ZL1 #1 in the paint booth

[JoeC]

there were a few 68-69 Harrell Nova's that were race cars

The Gibb Harrell Nova was said to be originality an L79

one ran with 396 and one ran a 427

[JoeC]

The Peterson photos had some of the 68 Chevy II showing the paint

[1stGenFan]

The Jack Walker car was a Gibb Copo Nova. Jack Walker has been trying to find it. I spoke to him around 2004, at one of the reunions, and he keeps contact with my friend Harry Kalwei, whom I fortunately converse with regularly. He told me how when he bought the car at Dick's shop, it had a blown 396 engine. It was painted a color similar to the fuchsia color found on the Fred Gibb sponsored Chevy II Dick ran at the end of the 1968 season. According to the Gibb Chevrolet records, Jack's car was the #22 COPO Chevy II/Nova. VIN 114278W370191. If it was, then it originally was Tripoli Turquoise. The engine of his car ended up in one of the other Gibb Copo Nova's if I remember the story's associated with these cars.

There is conflicting information that lists the Gibb sponsored COPO Nova as the #13 car, VIN 114278W369928, a Matador Red car. This is noted in the previous COPO Connection list of these cars, developed before I met Jack Walker in 2004. This list is no longer available, however, I have a copy. The late Dennis Hartweg told me he thought the fuchsia car was the #13 car, however, I do not know if he was referring to the COPO Connection list, or if he had definitive information, due to his research of these cars, and the fact his father worked at Gibb Chevrolet during the time these cars were there. He was close to my age, so was a young teenager of 14 or 15, in 1968-69. I do not know what resources the "COPO Connection" used when compiling the list. Helen Gibb allowed me to copy some of her archives, when I visited with her in 2000 to research my restoration of "Little Hoss", and my conversations regarding the fuchsia car were several years later as I delved into the history of the Gibb Chevrolet racing program.

Dick painted one of the COPO Nova's a fuchsia, almost metalic pink, and ran it during the end of the 1968 season. Helen Gibb told me they were asked by Chevrolet to enter the car for Chevrolet points during the later half of the 1968 season. Dick entered the car at NHRA events in Portland Oregon, Denver, Colorado, and Minneapolis, Minnesota. I found this information in a copy of the AHRA Dragworld newspaper reviewing the Gibb Chevrolet 1968 season. Helen did not remember what happened to the car, and thought it was sent back to Chevrolet. I believe Jack ran his car during the 1969 and possibly the 1970 season, at AHRA events. Jack told me he sold his car in 1972 to a fellow in Joplin, Mo.

I have no proof these are the same car, however, my conversations with both Jack Walker, and Helen Gibb are interesting in regards to the COPO Nova program of Gibb Chevrolet. It is clear that when viewing the color photos of the Jack Walker car, the main paint is red or a variation of a metallic red. Jack added the window trim, as the COPO's did not have window trim, so don't let this throw you off.

The 1st 3 photos and the last are from the Gibb Chevrolet archives, courtesy of Helen Gibb. The 4th from JoeC, other 2 are from searching on the web, or as noted.

I should start writing about the cars I know about under a separate heading under the Gibb Chevrolet or Dick Harrell section. I am sorry to hijack this thread about the #1 ZL1. I apologize for the diversion of the original poster's intent.

Ken Boje

[L78racer]

pic.

[1stGenFan]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

"E" indicates the specific class within Super Stock.

K

Here are the specifics of the Super Stock class for the 1969 AHRA season. This is from the 1969 AHRA Rule Book. The final wording after 2 pages of instruction state "Super Stock will be designated as S/SE".

A further explanation earlier is "All races will be run on a heads up basis, the cars will be handicapped by weight."

There were no classes within Super Stock for AHRA. That was reserved for the 5 Formula Stock classes, under special Formula categories.

I reviewed this with a former Super Stock and Pro Stock AHRA driver, who indicated he believed the "E" stood for eliminator. The class was known as Super Stock Eliminator.

[Keith Seymore]

Nice; thank you.

K

[EZ Nova]

1stgenfan,

Looking at the weights for the popular engines, it is certainly worth looking to run a 396 @ 2692?????

Back in the mid '90's, I did my '69 Nova to play on the street. Motor was actually a '72 4 bolt 402 STANDARD BORE. It was set up to L78 specs, (forged crank 7/16's rods TRW 11.5 to 1 pistons) We ring and bearinged the shortblock. Heads were '70 LS^ closed chamber casting 292 I think?? We ported the heads, used same 2.19/188 Manley valves. Comp .660 solid roller with Holley 800 on a strip dominator intake. That car was about 3200 lbs with a M21 and 4.56 gear. I only ran it 1 time in the 1/4 due to no roll bar and getting kicked out. Car ran 10.40's.

Now take out 500lbs and get some time and tweaks done. That could have been a 9.50 car after refining the whole deal.

The 200 lbs more for the 427 Chevy I don't think it would be worth it. And a Ford 427 TP motor at almost 3000lbs or a Hemi at 3300+ would have it's hands full with a 396????

[69z2x4]

I don't know how you would get a 396 car that lite. All the Camaros and Novas I had weigh about 3000 lbs with a bb in them.