Mr. Yenko himself indicated they probably shouldn’t have built the SC (Super Car) 427, saying “It was the wildest thing we ever did” in addition to “It was barely legal at best” and building it was “skirting the edge of product liability.”
The Chevy Nova Yenko SC 427 came equipped with the aforementioned L72 427 with 11.0:1 compression, rated at 450 horsepower. It is considered the fastest of the Yenko specials, as it was the lightest car with the biggest power. It was also difficult to keep pointed in a straight line when on the throttle. Zero-to-sixty times hovered around the five-second mark, with the quarter-mile sizzling past in under eleven seconds.
The Chevy Nova Yenko SC 427s also came with the standard Yenko stripe package and badging, but not a lot else, as performance was the goal. Only 37 Chevy Nova Yenko SC 427s were ever built, and it is thought that fewer than ten survive today. One sold at the 2015 Mecum Kissimmee auction for $380,000. Hagerty Price Guide puts pricing for a #1 condition SC 427 at $480,000, if you can find one for sale.
Photo credit: Mecum Auctions
1970 Chevy Nova Yenko Deuce
The 1969 Chevy Nova Yenko SC 427 was one for the record books. Enthusiasts took notice. So did insurance companies who balked at putting such a high-performance engine in what was considered at the time to be an economy car. Don Yenko knew the SC 427s were “lethal” and had described them as such. This, combined with the Clean Air Act of 1970, pushed Mr. Yenko to produce a Chevy Nova performance model with a Small Block 350. But not any 350 would do, particularly since it would be wearing the Yenko name. Only the hot LT1 found in the Corvette LT1 and Camaro Z/28 would suffice. These new Chevy Novas would be known as the Yenko Deuce.
The Chevy Nova Yenko Deuce was a COPO car. Yenko advertised them as a “mini musclecar.” It also managed to scoot under the performance car insurance premium. It came equipped with the high-compression 350 cubic-inch LT1 engine, producing 360 horsepower. It had a solid lifter cam, aluminum intake manifold, and finned aluminum valve covers. The Yenko Deuce was also equipped with F41 Sport suspension, and a 12-bolt Posi-Traction rear end with 4.10 gears. It could be had with either the Muncie M21 four-speed manual or the Turbo Hydramatic 400 three-speed auto.
Photo credit: Mecum Auctions
The Chevy Nova Yenko Deuce was a hoot to drive. Swap some headers and slicks onto it, and low 13-second quarter-mile times could be had with ease.
You get your Chevy Nova Yenko Deuce in Fathom Blue, Forest Green, Citrus Green, Gobi Beige, Hugger Orange, Sunflower Yellow, Cranberry Red, or Cortez Silver. Only a black vinyl bench seat was offered. Rally wheels came with the package, sans trim rings.
Only 175 Chevy Nova Yenko Deuces were ever produced, 122 four-speeds, and 53 automatics. Hagerty Price Guide value for an example in #1 condition is $145,000.
Photo credit: Hemmings
Chevy Nova 9C1 Police Coupe
The 1978 Chevy Nova 9C1 (police package) Coupe may be one of the rarest Novas ever built.
In the mid-1970s, in the middle of the gas crisis, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD) was looking for a more efficient police cruiser. John Christy was both the Executive Editor of Motor Trend Magazine and an LASD Specialist Reserve Deputy. Â He helped spearhead the effort to find a police cruiser that would cost less to operate, thus saving taxpayer dollars. John was of the mind that a smaller police car would be more fuel efficient and better for police work. The eventual verdict was the Chevy Nova would be best suited for the duty. Mr. Christy wrote a letter to Chevrolet asking for them to create a police package for the Nova, and Chevy agreed.
Chevrolet assigned two engineers to create the Chevy Nova Police Package, AKA the 9C1 (9C1 had long been the Chevy code for police package vehicles). F-Body Suspension specialist Jim Ingle, and Harry Hammond of Special Projects took a plain 1973 Nova taxi, replaced the six-cylinder engine with an L48 350 with a four-barrel carb and dual exhaust, a Turbo Hydramatic 350 automatic transmission, a heavy-duty radiator, alternator, front disc brakes, bigger rear drums, 3.08:1 limited-slip diff. They used a dual snorkel air cleaner, four-spoke steering wheel, and quick ratio steering from the Camaro Z/28, along with some suspension bits.
The 1978 Chevy Nova 9C1 Coupe may be the rarest Nova ever produced. Almost all other Police Novas were built as four-doors. Research has turned up only a single example built as a coupe ordered as a 9C1 (there may be others, but documented examples have not been located). This Chevy Nova 9C1 Coupe has all of its documentation from new, including the window sticker and build sheet. It was ordered from a Chattanooga, Tennessee, dealer in 1978. Aside from a single repaint, it is original, with a scant 31,000 miles on the odometer. It has 31 factory options including A/C, tilt wheel, cruise control, and the landau top. The owner claims it is a one-of-one car. It sold in 2017 for $24,500.
