Chevrolet Nova

The 1962 Chevrolet Chevy II was the base-level companion to the Chevrolet Nova.

Despite its technical innovations, the Corvair simply lacked the kind of universal appeal needed for high-volume production. No, what Chevrolet needed was a new -- but not really different -- type of car, a down-to-basics vehicle to compete in the quickly growing compact league.

The rush to production resulted in the boxy in silhouette but adequately pleasing Chevy II -- a sure bet not to offend or fluster anyone. Providing basic transportation and modestly billed as "the thrift car," Chevy II nevertheless pledged "no-nonsense styling [that] will catch glances years away from the showroom."

Ads lauded the "frisky, family sized Chevy II," aiming to blend "luxury and low price." Three trim levels went on sale: basic 100, mid-range 300, and posher Nova 400, topped by a Sport Coupe and convertible. The lineup also included sedans and station wagons in each series.

A Chevy II could have a 90-horsepower, 153-cubic-inch Super-Thrift four-cylinder engine or a 120-horsepower, 194-cubic-inch six (the latter standard on Novas). This was Chevy's first four-cylinder powerplant since 1928. Anyone who didn't want to operate a column-shift three-speed gearbox could select two-speed Powerglide instead.

Standard on the 1962 Chevy Nova was this 120-horsepower 194-cubic-inch six.

No other GM cars shared the integral body/frame construction with a separate front sub-frame. Single-leaf rear springs claimed to eliminate the "inherent harshness" of customary multi-leaf springs. Front bucket seats were available in the two-door Nova 400 -- a harbinger of things to come in the mid-Sixties. Model-year output totaled some 406,500 cars, including an impressive 23,741 convertibles.

1962 Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova Facts

This Nova 400 was the only convertible offered in the 1962 Chevy II line.

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This 1963 Chevrolet Nova Sport hardtop wears newly available Super Sport trim.

The 1963 Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova got a mild restyling, included a bolder aluminum grille. Nova 400 models all carried the 120-horsepower, Hi-Thrift 194-cubic-inch six-cylinder engine. The Chevy II 300 and thrifty 100 series could have the 90-horsepower Super-Thrift four-cylinder. Beltline stripes and chromed rocker-panel moldings set the Nova 400 apart from its more modest mates.

New features included self-adjusting brakes and a Delcotron alternator. These Chevy compacts could be ordered with seatbelts, heavy-duty springs, Positraction rear axle, a grille guard -- even taxi equipment.

After one year in the marketplace, the brochure insisted, the unibodied Chevy II was "already stepping out from the crowd in popularity."

This would be the final year for a convertible body style, and 1963's ragtop was manually operated unless the buyer shelled out an extra $54 for a power top.

1963 Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova Facts

Nearly 60,000 Chevy II Nova 400 Station Wagons were produced for 1963.

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The 1964 Chevrolet Chevy II Nova 400 sedan was priced at $2,243.

"Despite its new vigor," read an ad for the 1964 Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova, "it's still a nice, quiet, sturdy, sensible, unpretentious car. With sharper teeth." Sharper than before, to be sure, but a V-8 Chevy II still required more than 11 seconds to reach 60 mph.

On the downside, the cool Chevrolet Nova convertible was dropped. So was the Nova's Super Sport option -- at least until midyear. Customer demand brought it back as a package for the Nova hardtop coupe.

Those 1964 Chevrolet Nova SS coupes wore thin body-peak moldings and silver-colored rear coves. Inside were front bucket seats and a console-mounted gearshift for a choice of Powerglide automatic transmission or, in V-8 versions, a four-speed manual. More than one-third of Sport Coupes had the SS option.

The mid-level Chevy II 300 series faded away for 1964. That left the Chevy II 100 in two- and four-door sedan and four-door wagon form, and the plusher Nova 400 in sedan, wagon, and hardtop coupe form.

The 90-horsepower 153-cubic-inch four-cylinder engine was available only in the value-priced Chevy II 100 series. The Chevy II Nova 400s came standard with a 120-horsepower 194-cubic-inch six.

1964 Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova Facts

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The 1965 Chevrolet Chevy II 100 had exclusive use of this pillared body style .

Parking lights moved down to the deep-section bumper, and sedans gained a new roofline. Taillight and backup lights were restyled, as was the rear cove. An expanded engine lineup gave customers six power choices.

