1968 SS 396 NOVAS
 

Ive been watching barrett jackson for years. When was the last time you saw a 68 ss 396 nova go across the stage or any big auction house. Not counting copo cars. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/hmmm.gif

Re: 1968 SS 396 NOVAS
 

there have been a few 68 396 nova on the auction block ,but the last one i remember was a dick harrell car a few years back.but as far as a 68 396 stock production type;I don;t remember one.chris

Re: 1968 SS 396 NOVAS
 

It's ironic that you mention this. I know someone from Tampa who was supposed to bring a 1968 "396" Nova to Barrett- Jackson this year, but something feel through at the end. I know him from a previous year when he joined our crew from the Philadelphia Suburbs,that goes to Barrett every year. He went this year and for the first time in several years I did not make it.

Re: 1968 SS 396 NOVAS
 

Last real 68 SS 396 was the red COPO sold at BJ...approx 3 years ago. These cars rarely change hands in web world or the auction houses...typically they don't have to. I have never seen an original driveline and documented 1968 L78 Nova offered for sale...only the Gibb cars. Perhaps others have...but they sure don't talk about it.

wilma

Re: 1968 SS 396 NOVAS
 

Nor Have I. Very rare bird. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: 1968 SS 396 NOVAS
 

One I saw on a regular basis was back when I was living in Seattle. I worked for a Charity, picking up Donations from households. There was this Guy that lived on Martha Lake in Lynnwood. He had a bunch of Camaros and Novas and Two LS-6 Chevelles. The Nova was a Maroon 68 L78,4 Speed that he had bought from the Original Owner in North or South Carolina. Nova was all original and he was pissed when he brought it up too the Seattle area because the Climate difference kinda screwed up the Original Paint. This was probably around 95.Used too see his cars on a regular basis, always sitting out. Nice Nova if I remember Correctly. Thought it was strange that it said CHEVY II on it instead of Nova. Did not know that much about 68 Novas.
Mike

Re: 1968 SS 396 NOVAS
 

wow, that's funny Mike, that gogged the old noodle I recall that guy also he went on a buying spree for awhile, you know me and 67's I ran him down one day when I seen him driving a really nice RS/SS 350 Convert...what blew me away was he parked all the cars outside along his house the weather tore them up, nice guy, not sure what happened to him either, never saw the cars again after a few years either, maybe in barn up hear waiting to be found????.

Re: 1968 SS 396 NOVAS
 

Yes he went on a Buying Spree.Last time I saw him, in the mid 90s he was buying all kinds of stuff. He had just picked up a really nice white 69 Nova ss,300horse, 350 4 Speed.
Mike

Re: 1968 SS 396 NOVAS
 

I have never seen a numbers matching 68 L78 nova for sale either (besides the Gibb cars). I only know of a couple with the born with drive line! The only non numbers matching car that I have seen for sale in the past 3 years was mine. I think we need a registry for these rare gold plated chicken lips cars!!
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/headbang.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/headbang.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/headbang.gif
Jason

Re: 1968 SS 396 NOVAS
 

You bring the lips...I'll bring the chicken https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif

Re: 1968 SS 396 NOVAS
 

Don't know the difference between '68-'70. Would this be a '70? Saw it at a local event a couple years ago.....L78, Citrus Green, and dual snorkel air cleaner. Touted as stock other than the tires.
http://inlinethumb07.webshots.com/22...600x600Q85.jpg

Re: 1968 SS 396 NOVAS
 

yup, a 70 https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/flag.gif

Re: 1968 SS 396 NOVAS
 

Citrus Green was one of the Spring 70 colors...along with Sunflower Yellow and Hugger Orange. (was there another color??) The car in the photo had some cosmetic work done...note the non-SS style headlight bezels. Common mistake for most garden variety restos...they should be blacked out to match the SS grille. I do like that color on a Nova...in fact a friend of mine may have owned that very car...

wilma https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif

Re: 1968 SS 396 NOVAS
 

[ QUOTE ]
Thought it was strange that it said CHEVY II on it instead of Nova. Did not know that much about 68 Novas.


[/ QUOTE ]

Mike, you probably know now that CHEVY II is correct for a '68.

Re: 1968 SS 396 NOVAS
 

There's a "claimed to be" 68 SS396 Nova for sale up in my neck of the wood. It's been dragged for years, non original motor, 6 pt cage, heater box is gone , but I believe it was a Canadian sold car, so there should be paperwork available for it. His price is high, 16,500 with no motor. Is this worth pursuing? ( I actually want to eventually get an L78 69 )

Barry

Re: 1968 SS 396 NOVAS
 

That original driveline Maroon L78, M22 Nova from Seattle now resides in New Hampshire awaiting a full resto this spring at Super Car Workshop in Latrobe, Pa.

Re: 1968 SS 396 NOVAS
 

Yeah, '68 Nova's are great cars with the Ignition key still on the dashboard, Chevy II emblems, etc. Another great engine that's overlooked on these '68 Chevy II's is the availability of the 327-325 HP L-79 engine option. That's a neat little motor with 11.00 Compression, the hot #151 camshaft, 2.02 heads, etc. I had a Red non-SS '68 L-79 that had bucket seats, 4-speed, 3.55 12-Bolt. They were kinda like predecessors to the LT-1 Deuce Novas.

