1970 Chevrolet Nova L78

Chevrolet’s Chevy II Nova grew from a mild-mannered compact aimed at the budget buyer into fire-breathing giant killers like this 1970 L78 Super Sport. Introduced in 1962, the Chevy II and its upscale variant, the Nova, relied on Chevrolet’s anemic 194/120 HP inline-6 for motive power. Subsequent models grew more powerful with each passing year, but genuine muscle-grade performance arrived with the introduction of the all-new 1968 Nova, which shared its platform with the Camaro, including most of its mechanicals and available drivetrains. The Chevy II moniker was dropped, and the Nova SS entered the big leagues with a 350/295 HP small-block as standard equipment. Chevrolet wasted no time in piling on the horsepower, offering two small-block engines and two big-blocks including the romping L78 396/375 HP engine packing 4-bolt mains, forged-steel crank and rods, 11.0:1 compression, a hairy solid-lifter cam and free-breathing heads fed by a Holley 4-barrel on an aluminum intake.

This 1970 Nova SS was completed on December 1,1969 and sold new at Atkins Chevrolet in Wayne, New Jersey. As the trim tag indicates, it was painted in the beautiful Fathom Blue with a black interior. The star of the show is the matching-numbers L78 396/375 HP big-block engine teamed with a Muncie 4-speed manual transmission and heavy-duty 12-bolt Positraction rear end.

Early in this Nova’s life, it was reportedly taken to Motion Performance to be converted into a serious street machine, per a signed letter from Joel Rosen. The matching-numbers L78 engine has been upgraded with performance parts including the Motion valve covers, long-tube headers and the signature Fly Eye air cleaner, changes that were claimed to increase the output to 425 HP. A Corvette fiberglass stinger hood has been added, as well as Corvette-style side-exit exhaust, and a set of 15-inch E/T mags rounds off the package. A letter from Mr. Motion himself, Joel Rosen, accompanies this car, as well as an NCRS Shipping Data report, owner’s manual and previous owner history. Being an L78 SS Nova is special, but the added Motion Performance modifications makes this example a notch above the rest.