They began with the mild-mannered 90-horsepower Super-Thrift four-cylinder and 120-horsepower Hi-Thrift six-cylinder. Up the ladder were a 140-horsepower six and a 195-horsepower 283-cubic-inch V-8. Up top were a pair of Turbo-Fire 327-cubic-inch V-8s that churned out 250 or 300 horses.

Midyear also brought a more potent 283 with dual exhausts and 220 horsepower. It was quite a selection for a mainstream compact car.

The 1965 Chevy II came in entry-level 100 form or as the posher Nova 400, each in three body styles. The Nova Super Sport came as a Sport Coupe only, and its production dipped to just 9,100 cars.

Nova models had one of the six-cylinder or V-8 engines; the four cylinder was available only in the 100.

Super Sports had a new brushed-chrome console with floor-mounted four-speed manual transmission or Powerglide automatic, but a column-mounted three-speed manual remained standard. Bucket seats wore textured vinyl trim, and the dashboard held ammeter, oil pressure, and temperature gauges.

1965 Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova Facts

A bench-seat Chevy II was plain and simple, though this one has factory A/C.

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The 1966 Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova got crisp new styling. This is a Nova SS.

The lineup again started with Chevy II 100 and Chevy II Nova 400 models. For just $159 more than a Nova 400, buyers could be the proud owner of a Nova Super Sport. Available only in Sport Coupe form, the Nova SS was top of the line.

The 1966 Chevrolet Nova SS was visually distinguished by wide rocker panels and a bright aluminum deck lid cove. It had bright SS emblems on the grille and in the ribbed rear panel, and Super Sport script on the quarter panels. Wheel covers were borrowed from the Chevrolet Malibu SS. Strato-bucket front seats were included, but a tachometer cost extra.

Any Chevy II engine except the four-cylinder could be coupled with the SS group of goodies, but the top dog was a new Turbo-Fire 327-cubic-inch V-8 delivering 350 horsepower. This engine was first seen in the Chevrolet Chevelle. A close-ratio four-speed manual transmission helped turn the normally mild Nova into a little beastie; Powerglide automatic was not available with this hottest engine.

Buyers of the 1966 Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova could also order a 275-horsepower version of the 327, a 195- or 220-horsepower 283-cubic-inch V-8, or an inline-six of 194 or 230 cubic inches.

The standard column-shift three-speed was now fully synchronized, allowing shifts into first gear even while rolling. Two wagons were offered, the upmarket one named Nova.

1966 Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova Facts

Chevy's 1966 compact wagon came in Chevy II 100 trim and as this Nova model.

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Top model in the 1967 Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova line was the Nova SS hardtop.

Every 1967 Chevrolet Nova got a crosshatch pattern that filled the deck lid trim panel. The Nova officially was still called the Chevy II Nova and had overtaken the bottom-rung Chevy II 100 in sales. The Chevy II 100 lacked much in the way of trim or brightwork.

A four-cylinder engine was standard in the 100 series, but most had a six-cylinder instead.

Nova versions started with the 194-cubic-inch six but could have a 250-cubic-inch version for a little extra dough and go. Further powertrain possibilities included a 195-horsepower, 283-cubic-inch V-8 and, for $93 more, a 275-horsepwer 327-cubic-inch V-8.

Nova SS coupes had a console-mounted shift lever with their Powerglide automatic transmission four-speed manual Other models employed a column-mounted gearshift.

Compared to 1966'sl model-year output, sales of the 1967 Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova dropped by more than a third, 106,500 (including 12,900 station wagons). About 10,100 Nova SS Chevrolets went to customers this year, 8,200 of them with V-8 engines. In the Chevy II 100 and regular Nova series, six-cylinder engines sold far better than V-8s.

1967 Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova Facts

Most 1967 Chevrolet Nova SSs were ordered with a 283- or 327-cubic-inch V-8.

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The 1968 Chevrolet Chevy II Nova was a larger new rendition of Chevy's compact.

Gone were wagon and two-door hardtop body styles. The 1968 Chevrolet Nova was available only as a two-door coupe or four-door sedan. Four-cylinder, six-cylinder, and V-8 engines were offered.

Compared to the 1966 Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova, the 1968 Chevy Nova had more shoulder room and legroom and a redesigned interior with a contoured new instrument panel.

With the Chevrolet Camaro and Chevelle lines competing for sporty-coupe shoppers, production of the Nova Super Sport dropped to 6,571 from over 10,000 for 1967.

