Does anybody know where i can find the information on the history of the nova?

thanks a lot
garrett

 

You could try yahoo or google search.

 

It was a failure for sales in Mexico. The marketing geniuses at GM never realized that No Va en espanol es "doesn't go".

 

-Nova/Chevy II-

They started beautiful in 1962 and ended ugly in 1979.

First gen=1962-1965

The Nova was a trim upgrade over the standard Chevy II.
Introduced in 1962 as Chevy's small econo car. Small, good gas mileage, but big enough for a family to take on vacation. Inline six, 194 CID, 120 HP.
They made a convertible in 1962 and 1963 only.
1963-The SS was available. The only year the SS was available as a convertible too. Still, only an I-6, 120 HP motor. Everything else was virtually the same as the year before.
1964-The first year of an available V8. 283 cid, 195 HP. Also, two other I-6's available-230 I6 140 HP. 230 I6 155 HP.
1965-The 327 was added to the lineup in two different versions, 250 HP and 300 HP. Coupled to a four speed and a 4.10 gear, the under 3000 lb Chevy II would scoot.
1966-Major body changes, same unibody construction and running gear as previous years. The 283 was offered in 195 HP and 220 HP and the 327 was offered in 275 HP and the rare L-79, 350 HP.
1967-No more L-79, only a few made it into the car. The grille was restyled a little, same taillights and most other trim and body parts as the 1966. Disc brakes became available.
They made a wagon from 1962-1967.
1962-1964 are four lug cars. 1965 and up are five lug. 1964-1967 are four wheel drum cars.
1962-1967 were all the same wheelbase, (110 inches), and smaller body style.
1968 and up was the big change and is aslo when the big block became available in the Nova.
Third gen=1968-1974. Good looking, high compression, four speed, super sport trim packages, musclecar looks and power up to 1971. 1972-1974, still good looks, diminishing power.
Fourth gen=1975-1979. Ugly, slow, heavy, smog vehicles with zero power. The dark ages for American auto manufacturers.

Every new vehicle is a failure in sales in Mexico. Most people can't afford shoes over there, let alone new transportation.

I can go deeper into the history of 1968 and later.

 

I like the '66 nova the best

 

how about the middle 80's 4 door nova that was really a toyota corolla

 

When someone asks about the history of the "Nova", I give them the history of the "Chevy II/Nova". The desirable years IMO.

The 1979 were the last rear-wheel-drive Novas. They bowed out with new rectangular headlamps to match the different grill that year. The new model would carry the Citation name. This is fortunate since the Citation was considered to be one of the most recalled cars ever produced. It would have been a shame to Nova owners everywhere to have this blot on the reputable Nova name. This however was hardly the last Nova. Even though the name Nova was marketed on other cars in other countries, the U.S. would not see a Chevrolet Nova again until 1985. Starting with a joint venture with Toyota. The deal goes as follows. GM gives Toyota a much needed factory in Fremont California. In exchange Toyota builds a small car for GM to sell and learn from. GM was basically using the join ‘em if you can't beat ‘em attitude. GM was to learn form the manufacturing process and build quality of the car. A large part of this leads to the success of the Saturn division. It is doubtful Saturn would be here without NUMMI (the joint venture facility between Toyota and GM where the cars are made). The car Toyota started to build was marketed as the Chevrolet Nova. People usually say that the Nova is based of the Toyota Corolla. This is for the most part true. However the Nova was actually based of the Toyota Sprinter which is basically a cousin of the Corolla that was sold in Japan. The Nova other than headlamps and grills was identical to the Sprinter. The NUMMI plant also started build Toyota Corolla FX's, Tacomas, Corollas, and the Geo and Chevrolet Prizms. These other models were later of course. The first Novas rolled off the assembly line in 1985 as either 4-door sedans or 5-door hatchbacks available in either CL or standard trim. The small cars had virtually no advertising and a slow start up but were considered a major success. They all had a 1.6 liter four with a whopping 74hp.

The Nova was replaced by the Prizm name when GM decided to badge the foreign Chevrolets as Geos instead of Chevrolets. The Prizm had a big role to fill. The 1985-1988 Novas were considered to be very reliable. They made the J.D. Powers list in the two spot right underneath the Toyota Cressida each year the Nova was made. This car has also had the least warranty repairs of any GM car in history.

The Toyota Corrolla Chevy Nova will always be considered a Chevy Corrolla in purists eyes. A bastard child. GM doing their best to ride out some brand recognition in order to boost sales during the latter part of the dark ages.