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Comments
My Dad had a ’69 Nova SS Auto in high school, sold it later on, then bought a ’70 Nova SS 4-speed around 1980. He still talks about them to this day. Legendary cars…
My first three cars were Nova’s. 1st was a 1967 Chevy II Nova coupe w/ 230 Cu. In six and black vinyl interior and powerglide in Ermine white. 2nd was a 1970 Chevy II Nova coupe w/ 350 V-8 ( 2bbl) and 3 speed on the floor. rated at 250 hp. Color was forest green with green cloth interior. 3rd was a 1974 Nova custom hatchback coupe w 350 v-8, dual exh., turbo 350 trans, bucket seats and console. Everything you could get on the SS except no SS graphics. Think it was rated at 185 HP. Great cars wish I had them all back
Had the same Forest Green green cloth interior Nova in high school, swapped out 3 speed to Muncie 4, 12 bolt 488 gears, slapper bars headers TP 147 cam left 2 barrel lowered 3in front , 4 back Cragar mags it was the start of Nova obsession never recovered from!
Looking for a 74 nova 4 door nova front windshield
I hear people talking about the yenko sc 427 like it’s something special let’s talk about the rare unicorns of the Nova’s the 6 factory prototypes from 1967 for 1968 that came out as factory race cars for 1968 equipted with the smokey yanics 396/427 mystery motor that Nascar band in 1963 those where the proto types that brought fourth the yenko models there are 3 cars known to be left out of the 6 prototype cars they where giving a gaurentee of 6seconds in a 1/4 mile or your money back from the factory back then I’ve since sold mine but I still have the pictures of the car and official records from back in the day where it dumped at 1250+ horsepower so let’s hear about these cars not there imitators
Those were the days……..
To Mr. Carl Verges chevrolet never made a 1970 chevy ll Nova. The 1968 was the last year of the chevy ll’s. I owned one, Jim Payne
I know your information is correct as I had a ‘71 Nova SS with a 350/4, 3-speed shift on the floor with buckets, console, gauges, and the wee-little tach where the gas gauge normally would go. Loved that car, and so did my girlfriend’s dad, who never stopped calling it a Chevy II, even though the badge clearly said Nova. I guess there are a lot of old school guys out there who still prefer the old moniker.
I agree totally. I own a 68 Chevy ll now Chevy ll’s stopped in 1968. Mr.Jim Payne…correct.
Byron Hood – Alabama
One only needs to watch the auctions. These cars are again, going for Big Bucks. Still have my ’69 Chevelle SS396. Bought it new, just before my Uncle Sam gave me a free vacation. Summer is coming. Can’t wait to bring it back out.
I’ve had 5 big block Novas and currently have one that requires a complete restoration. They are by far the quickest little Chevy around certainly back when they were new. A fun car and my favourite. Can GM start making them again please….. 🙂
I had a ‘72 nova a bought on ‘78 for 1,700 and still have it
This is what Chevy is missing today, because it’s a entry level compact don’t mean no excitement. Unfortunately the Civic is where the Nova was in the 70s.
Yenko cars, being limited-number, dealer-built aftermarket specialty vehicles, are automatically ‘rare,’ as are the cars from Baldwin/Motion Chevrolet in New York, built and sold at the same time as the Yenko cars. These vehicles were ‘rare’ the day they were built and sold.
If the article would have included factory offerings, the 1966 Nova equipped with the L79 engine would be at the top of the list. Add to the fact that that 327/350 hp engine was only available with a manual trans (3- or 4-speed) and no automatic makes these models even more hard to find.
Any of the factory-equipped 396 big-block Novas at either power level (the solid-lifter 375 hp would be the most desirable) are also very rare these days.
I had a 67 solid red with a 327 , 4 speed bucket seats , fastest thing around .
My first car was a 1970 nova in autumn gold color that my dad gave to me in 76. That car ran great. Good old days.
Since Chevy decided to basically make a modern 69 Camaro, I wish they would do the same with Nova. Even better, remake the 1958 Impala.
Chevy should also design a modern version of a 70-72 Monte Carlo!
My first car was a 67 chevy ll nova 327 with the m22 munchies 4 speed and 373 pos. Trac rear end one sweet car
Rare not even
In early 68 I read in Hot Rod mag that GM was going to put a 327/325hp L79 in a Nova. I wanted one and ordered it on the spot. Gun metal gray with Cragers up front and cheaters on the back. Best time at Twin Cities Drag strip was 13.80 with basically nothing done to it. Oh, I did put 4:11s in.
