68 Nova rocker deflectors

novab · #1 03-31-2017, 12:40 AM

Saw this car on Ebay and the underside shot shows these deflectors. Any input on them. I have never seen them before. Are they factory?

**L78_Nova** · #2 03-31-2017, 02:20 AM

Yes factory on 68 only. May only be on the black lower trim cars... not sure.

Schonyenko2 · #3 03-31-2017, 04:09 AM

Agree. Factory. Seen them on both 2, and 4 doors There's a difference in length between the two. Not sure about the lower blackout. I have never found a good consistent answer.

**ALLZS** · #4 03-31-2017, 12:14 PM

I am working on a 68 2 door that has the deluxe exteror trim with the lower blacked out rockers this car has them not sure what there purpose was ??

Schonyenko2 · #5 03-31-2017, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALLZS

I am working on a 68 2 door that has the deluxe exteror trim with the lower blacked out rockers this car has them not sure what there purpose was ??

There's a thought that the "curtains" hide the gap between the frt stub, and the frt rear spring.

**YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY** · #6 03-31-2017, 04:19 PM

Oft discussed, still mysterious!

Lee Stewart · #7 03-31-2017, 08:51 PM

I am going to take a "wild ass guess" and say they are part of the Flush-and-Dry rocker panel system that Chevy advertised for the 1968 Nova. Maybe they enclose certain holes in the frame that would not allow the F-&-D system to work. Like I said - just a guess - nothing more.

**WILMASBOYL78** · #8 04-01-2017, 12:25 PM

I have always felt they were a cosmetic item meant to blend in the view of the undercarriage and provide a cleaner visual appearance for the car. Most of them haven't survived so it is rare to see them intact.

I'm pretty sure they are good for an additional 5-10hp

-wilma

**DEUCE** · #9 04-01-2017, 03:47 PM

I was told they were there to make the Nova appear as though it had a full frame. In a market study, people were turned off by the new subframe configuration from the side of the car. The side curtains or body curtains were GM's solution to make the Nova more appealing. The curtains didn't last long, as most of them got destroyed, and were discontinued, mid to late year.

Mike

**earntaz** · #10 04-01-2017, 06:05 PM

I wonder how many were "jacked" out of shape/crushed by those thinking it was part of the frame ... TAZ