Still, the Nova SS offered plenty of fun. A 295-horsepower Turbo-Fire 350-cubic-inch V-8 was standard. There were simulated air intakes on the hood, black accents on the grille and decklid panel, and special emblems and badges. The Nova SS also included a deluxe steering wheel, red-stripe wide-oval tires, and stiffer suspension. A floor-shifted three-speed gearbox was available, as were a four-speed manaul and Powerglide automatic.

The engine lineup for the basic 1968 Chevrolet Nova started with a 90-horsepower Super-Thrift four-cylinder and a 140-horsepower Turbo-Thrift 230-cubic-inch six. A 250-cubic-inch six was also available. The V-8 choices were a 200-horsepower Turbo-Fire 307 cubic incher or a 275-horse Turbo-Fire 327. The hot 350-horsepower 327 was gone.

All told, the sales brochure claimed 15 power team choices for coupes and a dozen for sedans. Options included power brakes and steering, Four-Season or Comfort-Car air conditioning, rear shoulder belts, and head restraints.

Performance buffs could select front disc brakes, a heavy-duty clutch, dual exhausts, rally wheels, Positraction, and special instrumentation. Chevy, perhaps recognizing the wordiness of the car's name, would soon drop the "Chevy II" designation and simply call all these compact simply Novas.

1968 Chevrolet Chevy II Nova Facts

The 1968 Chevy II Nova came only as a two-door coupe or this four-door sedan.

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Sales of the 1969 Chevy Nova fell by half. This one has a 307 V-8 and vinyl roof.

Multiple-leaf rear springs were installed on SS models, while other Novas kept their single-leaf configuration. Fake front fender louvers also were available, but not required. A total of 17,564 SS coupes were produced for 1968.

Chevrolet's sales brochure touted a low-cost clutchless Torque-Drive transmission for Novas, but the value-oriented model would need more than mere gadgetry to attract buyers.

Muscle cars were in full force, and midsize muscle cars were the rage. This hurt Nova's image as a sporty machine, a condition that contributed to sales falling by half, to some 106,200, of which 17,564 were SS models.

1969 Chevrolet Nova Facts

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The 1970 Chevrolet Nova lineup started with a $2,335 four-cylinder two door.

Basic Novas had a 90-horsepower 153-cubic-inch four-cylinder engine, a new 155-horsepower 250-cubic-inch six, or a popular 200-horsepower 307-cubic-inch V-8.

High-performance fans could take advantage of Nova's relatively light weight and the availability of the Super Sport package. It came with a 300-horsepower 350-cubic-inch V-8 or the "big-block" 396.

Actually, the 396 V-8 displaced 402-cubic-inches for 1970 thanks to a slight increase in bore diameter, but Chevrolet stuck with the familiar "396" designation. Hot Novas were therefore named SS 350 and SS 396 and were offered only with a four-speed manual gearbox or floor-shifted Turbo Hydra-Matic.

The SS 396 could be ordered in 350- or 375-horsepower tune. Nova SS models had a special hood with simulated air intakes, blackout grille and rear panel, and wide-oval tires on seven-inch wheels.

A Custom Exterior package for lesser Novas cost $98, while a vinyl top added $84. Out of 254,242 Novas sold for 1970, 19,558 were the SS 350 or SS 396 version.

1970 Chevrolet Nova Facts

A new egg crate grille pattern distinguished the 1970 Nova from the 1969 model.

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The 1971 Chevrolet Nova two-door coupe outsold the four-door sedan .

Ads referred to the 1971 Nova as "America's not-too-small, not-too-big car," and in a slap at the cramped new subcompact breed, noted that Nova coupes seated five adults and sedans six.

Six-cylinder Novas could get Chevy's ill-fated clutchless Torque-Drive semi-automatic transmission. This transmission was also used in the Vega, but only 2,992 were installed in Novas.

The 1971 Chevrolet Nova coupe could be dressed up with a custom interior and exterior trim package and also with Super Sport equipment. The SS group included a 270-horsepower 350-cubic-inch V-8 engine, plus black accenting, a sport suspension with E70x14 tires, and appropriate SS badging. With the muscle-car years now in the past, the 350 was the largest V-8 engine available in the Nova.

The coupe proved to be the most popular 1971 Nova model, and many of them carried the 307-cubic-inch V-8 engine, rated at a useful 200 horsepower.

The well-hyped Vega stole sales from the Nova this year, but the compact soon would enjoy a resurgence of popularity that would last deep into the 1970s.

One reason is that Nova pleased a wide range of buyers looking for practical, sensible motoring. Even the coupe's appeal crossed many demographic lines, large enough for families, yet not so large as to seem "unnecessary" to young singles.

