Projects LXII (62) Chevy II

If you asked that query of my newest acquisition the answer would be "sitting on the corner showroom watching all the girls walk by...with a roman accent of course.

I wasn't looking but one of my Spokane buddies thought of me when a client sold his home in the 'kane recently and needed to part with the toys inside the garage rather than tote them back to Colorado. The car is not my style but it's kind of like visiting the pound, if you go - adoption is immanent and resistance is futile.

I learned of the car last weekend and struck a deal with the owner for a very reasonable price tag on the condition I transfer funds after trim tag inspection, VIN verification, etc.

Siri (my iphone girlfriend) said I had a brief window in the Spokane winter weather wonderland to retrieve the car so I reserved a trailer in the inland empire, grabbed my ditty bag, glock and tools and made the 6 hour jaunt to the northeast corner of the state last Wednesday under clear skies. I arrived at my buddies house on South-Hill around 6:00PM and we had the obligatory glass of bourbon (which is the proper way to welcome friends in the PNW) prior to heading over for vehicle inspection. That particular evenings selection was a nice mellow 100 proof Knob Creek that we finished later on that evening.

The car in question is a 62 Nova Chevy II 400 convertible. The trim tag quickly verified it is the correct Roman Red paint hue and red and ivory bucket seats. This led to naming the car after an origination dedicated to the restoration of ancient roman culture, NovaRoma...except being a Cowboy's fan I obviously changed it to NovaRomo. Engine block ID code H identified the original 6 cylinder and 3 speed on the tree. Trivia, did you know all Novas in 62 got the same motor, no options, 194 Cubic Inch, 1 Barrel, 120 HP, 177 Ft pounds of Chevy II torque! I know, riveting right?

As the seller had accurately described by phone, NovaRomo is a 35,000 actual mile car with the original upholstery in it. The drivers seat has seen an injury or two and the door panels show some age (like the cars famous name sake) but every switch and light worked including the courtesy and glove box lights.

The car was re-painted a few years back in the proper Roman hue and doesn't have a ding or chip in it. No rust, perfect trunk floor, floor pans, original red paint on the fire wall still looks very nice. Speaking of trunks; spare tire, jack, trunk floor pad, a new grille, the original delco-remy generator that someone replaced with an alternator (I'll fix that), car cover, convertible boot and a bunch of miscellaneous parts and catalogs, 2 nice grilles for a later year nova, though I have no idea what year, maybe 65, and some brand new stainless trim that looks like it goes over the doors on a 2 door coupe, like a wind and rain guard?

I brought my portable jump box which was required since the cold Spokane winter had drained the battery. A quick twist of the key and the car was running (may have had something to do with me breathing 100 proof bourbon down it's throat like some sort of high octane CPR). I was satisfied to become the next care taker so it was off to dinner.

I transferred funds the following morning, grabbed the title that was already signed and waiting for me in the house, had the seller email me a bill of sale, loaded NovaRomo on a u-haul trailer and headed for the 'couve. That last step was not as easy as it sounds since there is quite a bit of snow on the side streets of Spokane. A quick column shift refresher course and it backed out of the garage onto the freshly shoveled driveway. My truck and trailer were blocking the entire street so we had to work fast. I lined up with the trailer but there was no way NovaRomo would climb those ramps with the rear tires in the snow so I did what any one in that position would do, I backed up and made a run for it. I didn't even drive through the tailgate of Parts Getter II, which is a plus although in retrospect I ought to have checked the brakes prior to making the aggressive boarding procedure, but I lucked out again and the brakes worked fine.

A quick slide down the hill into downtown spokompton and into the Mickey D's for a McMuffin and coffee before hitting the freeway west. 2 wheel drive low rider trucks make great parts haulers but are as useful as flip flops in the snow, just FYI.



A fast 7 and a half hours later (thanks to a car fire Thursday night on I-84 outside stump-town) NovaRomo fired up, drove off the trailer and found herself in her new temporary living quarters at the newly named Cesar's Palace, formerly the Bandit Cave.

Now the fun part, I gotta remove a whole lot o'grandma from her. A wet sand and polish is in order as is the straightening of practically every piece of trim on the car. I already ordered a set of 14" red line bias ply tires and 14" steel rims from summit, those 13" tires and caps make her look like she's running on her knees. I'll paint the wheels Roman Red and find a cool set of dog dishes for her. I see a slight elevation adjustment coming up front but we will wait till the tires show up. I'm not looking to restore it but to begin a modest "hot rodding" that someone can come in and finish. I call these entry level cars "gateway cars" as they can bring the young and interested into the hobby, get them hooked and leave them wanting for harder stuff.

