After several months of Corvair production in 1960, Chevrolet realized the much more conventional Ford Falcon was the clear winner in the American compact car sweepstakes. Chevrolet quickly developed the Chevy II for 1962 as a more proper competitor to the Falcon.
Despite its humble beginnings, Chevy IIs (and the more upscale Nova) can handle plenty of hot-rodding upgrades, which this 1963 Chevy II Nova two-door hardtop perfectly demonstrates. It’s currently featured on AutoHunter, the online auction driven by ClassicCars.com.
This clean Nova hardtop features a rebuilt small-block 350ci V8 paired with a TH350 three-speed automatic transmission with aftermarket shifter, aluminum radiator, ignition system and transmission cooler. Interior appointments include aftermarket gauges and custom lap belts, plus trunk mat and spare tire with matching cover out back. Finished in red over a matching vinyl interior, this first-generation Nova is now offered by a private individual with a clear New York title in the seller’s name.
The body was repainted red under prior ownership within the past three years. The seller claims the body panels, including the quarters, trunk and floors, are in excellent condition, although there are some small bubbles in the paint upon closer inspection. Notable features, stock and otherwise, include a cowl-induction hood, chrome rocker moldings and a driver-side mirror.
Polished aluminum mags and black-sidewall tires connect this Bow Tie to the road.
The red interior is complemented with Super Sport vinyl bucket seats with matching custom lap belts. Amenities include a push-button AM radio and aftermarket ratchet shifter.
Vitals are presented via the factory 120-mph speedometer, fuel gauge and warning lights, as well as a bank of four auxiliary gauges mounted underneath the dashboard. A column-mounted 11,000-rpm AutoMeter tachometer also has been added. The five-digit mechanical odometer reads 53K miles, although the actual mileage on the vehicle is unknown.
The rebuilt 350ci V8 has been upgraded with an MSD ignition system and aftermarket aluminum radiator. Power is transferred to the rear wheels through a Turbo 350 three-speed automatic transmission with transmission cooler and torque converter.
The suspension features QA1 adjustable shocks. Additional photos showing the underside of the vehicle are available in the carousel to the right.
This 1963 Chevrolet Chevy II Nova’s auction ends August 23 at 12:20 p.m. (PDT). Visit the vehicle’s AutoHunter listing for more information plus gallery of photos.
