National Astronomy Day is May 18th this year—so let’s do a little bit of Detroit-style stargazing and take a peek at what recently rolled into the Summit Racing parking lot.
And we need to grab our telescopes for a close look here too, because if we’re being honest, we’re not entirely sure this car is a Nova or simply a Chevy II.
Nova: A star that experiences a sudden outburst of radiant energy, temporarily increasing its luminosity by hundreds to thousands of times before fading back to its original luminosity.
NASA’s “Imagine the Universe” Dictionary
![rear view of a vintage chevy ii nova gasser](https://onallcylinders.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/18/IMG_4588-copy-1024x679.jpg)
Given its mild gasser treatment, we could very likely be staring at one of the more austere Chevy II models here. That’s because, at this point in the GM X-body timeline, the Nova moniker denoted the top trim level on the Chevy II compact.
In other words, all Novas are Chevy IIs, but not all Chevy IIs are Novas—make sense?
You could get the Nova trim on coupes, sedans, and wagons during this era, so even with some missing brightwork and emblems, this could be a true Nova after all. (If you know for sure, let us hear about it in the comments section at the bottom of this article.)
![Close up of headlight bezel on a vintage chevy ii nova gasser](https://onallcylinders.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/18/IMG_4592-copy-768x1024.jpg)
Not that it matters much because again—this Chevy is far from stock.
And considering we heard it coming about a mile before it got our local Summit Racing Retail Store, we bet this beast is a serious street/strip machine.
![close up of wheel on a vintage Chevy ii nova gasser](https://onallcylinders.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/18/IMG_4593-e1713298609423-1024x969.jpg)
For starters, that stance is a street-friendly take on a gasser setup. A lifted front end with a beam axle is the hallmark of a drag car with some period-correct suspension modifications to improve weight transfer during hard launches at the track. A healthy set of lift shackles out back complete the look.
We can’t help but notice the Hurst Equipped emblem on the rear decklid either, which adds more street cred to this Chevy’s go-fast resume. A peek inside the cockpit confirms it, thanks to a floor-shifted Hurst four-speed.
![(Image/OnAllCylinders - Patrick Miller)](https://onallcylinders.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/18/IMG_4608-e1713298584778-1024x1024.jpg)
Alas, we couldn’t track down the Chevy’s owner to get the scoop on what’s under the hood. But given how well thought-out the rest of this build is, we’re guessing it’s an excellent complement to its dragstrip vibe.
At any rate, you can put away your star charts and astrolabes now, because regardless of whether it’s a Chevy II or a Nova, this stellar hot rod easily deserves its place as one of our Lot Shots features.
![front view of a vintage Chevy II Nova gasser](https://onallcylinders.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/18/IMG_4584-1024x751.jpg)
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