Photos Courtesy of Speedtech Performance

In the pro touring world, first generation Camaros are all the rage. Chevelles and Novas have started to stake a place though and prove to be stiff competition. Speedtech Performance has a history with this Nova and built it to be one of the best on the track and compete with all the Camaros. Now that has been accomplished, they are auctioning it off to start on something new. 

This Nova originally started as a magazine project car. Speedtech was helping with the car and supplied the suspension for the build. However the project lost traction(no pun intended) and sat by the way side. That’s when Blake from Speedtech was approached and he bought the car off the magazine. 

Drivetrain:

The ’72 is powered with a modern 6.0L LS2 based engine that’s been worked over. The short block consists of Manley rods and pistons, ARP bolts, a roller Comp Cam and rockers, Lunati roller lifters all built by Richmond engines. An ATS road race pan was added to finish off the bottom end. 

From there the top end was finished off with Texas Speed CNC ported heads with a set of carbon fiber valve covers attached. The coils were also moved to the firewall to help clean up the engine bay. To add even more horsepower to the equation, a Zex 100 HP nitrous system was added for that extra shot of fun. Fuel is supplied via an Aeromotive Stealth fuel management system. 

The complete motor package made 520HP at the wheels, without the 100 shot of nitrous. All that power is put through a T-56 Magnum 6 speed that’s compiled with a Hurst shifter, McLeod RST Dual Friction clutch, GM Hydraulics and Quicktime bell housing. 

Suspension:

This is the area where the car really shines. The suspension is the namesake to this car. That’s what giving the reputation to this suspension manufacture. Naturally the front has a complete Speedtech Performance Track Time Suspension full fabricated subframe with tubular hight clearance control arms. A set of QA1 Dual Adjustable coil overs were added to keep things rolling smoothly. The brakes are 14″ Baers that are attached to Corvette hubs and ATS forged tall spindles. Steering was also upgraded to a full rack and pinion system. 

The rear suspension on these cars stock is a leaf spring system. Speedtech took that out and installed one of their Torque Arm Suspension System with Adjustalink lower trailing arms, pan hard bar, and adjustable sway bar. Again a set of QA1’s were utilized to round out the rear suspension. 

A full floater 9″ rearend was installed as well that has a matching set of 14″ Baer 6-piston disc brakes. The gear ratio was set to 3:89’s so the Nova has lots of bottom end speed along with drive-ability. 

All of the suspension was finished off with a set of Forgeline W3C wheels wrapped in Falken tires. The wheels are 18×9.5″ in the front and 18×11.5″ in the rear. 

Body and Interior:

The body also received a top notch restoration and it shows. The black paint on the car is smooth as glass. Some of the trick mods to the car is a modified ’69 Camaro front valance with driving lights. An aluminum cowl induction hood was added to help feed the motor cool air while keeping weight off the front end. To clean up the overall look the vent windows, side marker lights and emblems have all been shaved from the car as well. 

Interior mods include a full 1.75″ DOM tube roll cage to make sure the occupants stay safe. A set of race seats was installed with 5-point harnesses to keep passengers in place. Autometer gauges fill the holes in the dash and keep tabs on the motor while an Alpine sound system was installed to keep creature comforts. 

This car is definitely a one off car that any true car guy would be happy to have. You can take this car and beat it up all day at the track or enter it as a show car. Either way the Nova is comfortable and can excel. We hope that the car does good at the Russo and Steele auction!