68 SS 427 NOVA??????

[MotownMadman]

Ok guys, I was on the phone with a guy today who I am buying parts from, seems to be knowledgeable, says his brother-in-law has a Nova he bought new, 68 SS 427, says it has been sitting since the seventies as it was used for racing, still has the original motor and he may sell. Before I call the Brother-in- Law, did such a beast exist? The fellow I was talking to said only a few were made and many people tried to buy it years back before he permanetly garaged it. Seems I remember something about an SS427 Nova, but cant remember for sure. The only thing the guy I was talking to was not absolutly sure on was the SS thing, but he swears the car is real, said he rode in it when he first married the guys sister. Any ideas?
Thanks,
Motown /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

[mnyenko]

Motown,
It is probably a 396.What does it say on the fender emblems?
May have been a dealer trans plant.There have been no copo 68 427 Novas found.If it is a turbo 400, it may be a missing Gibb copo.Earl

[William]

If Don Yenko couldn't talk Chevy into building a 427 Nova nobody could. He wanted 50; converted a few (7?)in his shop. He thought the car was dangerous and sold the remainder as 396s.

Others also did 427 Nova conversions: Dick Harrell, Dale Chev in WI did at least 2. Motion and Nickey may have also done some.

[MotownMadman]

I talked with the owner, his brother-in-law had a few of the details wrong. The car is not an SS. It is a plain Jane rubber floor mat Medium blue(Lemans?)automatic car. He bought the car for racing, the dealer in North Carolina ordered him the car from another dealer. The original engine is currently not in the car but he does have it. The car has never been registered on the street, drag raced from day one and parked in the mid seventies. Original faded paint, fenderwells cut for tires. The guy insists, and sounds sincere and not dumb) that the car is a 427/425. Told me he has all the original paperwork from the North Carolina dealer from new. Said it took almost two months to have the car delivered from another dealer and had several hundred miles on it when he bought it. Told me he didnt understand why we were having the conversation as his family knows it is not for sale. True drag racer, could care less about original, rare, history, restorations, or money, only cares that cars go fast, said it was one of his first and has sentimental value. Who do we have here in NC?
Motown /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

[Mr70]

Find out what Dealer his Dealer ordered it from.
He should say Fred Gibb....Yes?

[bkhpah]

68' Gibb cars were SS models...BKH

[Jeff H]

Interesting information Motown. Even if he doesn't want to sell the car, it would be great if somebody could check it out with the paperwork to see what it really is. The historical value of the car is what is interesting now.

[MotownMadman]

Jeff, It is amazing what you can find out by talking to people who have stuff for sale on Ebay, when I am asking about parts or cars I always Email my toll free number so people call...it's hard to get additional off topic info using Emails. I am going to follow up on this if nothing more but to get the details, thats why I was wondering who we have down that way that would like to go on a mission.
Thanks,
Motown /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[Kim_Howie]

Motown, the car would have to be a SS to be a 396 car,Also no Gibb car was lemans blue. It would have to be a dealer transplant. Kim

[MotownMadman]

Kim, This is why I posted this here, to save me the trouble of chasing my tail. It sounds like I dont need to waste my time do follow up on this thing as it doesnt sound correct. I dont know that it is Lemans blue, he had said a medium blue color, I was taking a guess. Drag race guys are a different breed anyway when it comes to the history or car equipment equation. Anybody on this board who owned this car would know every option and code, as well as knowing the color beyond just "Blue". I think I got enough info here to drop this one in the trash can and move on. Thanks for the info guys.
Motown /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[Kim_Howie]

Motown there were light blue Gibb cars . The man says he has paper work which is very rare for novas Cant hurt to check it out Kim

[SS427]

I would have to strongly agree. More than one car has been lost out on because it was not taken seriously and followed up on. For every 10 leads, 9 are wild goose chases but the one can more than cover the last 9. Do yourself a favor and look into. No harm done. As I have also found out numerous times upon investigating a car, that the car turned out to be nothing but in the ensuing conversation, I found other cars or parts that I purchased.
Rick

[Casey Marks]

What about the in-ability to get an automatic (TH400) with a 427/425 in '68 ? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/scholar.gif

[sixtiesmuscle]

What dealers doing conversions were within "several hundred miles" of where it was bought? That seems to be an interesting clue. It also seems that some people back then got sold on the idea that the L78 was "just the same as" the 396/425 from late '65. Pretty soon, their 396/375 became as good as a 427/425 in their mind, and, sometimes in conversation. Don't forget, there were some with these two engines who would have swapped air cleaner tops [decals] with each other for opposite reasoning.

[Kim_Howie]

Casey the only automatic solid lifter car in 1968 was thanks to Fred Gibb and the 50 copo novas. Kim