Sold it to a friend who let another friend of ours drive when it he came home from leave in the Army. Rolled it-totaled it, but I still got trophies and a few pics.
I had a 1972 two door nova with a 327 that I had built out, lost my license in that baby, still my favorite car ever.
A l88 corvette thats rare 69
My wife hates Nova’s. I think I need 1!
One of many awesome cars during those times. Sure miss those days! They were certainly simpler times.
You missed the unicorn the most desirable and wanted chevyII is the 67 l79 s s nova 327 365 HP 4 speed car only 6 were built i know of only 2 survivors I myself own a 67 s s 4 speed car but I’m always looking for that car
I have a nice 1968 Nova ll. Had a 307 in it which I pulled and replaced it with a 350 4b.
Any idea what it might be worth ?
Come on, who are you people kidding . Novas albeit cute in the 66& 67 versions, were horrible driving cars.
By today’s standards they certainly didn’t handle and ride that great but back in 66-67 who really cared. The performance versions especially of any brand back then we’re built for performance not ride and handling. Not a lot of us back then were looking for cornering and curves or how good the car rode. All we cared about was how quick it went 1320 feet, how long the black marks were and how close the black marks were between gears. If you wanted ride and better handling, you would buy a Cadillac, Buick or Lincoln just to name a few. Those were considered the interstate cars, the cruisers, the boats. Nothing wrong with that group at all because alot of them would run pretty dam good. So, if you were looking for ride and handling back then you sure weren’t going to be shopping for a Camaro, Nova’s or Mustangs.
I have a 65 Chevy II. 350/4 that came out of a 75 vette. Took the garbage 624 heads and junked them (because what else would you do with them.) stuck vortex heads and intake topped with the ever reliable Quadra-junk,and go hunting for GTs. Love watching jaws drop. Oh, forgot it’s a 383 stroker. As far as handling goes, front and rear sway bars did the trick.
You forgot about the 1976 Chevy Nova Medalist. They only made about 5,000 of them. Google it they are extremely rare and I’ve got one.
i had 4 Novas and i miss them
75 coupe , 350 4BL 3.08 poistract automatic red with sport mirrors and auto trans ( got smashed)
76 SS coupe . yellow black stripes , did not keep
76 coupe like the red 75
77 coupe 350, 4bl, 4 speed , 3.08 positrack , bucket seats and stripes , rally wheels , F41 suspension
i look on the web all the time to see if i can find one that is reasonable.
They had a much better weight distribution than the camaro and handled better when properly equipped
I had the Oldsmobile Version- a ’75 Omega with a 260 v-8, 3 on the tree with Rallye suspension. I put 245/60-15 Goodyear Wingfoots on it. It took a full autocross season but I finally beat a guy with an ’83 Z-28 equipped with an H.O. engine. The rear springs were worn and a bit saggy( common to those X bodies) so the trick was to run with as much gas in the tank as possible to bring the back end down and shift weight percentage rearward.
I bought a new 1968 Chevy II Nova right out of high school, July 1968. It had the 307 with power glide. Not much else, $2450 out the door. I loved it, put on cragers H-70’s polyglass on the back, F-70’s in the front, headers. Barely ran in the fifteens. I kept it as a daily driver for 24 years.
Maybe not one of one but I’d bet a Four cylinder Torque Drive Nova is also quite rare.
My uncle was part owner of gene stocker chevrolet in belfonte pa. Remember the first z/28 . That and a 68 z/28 . That were drag raced i was 9 years old . But will never forget drooling over the muscle cars . Over the years . That came into the dealership . A 1970 orange yenko novs came in . I wanted it bad at 12 lol . Big family and a lotof cool cars were bought by family . My aunt bought a 66 ss 396 chevelle . Six kids in family and my dad ordered a 69 ss camaro .. and my mother . Wouldnt have it . But ended up with a 1970 caprice . Still nice car . But the yenko and copo novas . Were always my favorite cars
my uncle in South Texas has a 69. 427 Yenko number match with m-22 rock crusher and mono leak spring 12 bolt with 4:10 gears it just sit there he will not sale it or restore it was my cousin car unfortunately he pass way in a car accident it is a sentimental piece!
That’s understandable. Everyone has there own ways when it comes to those situations. Awesome car though. I respect that.
My 1968 396 375 hp all original is 1 of the factory rarest. Very fun to drive
Almost done restoring a 1977 Nova Concours, 4 door, bucket seats with floor shifter. Have not see one before or since I purchased it. 383 stroker crate built with rebuilt turbo 400, rebuilt posi rear end, can’t wait to take her for a ride.
Oh the Chevy Nova! My favorite car! My Dad had one that he put a Corvette engine in. We girls would sit in the backseat and yell Faster Dad,Faster!