Older buyers thought the coupe's styling was appropriately conservative, while youth found the car's looks just rakish enough to be fashionable. And prices, which started at less than $2,400, were just right for most everybody.

Nova was a nice fit for a new era of escalating insurance rates and stringent federal standards for emissions and gas mileage. It gave Chevy a strong player able to go up against similarly "sensible" cars from other GM divisions, and from Ford and American Motors.

1971 Chevrolet Nova Facts

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The 1972 Chevrolet Nova sold well despite being virtually unchanged from 1971.

An exception would be a 1972 Chevrolet Nova equipped with the new Skyroof option. This was a folding soft sunroof available in six colors and was installed in 6,268 coupes. The Rally Sport option with special suspension returned and was a rather popular choice, with 33,319 sold.

Super Sport equipment went on 12,309 coupes, some of which also had the Rally package. Nova production moved to Norwood, Ohio, where it would be assembled alongside the Camaro.

A 250-cubic-inch six-cylinder engine remained standard, with only two other choices available: the 130-horsepower 307-cubic-inch V-8 or 165-horsepower 350-cubic-inch V-8. Coupes started at $2,351 with the six-cylinder engine, while four-door sedans commanded $28 more.

A Custom Decor group included full-length rocker panel and bodyside moldings, as well as bright window or drip rail moldings. Air conditioning cost an extra $381, and a vinyl roof went for $87.

Despite the lack of change, Nova had its best sales season in year, with production of the 1972 models reaching 349,733. Of these, 139,769 had the six-cylinder engine.

1972 Chevrolet Nova Facts

Top engine for the 1972 Chevy Nova was the 165-horsepower 350-cubic-inch V-8.

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The 1973 Chevrolet Nova got bigger bumpers to meet new federal rules.

An SS option remained available, but it was just a $123 dress-up package that included a blackout grille and Rally wheels. It could be ordered with any of the Nova engines. Interestingly, 35,542 SS packages were installed, making 1973 the best-selling year for that option group.

Engines started with the standard 100-horsepower 250-cubic-inch six. A 115-horsepower 307-cubic-inch V-8 was available, as were 145- and 175-horsepower 350-cubic-inch V-8s.

The hatcback was available only on the two-door model and included a large hinged panel that included the rear window and extending to just above the taillamps. A dressy Custom series joined the Nova line and a Custom hatchback listed for $2,701 with a six-cylinder engine. That was $173 more than the six-cylinder base-model two-door hatchback. Air conditioning added $381.

Every 1973 Chevrolet Nova got side guard door beams and additional sound insulation, as well as flow-through ventilation systems. Rear springs switched to multiple leaves. A sunroof could be installed, and fold-down rear seats were available.

1973 Chevrolet Nova Facts

The outline of the hatch opening on the new Nova hatchback is visible in this view.

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A 1974 Chevrolet Nova sedan was a smart buy during the first gas shortages.

Evidently they did, as Nova sales continued the surge they had enjoyed since 1972 and approached 400,000 cars for 1974. Six-cylinder Novas were the fastest gainers, as sales of V-8 Novas declined.

These were the years of the first energy crisis as Middle Eastern countries cut back on oil exports. After waiting for hours in gas lines and fretting about the prospect of fuel rationing, thrifty compacts looked pretty good to plenty of Americans. Nova fit the bill.

The 1974 Chevrolet Nova got larger parking lights and new bow-tie grille emblems, as well as modified bumpers that added two inches to length and helped cushion minor impacts.

Nova SS hatchbacks and notchbacks could have either a 100-horsepower six-cylinder engine or a 350-cubic-inch V-8 of 145 or 185 horsepower. Steel-belted radial tires became available for the first time. Ordering the 185-horsepower V-8 brought a Muncie four-speed floor-shift with improved linkage.

A limited-edition "Spirit of America" series debuted; it was painted white and had red and blue accent stripes.

1974 Chevrolet Nova Facts

In Spirit of America livery, the 1974 Nova was a red, white, and blue wonder.

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The 1975 Nova LN Coupe had cushy front seats that felt like "lounge chairs."

Two-door coupes and hatchbacks and four-door sedans remained. Basic Novas could be spiced up with a sport-striped SS two-door option. But the big news in trim was introduction of the LN coupe and sedan.

The LN sent Nova into the luxury portion of the compact market; some actually thought of it as competing against a few high-end European imports. The Nova LN was called "the most luxurious compact in Chevrolet's history," with wide-back reclining front seats that "look and feel like big, soft lounge chairs."

