Z11 fastback nova??

[Belair62]

One of the guys at 348/409 posted this


In 1963, Chevrolet created three fastback Novas for road race competition. The Novas were all convertibles pulled from the regular production line. They were then shipped to the Corvette plant for the addition of fiberglass parts. The doors, inner panels, front fenders, hood and both front and rear bumpers were all 'glass. The new roof and fastback was also made of fiberglass and bonded to the metal. The fastback covered what would have been the trunk lid and blocked all access to the trunk area from the outside.

After a 1963 Corvette independent rear suspension was also added, the cars were shipped to Bill Thomas in California. Chevrolet also shipped the "Mystery Motors", that later ended up with Smokey Yunick, to Bill to be installed in the Novas. Bills job was to install the engines and setup the suspension for road racing. Before the Novas could be completed, GM put a ban on all factory racing.

GM ordered the cars crushed but Bill worked out a deal to keep the cars as payment for his work. The engines were sent back to Chevrolet and then to Smokey Yunick in Florida. He then sold one Nova to Fritz Callier, a Chevrolet dealer in Dallas,to be drag raced. Another one was sold to a Los Angeles Chevrolet dealer who drag raced it for less than two months before crashing it and totally destroying it. The third was sold to Alan Green Chevrolet in Seattle.

Alan Green also drag raced the Nova with driver Dick Milner and crew chief Tom Foster. Green, Milner and Foster raced the Nova at drag strips throughout the northwest United States and western Canada from 1963 until 1967. During one race the fastback roof blew off at 155 mph. The team then ventilated the rear section to keep the car from wanting to fly above 150 mph.

These fastback Novas sport a roofline similar to, but predating, that of the Plymouth Barracuda, AMC Marlin, 1966 Dodge Charger and about half of the late-1960's-era Fords. Fastbacks were popular with buyers in the later 60's, but aerodynamic efficiency on the race track was the main concern of Chevrolet engineers. Ironically, even though they were built to be road raced, all three of the fastback Novas spent almost their entire racing lives on the drag strip.



Link and other pictures,,,Scroll down to the bottom,,,,dq http://www.novaresource.org/history.htm

[370454s]

I saw the Alan Green Nova at Gordon Abkirks house in 98 or 99. His guys were doing a Resto on it. Looked pretty cool in Person. Alan Green Chevrolet was in Burien,Abkirks shop was in Zenith. Alan Green Chev is still at the Same Location, but I think it is now Burien Chevrolet.
Mike

[Belair62]

The shope doing the Mystery motor is putting it in one of those Fastbacks and road racing it. Is the Alan Green car being restored to drag spec ? If so that means both of the Fastbacks are still around ! One of them was apparently destroyed according to the article.The Huston Platt car has a 65 front end on it...

[370454s]

When I saw the Alan Green car it had a Injected 377 and was going back to drag race Appearence.
Mike

[Schonyenko2]

Some of what you see in the fastback design was early prototype changes that would have put the chevyll on a competitive footing with the new mustang.Instead Chevrolet decided to go with a whole new concept called the camaro.

[Belair62]

Here is the motor going in the fastback Nova

http://www.toeperf.com/427mystery.htm

[PeteLeathersac]

Didn't Dick Harell run one of these fastbacks? . I may be wrong but if I dig deep enough I think I can come up w/ a pic??? ~ Pete

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

I don't think DH raced any of the 3 fastback Novas. These cars were intially intended for road course racing in England, and ironically the 3 cars that were completed all ended up on the drag strip. There were parts for approx. another 12 cars, and were written up in periodicals of the day under 'Bad Bascom'.

To my knowledge, all 3 survived - not sure on the extent of the damage to the wrecked car. Very cool cars, would love to have one - they are either a 'love it' or 'hate it' car. Gordon has the AG car, the only one known to survive. The Huston Platt Dixie Twister was up for sale around the '67 +/- timeframe, I have the ad: F/glass body, plexi windshield and windows, 454 engine, fuel injectors, crower roller cam, tubular front axle, etc... No price.

I have a few pics, will try to post.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

I'm not sure which of the three became this car, but notice the stretched front end - apparently done with chicken wire and glass

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

For you 'Marlin' jokers