Then when I turned 16, my stepbrother had one he let go back to the bank. So Dad got it for me! 68 Chevy nova, jacked up, with kreager mags! I worked with my mom, and I would have to drive 35 miles to pick up payroll, she couldn’t figure out how I could go there and back in less than 45 minutes! I loved it! I could hear us girls, Faster Dad,Faster!
To Mr. Carl Heroes chevrolet never made a 1970 chevy ll Nova. The 1968 was the last year of the chevy ll’s. I owned one, Jim Payne
I owned a 70 yenko duece that I purchased when I came home from the service.
72 was the last of that body style (68-72). 73 changed and pollution equipped cars started. EGR, CATS and low horsepower engines.
I also own a fully documented 1978 Chevy Nova 9C1. It is all original. It was assigned to me when I worked in law enforcement. I am retired now.
Ah, yes – The old Chevy II – Dad bought a used ’62 2-door Chevy II for me in late 63. It was part of an estate, with almost no miles on it – and no options. I couldn’t exactly say what the price was, but my contribution was $300. It was problem-free and blemish-free up to when I sold it in ’69. Selling it was a mistake since the ’69 Firebird that replaced it was pretty much a lemon. My next Nova was a ’76 and I loved it. The ’78 Nova that replaced that had nowhere the quality and performance of the ’76.
Also . . . What would you have done?: In 1969 I passed up on an SS 396 that the mother of a classmate of mine had up for sale after her son was killed, along two other classmates. (The GTO he was in drifted off a curve at speed and took out an oak tree killing all the occupants). . . . At that time I just didn’t feel right about buying it.
I had a ‘70 Nova 307 Powerglide. Swapped the engine and tranny to a built 327 4 bolt main, TH350 with NoS.
I have a 72rally Nova 6 cylinder 3 on the tree, how rare is it
I just bought a 1971 Nova and wanted to know how I can trace its history. Owners etc. ok
VIN is 114271W130267
I also have a 1978 fully documented 2 door 9C1 Nova, it was assigned to me while I was in Law Enforcement. It has some rust, but mechanically sound. Fun car to drive. It is on the 9C1 registry at Steve’s Nova site.
I also have a fully documented 9C1 Nova 1978. Build sheet, window sticker. Documentation that shows it was purchased by Iowa department of public safety. So it was actually used as a patrol vehicle., unlike the civilian model shown above.
I have a 1978 9C1 2 door coupe. It has all the documentation and has just over 50 thousand miles on it.
I had a 1967 Chevy II 2 dr post car ordered from the factory with 327/275 hp, 4 speed, 3.55 posi, no options, no carpet (rubber mats), black with black vinyl seats. Also after US Army service in 1970 ordered a 1970 Chevy Nova SS, white, black vinyl interior, 396/375 hp, 4 speed, 3.73 posi, no options, no carpet (rubber mats). Both cars were very fast. I wish that they were still mine.
Forgot the 1967 L79 only 6 ever made. I would say that would rate as ine of the rarest novas ever
Searching for a unicorn?
The 1972 “Skyroof” Novas qualify. A few more produced in 1973 were even more rare.
Now, find a surviving Skyroof car that is also a true SS.
Then…. find that combination WITH a 427.
Good luck.
(I just look in the garage)
I had a 66nova L79 that I bought in 1975 for 500$ and kicking my self in the ass for selling it but I was married and it was sell that or my wife’s 50 Willy’s wagon or my car and nobody wanted the Jeep so there went my car now I have nothing and if I still had it I could buy a house and a new car instead of no wife or car oh F ing well
I am the owner of the 1978 Nova 9C1 Coupe, the car is immaculate and has 31 factory options. Amazingly clean, showroom condition, 36K original miles! I also own other Nova 9C1’s, including one that is currently being fully restored on YouTube. On YouTube, search “Three Rivers Wrench” to find the video series. Lastly, I also welcome anyone to joint the Facebook group “Nova 9C1 Police Cars”. I am the admin of the group and we have fantastic members! Thanks all!
In 1984 I bought a 1969 nova ss.
I had it in high school for 2 years befor I sold the engine and scraped the car.
Didn’t have time to sell it befor I shipped out to boot camp.
I think it was a special production model. I have looked at all the 69 ss out their and it didn’t have some items that mine had on it.
It had a 3 speed slap shifer in it.
It had bucket seats with a center counsel . I wasn’t a racer but the 350 that was in it had headers on it. 650 holly carb. Vary fast car.
Blue paint with black leather top. Rag top.
Now I’m 57 and think that was a yanko nova but didn’t know it at the time what that was.
How many different kinds of 1969 nova ss were made then and what variation did I have briefly.