LN equipment included ad­ditional sound insulation, map pockets, an electric clock, a smoked instrument lens, and a day/night mirror. Swing-out quarter windows could be ordered for the coupe. "Thanks to LN," the sales brochure announced, "Nova's image will never be the same again."

All Novas now had cut-pile carpeting, formerly installed only in the Custom series. Speedometers had larger, easier-to-read graphics. Windshields offered greater glass area. Front-door armrests were redesigned with integral pull bars.

Front tread grew by an inch and a half, and the front stabilizer bar was thicker. Novas now had front disc brakes and steel-belted radial tires.

1975 Chevrolet Nova Facts

This "European look" Chevy Nova Sedan flirted with a $4,000 price tag.

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The 1976 Chevrolet Nova offered a vinyl roof as an option on two-door models.

Concours was the most luxurious compact car Chevrolet had ever offered. Rosewood vinyl decorated the upper door panels, instrument panel, and steering wheel. Concours models had an upright hood ornament, bumper guards, bright trim moldings, black bumper impact strips, and full wheel covers; more-basic Novas came with hubcaps.

The Concours coupe also was the first Chevrolet coupe with a fold-down front center armrest. A V-8 Concours coupe sold for $547 more than the comparable base Nova.

Engines for the 1976 Chevrolet Nova were a 105-horsepower inline-six, a 165-horsepower 350-cubic-inch V-8, or a 140-horse 305-cubic-inch V-8. A Cabriolet padded vinyl top was available for Nova coupes.

Modest revisions were made to the brakes, and also to fuel and exhaust system mountings. Dashboards contained new knobs.

The $187 Nova SS option group included a black grille with unique diamond-mesh pattern, Rally wheels, four-spoke steering wheel, and heavy-duty suspension.

After testing the 1976 Chevrolet Nova, the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department placed the largest order for compact police cars ever seen in the U.S.

1976 Chevrolet Nova Facts

The 1976 Chevrolet Nova SS dressed up with special trim and decals.

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The Concours model accounted for 75,000 of 365,264 Novas Chevy sold for 1977.

Styling touches differed between the Concours and other Novas. The Concours had finer-mesh grille and sported a stylish stand-up hood ornament, newly designed wheel covers, and wider bright wheel-opening moldings.

"International in style, it is American in function," the sales brochure insisted of the Concours. It went on to note that Concours offered a "very special blending of classic style and good sense."

That last referenced Nova's sensible size. Novas themselves, the marketing materials said, were "not too small, not too big, not too expensive."

Three engines and four transmissions were available for every 1977 Chevrolet Nova, including Concours. Buyers could pick a 110-horsepower 250-cubic-inch inline six, 145-horsepower 305 two-barrel V-8, or 170-horsepower 350 four-barrel V-8.

Shifting was accomplished by three-speed (column or floor shift) and four-speed manuals or Turbo Hydra-Matic.

Novas might also be equipped with a heavy-duty suspension or the F41 sport suspension. A surprising number of police departments ordered Novas with either a 305- or 350-cubic-inch V-8 engine, following the lead of the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, which had given the compacts an exhaustive evaluation.

1977 Chevrolet Nova Facts

The 1977 Chevrolet Nova sedan was the quintessential mainstream American car.

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The 1978 Chevrolet Nova Custom, shown, replaced the Concours as the top model.

The 1978 Chevrolet Nova got a restyled front end and a Nova Custom model took over as top-line duty, replacing the too-costly Nova Concours.

The Custom series had its own fine-mesh grille with built-in vertical parking lights, bright-accented headlights, triple-unit taillights, and hood molding.

Custom models lacked the stand-up hood ornament displayed by the Concours. Upholstery choices included all-vinyl or Edinburgh woven sport cloth/vinyl.

More basic versions of the 1978 Chevrolet Nova had a different, checkerboard grille texture, also inset with parking lights just inboard of the headlights.

The 1978 Chevrolet Nova was also available with Rally equipment, which included yet another front-end layout: a diamond-pattern grille with horizontal parking lights and black headlight bezels, plus triple band striping and color-keyed Rally wheels. All Nova drivers faced a new dual-spoke, soft vinyl-covered steering wheel.

Any 1978 Chevrolet Nova could have a 250-cubic-inch six-cylinder engine, a 145-horsepower 305-cubic-inch V-8, or a 170-horsepower 350-cubic-inch V-8. Law enforcement agencies in 48 states were driving Novas by now, as the sales brochure boasted.

