1966 Chevrolet Nova

1966 Chevrolet Nova SS — 327 V8, 4-Speed, Restored Undercarriage


Why This Car Is Special

The 1966 Chevrolet Nova Super Sport sits at an interesting crossroads in American automotive history. By 1966, the Chevy II Nova was entering its final year of the second-generation body style — a clean, tight platform that engineers and hot rodders alike recognized as an ideal foundation for a V8. Chevrolet agreed. That year, the Super Sport package was made available on the Nova hardtop coupe, and buyers who optioned in the 327 cubic inch V8 got a car that weighed significantly less than a full-size muscle car but carried the same small-block lineage that powered Corvettes and Chevelles.

The VIN on this car decodes as a 1966 Chevy II Nova hardtop coupe built at the Norwood, Ohio assembly plant — one of the primary production facilities for this body style during the mid-1960s. The model year designation and body style codes within the VIN confirm the two-door hardtop configuration, which is the most desirable body style among Nova collectors today because of its cleaner roofline and the fact that it was the only body style available with the full Super Sport equipment group in 1966.

What makes the 1966 Nova SS with a 327 particularly collectible is context. The 327 small-block was already a well-regarded engine in 1966, appearing in various states of tune across Chevrolet's lineup. In the Nova, which tipped the scales well under 3,000 pounds in stock form, the combination produced a genuinely quick car by any standard of the era. The Nova SS was not just a trim package — it brought specific interior and exterior appointments that separated it from a base Chevy II, and when paired with a four-speed manual and the 327, it represented the performance-oriented configuration that serious buyers ordered.

This example has been built and presented as a driver-quality Super Sport with a number of well-chosen upgrades alongside preserved factory-correct details. It is the kind of car that gets used, gets admired, and holds its value because the foundation — body, interior structure, and drivetrain combination — is exactly right.


Features

- 327ci V8 Engine
- 4-Speed Manual Transmission
- Super Sport Package
- 327 V8 Badge On Body
- Flowmaster Dual Exhaust
- REV Classic Polished Wheels
- Wood-Grain SS Steering Wheel
- Center Console with SS Emblem
- Updated Digital Gauge Cluster
- Vinyl Top
- AM Radio
- Chrome Bumpers
- Restored Undercarriage
- Bucket Seats


Mechanical

The 327 cubic inch V8 under the hood is the correct engine family for this application and it presents well. The engine bay has been detailed with polished aluminum valve covers, a Weiand intake manifold, and a performance-style open-element air cleaner with a Chevrolet bowtie center cap — all period-correct in appearance while adding some visual distinction over a stock setup. The block is painted in Chevrolet engine red, which is correct for the era, and the overall bay presentation is clean and organized without looking like it was built for a show trailer.

The 4-speed manual transmission is the right gearbox for this car. In 1966, Chevrolet offered both the Muncie 3-speed and 4-speed manual options for Nova SS buyers who wanted a more involved driving experience. A 4-speed paired with the 327 was the combination most serious buyers specified, and it remains the most sought-after configuration today. Underneath, the car has been fitted with a Flowmaster dual exhaust system — the Flowmaster mufflers are visible in the undercarriage photos, routed cleanly with dual outlets exiting at the rear. The exhaust note on a 327 through a Flowmaster dual setup is a well-known quantity: authoritative without being obnoxious at cruise.

The undercarriage has been restored and is genuinely presentable. The floor pans, frame rails, and suspension components have been coated in black, and the work is thorough enough to photograph well from multiple angles on a lift. The