It’s not always easy to walk the line between race car and street car, but Pro Street machines walk that line with the best of them. For those that don’t know, Pro Street has a history dating back to the ‘70s, but really found its stride in the ‘80s, mixing the enormous rear wheeltubs and tires of a full-blown dragster with a selection of more “street-legal” features. This Pro Street-inspired Chevy Nova SS is no different, as seen in the following feature video.
The Nova’s current owner, Brian Scott, originally purchased the car from an older gentleman who had been racing it since 1988. As age caught up with the previous owner, he decided to sell it, leading Brian to transform it from a pure race car into a street-legal beast with show-stopping aesthetics and performance enhancements.
Brian retained the original stock Chevy Nova subframe and fender wells, but completely revamped the front suspension and rear setup. Originally equipped with a narrow 12-bolt rear axle, Brian widened the back to fit massive 31×16.50 tires on custom RC Comp Wheels, enhancing its ultra-aggressive stance. The vehicle was also upgraded with coilovers and a six-inch drop in the rear to achieve a lower, more menacing profile.
Under the hood, this Chevy Nova sports a Dart Engine 400 block, which was converted from E85 to run on pump gas for more practical street use. After a mishap with a stuck lifter, Brian rebuilt the engine, adding new heads and switching to a Holley Stealth EFI system to boost its reliability and performance. With these modifications, the engine now delivers approximately 650 horsepower at the crank.
The car’s transmission, a robust 200-4R, was upgraded with billet rollers and shafts to handle the increased power. Brian also installed a heavy-duty driveshaft and revised the rear axle with 4.11 gears, perfect for its new tire setup. For stopping power, the Nova features Wilwood six-piston brakes at the front and four-pistons in back, significantly improving braking capability over the original drum setup.
Visually, the car retains the iconic look of the ’67 Chevy Nova, but with modern touches like the fiberglass Sonoco-style hood and a sleek paint job that accentuates its widened body.
Despite its racing roots, Brian enjoys driving the car regularly, ensuring it’s not just a show piece but a fully functional, thrilling ride. Check out the full feature video below:
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Comment
Cool Hot Rod but not a dragster