Production dropped almost 100,000 for the model, to 288,000, making Nova the only Chevrolet series to show a sales decline for 1978. Sales of the Nova hatchback body style lagged well behind regular coupes and sedans, and base models handily outsold Customs.

1978 Chevrolet Nova Facts

Nova used several front-end styling themes for 1978. This is the Custom model.

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The 1979 Chevrolet Nova marked the end of Nova as a rear-wheel-drive model.

The 1979 Chevrolet Nova lineup was the same as in 1978: base-level hatchback, coupe, and sedan, plus the Custom coupe and sedan. As usual, base coupe and sedan proved to be the best sellers.

Nova Customs had a special acoustical package including improved headlining and full hood insulation, along with other luxury extras.

These final Novas were promoted for their "solid value" and "reputation for dependability," capitalizing upon a 17-year heritage that had begun with the Chevy II.

For their last fling, a modified horizontal-bar grille contained vertical parking lights. New chromed hood and fender moldings were installed, and new front-bumper filler panels gave the front end a more finished look.

1979 Chevrolet Nova Facts

Sedans were the top-selling body style for the 1979 Nova. This is a Custom model.

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The 1986 Chevrolet Nova kicked off Nova's resurrection as a front-drive car.

The 1986 Chevrolet Nova was initially offered only in a four-door sedan body style. A five-door hatchback was added shortly after introduction. The only engine was a carbureted 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 74-horsepower. It teamed with either a five-speed manual or three-speed automatic transmission. This was the same powertrain offered in the Corolla.

The 1986 Chevrolet Nova four-door sedan listed for $7,435, a rather stiff tariff by Chevrolet standards. The five-door, which added a split-folding rear seat, started at $7,669. Corresponding Corollas cost a couple hundred dollars less.

All Nova options were grouped into seven packages, which did away with the long list of optional equipment that accompanied such cars as the Chevrolet Chevette. (Simple though it was, the subcompact Chevette offered nearly 30 options). However, adding one of the costlier packages could easily push the Nova's sticker to over $10,000.

1986 Chevrolet Nova Facts

The 1986 Chevrolet Nova lineup included a sedan and this five-door hatchback.

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The 1987 Chevrolet Nova was lauded for a smooth ride and quite engine.

The 1987 Chevrolet Nova continued in two body styles, a four-door sedan and five-door hatchback. The four-door proved by far the more popular -- by about three to one.

Nova's only engine was again a 74-horsepower 1.6-liter four designed by Toyota, mated to either a five-speed manual transmission or four-speed automatic.

As before, Novas were built at the NUMMI (New United Motor Manufacturing Inc.) GM/Toyota joint venture plant in Fremont, California.

Though Corollas were priced slightly below competing Novas, Chevy's version of the car could often be bought for less because slow sales encouraged dealers to discount prices.

"Slow sales," however, meant slow by Chevy standards, for the Nova sold about as well as the Corolla. Aside from some minor interior and exterior trim differences, the cars were much the same, though Novas had a slightly softer suspension that favored ride over handling.

1987 Chevrolet Nova Facts

The 1987 Chevrolet Nova hatchback proved less-popular than the Nova sedan.

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This Twin-Cam brought a touch of performance to the Toyota-based subcompact.

The twin-cam produced 110-horsepower, 36 more than its single-cam sibling. A five-speed manual transmission was standard, as in the regular Novas, but the Twin-Cam offered a four-speed automatic as an option versus the three-speed offered on other models.

The more potent engine elevated the 1988 Chevrolet Nova Twin-Cam into junior sport-sedan terri­tory, but the advancement didn't come cheaply. The base Nova listed at about $8,800, the Twin-Cam went for $11,395.

That price included fuel injection, sport suspension, power steering, leather-covered steering wheel, tachometer, four-wheel disc brakes, and wider tires on aluminum wheels, but it was a stiff tariff, and few were ordered. There were no color choices; all 1988 Chevrolet Nova Twin-Cams wore black metallic paint with a grey interior.

Every 1988 Chevrolet Nova got rear shoulder belts, rear window defogger, and AM/FM stereo radio as standard equipment.

This was the last model year for the Nova name at Chevrolet. Starting with 1989, Chevrolet pushed this car into its new Geo division and renamed it the Prism. Geo was Chevy's effort to come up with an import-sounding label to attract buyers who were not inclined to shop American.

1988 Chevrolet Nova Facts

The 1988 Chevrolet Nova would morph into the import-sounding 1989 Geo Prism.

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