I also need to figure out why the top humps up in the center, thinking it has something to do with the side adjustment but I did not want to play with it in the Spokane arctic tundra for fear it would crack and disintegrate like the empire for which it stands. Perhaps one of you know how I can adjust the sides with out removing the top upholstery.


Looking back (which is difficult since someone removed the drivers side mirror from the door) it was a great road trip, great bourbon, great time with my friends, a great dinner at Morty's, a safe drive home and one of the nicest, original cars I have every had the pleasure of owning. Viață Lungă NovaRoma !

 

Unbelievable! That is a beauty.

Congratulations!

 

Bandit, all the convertibles I have worked on for the condition you are having is very simple..Who ever put that top on.made the cover too small.OR your friend has left it in the sun too much..Adjustmentis futile...the fabric has shrunken,,

 

That's a real peach Billy!
Don't forget the lowly 4 cylinder engine, it's synonymous with the Chevy11/Nova.
Here's some Nova trivia in case you need help getting to sleep tonight.

http://www.novaresource.org/history.htm

 

Congrats - sometimes in the right place at the right time

 

Thanks gents.

I didn't want to hear that.

Thanks Douglas, do you have pictures of 1st gen grilles so I can figure out what those 2 grilles in the trunk are for? They are both the same year, not 62 or 63.

 

Small pics here, but descriptions of grill changes that may help.
http://cjnn.xtremefabricator.com/spot.htm

 

Thanks Sancho, I saw that one over the weekend but the picture of the 65 is small and distorted so impossible to make out. I know they cant be newer than 65.

 

I'm not up on all the differences on the first gens.
This may help
http://www.chevynova.com/reference/novaspot/

 

^ That link has a good shot of the '65 grill. http://chevynova.com/gallery/index.php?g2_itemId=30114

 

I don't get it, I don't think they match any of those grilles. Ill take a photo tontine and post em up, see if you identify them.

 

Perhaps '66?

 

You know, Spokane isn't too far from Canada, have you heard of an Acadian.
https://www.google.com/search?q=62+...#tbm=isch&q=62+63+canadian+nova+grill+acadian

 

Definitely not that one, 66 is too short and the ends of these 2 grilles wrap around the headlight a slight bit rather than being square cut like the 66 or only wrapping on the bottom on the 62 and 63.

 

I always thought that was just Canadian spelled wrong.
But it does figure that the first one you sent me on that Google link has drawer pulls in the grill!

 

They're kinda funny that way, just ask @falcongeorge .
Color=Colour
Then there's that whole Z thing.

 

I think I have seen that car driving down the street. Can't be too many red Chev II converts around. Nice looking car, and yes you picked a horrible weekend to come here!

 

very cool car, i always wanted one.
i would not put the last name Romo on it. expectations will be high, only to fail in the last quarter of a trip/race.

 

I seem to buy a lot of cars from up there but I prefer to do it during the summer Chris. I just bought a decent 62 Washington plate so I can license her up, then she can be seen driving around this part of the state.

 

Great find! I had a really clean/restore-able '62 convertible for a while... until my dad sold it in 1990 to a friend "to help me with my college tuition"... I was given right of first refusal if he ever sold it again... man, I miss that car

 

Mac, that's the gift that keeps on giving...

 

OK, as promised (just delayed slightly) here are the pictures of those two grilles I found in the trunk of NovaRomo when I brought it home.
I have looked at every Nova picture on the net. I don't think they are Chevy, ford?

the two grilles are identical and in really nice condition, here is a close up of that slot in the lower center.

Someone please tell what they are so I can sell them and get more Nova parts money. Gratis

 

Both are 62's

 

My car is a 62 and they have a distinctly different grille. They are not for my car?

 

Post a photo of the front of your car maybe that'll help spot the differences

 

Nice car, but XLII is '42...LXII is '62!

 

Those look like 62 63 falcon grilles.

 

Killer Chevy II, i miss my 64 something fierce seeing pictures of this one. Was not a vert but was a 2 door hardtop.

 

I have no idea what you are referring to

 

X2 on the Falcon grill.