Re: 1968 SS 396 NOVAS
 

Hey i know that car LOL https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif. Very nice 68 l78 car.Caint wait to get started on mine https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/headbang.gifthease 68 l78 are hard to come buy .

Re: 1968 SS 396 NOVAS
 

[ QUOTE ]
Yeah, '68 Nova's are great cars with the Ignition key still on the dashboard, Chevy II emblems, etc. Another great engine that's overlooked on these '68 Chevy II's is the availability of the 327-325 HP L-79 engine option. That's a neat little motor with 11.00 Compression, the hot #151 camshaft, 2.02 heads, etc. I had a Red non-SS '68 L-79 that had bucket seats, 4-speed, 3.55 12-Bolt. They were kinda like predecessors to the LT-1 Deuce Novas.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree...that is a neat combo in that little car. Lots of guys added a solid cam, aluminum hi-rise, Holley, headers, Hurst shifter and some 4.10 gears. There were a lot of BB Chevelles that got a rude awakening https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif Even stock, they went pretty good...If I keep that 69 gold granny car, that is the plan. Small block and a 4 speed...very simple. Then maybe Sammy will respect me https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/hmmm.gif

Re: 1968 SS 396 NOVAS
 

There's a real '68 L-78 SS Nova that's local to me that could possibly be purchased right and 'under the radar'. The original 4-Bolt block with it's suffix code intact is under his work bench needing a sleeve and the car's original Muncie is right next to it. It currently has a 454 and a Turbo 350 and this fellow just "doesn't do computers". I told him that he has a pretty neat car but he just says that it's not that desirable because everybody wants "427" cars. Ha! I'll get it someday.

Re: 1968 SS 396 NOVAS
 

What is the color combination of the car?

Jason

Re: 1968 SS 396 NOVAS
 

I was hoping you would chime in Rick. Real good 68 L/78 M22 Chevy II. This one will be sharp in Maroon. One of the nicer L/78 68 cars i have seen..Does anyone remember the one at the very 1st SCR that sat on a trailer?..BKH

Re: 1968 SS 396 NOVAS
 

Mark is the guys name fredy who owns the 68 l78

Re: 1968 SS 396 NOVAS
 

If the car is sequoia green with black interior I bet it is freds car. I was thinking the same thing Brent.

Re: 1968 SS 396 NOVAS
 

With all this Nova brainpower assembled: I've been lead to believe that most of the 68 L78 Novas were produced near the end of the model year (June/july). Were any actually produced earlier?

Re: 1968 SS 396 NOVAS
 

Rick,

While I think more L-78 Nova's were produced in the June-July time frame, I have a copy of a document that was sent to NHRA showing the required number (50) that would qualify them to achieve SS status, had been built by April 23, 1968.

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/b...ovaBuilt-1.jpg

Re: 1968 SS 396 NOVAS
 

I seen a late may car years ago. Sad part I didn't think at that time it was a big deal. I never wrote anything down about it. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/dunno.gif

Re: 1968 SS 396 NOVAS
 

I think they ran from sometime april to july 68

Re: 1968 SS 396 NOVAS
 

Mine is a May built car 05D. It was the 4th car in sequence on May 31 1968 according to the build sheet I have for the car. I know of a couple other May built L78 cars! The letter is in black and white that Ray posted but I have never seen or know of an April built L78? Just give it some time and I am sure one will pop up.

Jason

Re: 1968 SS 396 NOVAS
 

Phil Brewers 68 is an April car if I remember correctly.

Tommy https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif

Re: 1968 SS 396 NOVAS
 

Tommy that name don't ring a bell? What color is it?

Jason

Re: 1968 SS 396 NOVAS
 

It's Grotto Blue. Him and his son do a lot of Year One stuff and build a lot of nice cars. It was built for the stock appearing drags several years ago. Started out as a 4 speed bench car but he changed it to a bucket auto car for the drags. The car appeared on My Classic Car once also.


web page

Tommy https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif

Re: 1968 SS 396 NOVAS
 

Tommy i talk to him i thought he told me it was orginaly a 350 car .Still a very nice car good color combo

Re: 1968 SS 396 NOVAS
 

Tommy is that the car that was on the year one catalog a couple of years back?

Re: 1968 SS 396 NOVAS
 

Isn't that the car that ran Alum heads in pure stock years ago?

Re: 1968 SS 396 NOVAS
 

[ QUOTE ]
Isn't that the car that ran Alum heads in pure stock years ago?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes Kim. I have the aricle somewhere.

I remember him saying in the magazine that years ago he had a 57? Chevy that was very fast. The only thing that beat him was a BB Nova. That's why he built this Nova.

Kurt

Re: 1968 SS 396 NOVAS
 

[ QUOTE ]
Isn't that the car that ran Alum heads in pure stock years ago?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes Kim, he added the heads. Phil is a nice guy, I went to his place once and checked out the Nova. I am using the original bench from his car in my 68 SS car. Mine was an old drag car and had lost its bench a long time ago and he was using his as a garage chair. His car was a 739 interior but now is dressed out as a 740. It is in two or three issues of Muscle car review. One for suspension tricks and the others were about the drags between him and a Hemi car. I wish I could remember more about the trim tag but I do remember mentioning to him how early it was and that it must have been in the first batch of cars produced with the L78. At that time I had already seen the two letters about the L78's so I knew April was super early


Tommy https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif