AUTOMOTIVE - AUTOS: Custom Nova Top Street Machine

AUTOS: Custom Nova Top Street Machine

Extensively fabricated Chevy wins Goodguys Rod and Custom?s coveted annual prize...

When Alex Covington of Clover, S.C., envisioned his dream ride, it was a 1967 Nova he could use as a daily driver. His vision quickly changed after he selected the Roadster Shop?s Jeremy and Phil Gerber to execute the build. The Gerbers? vision for the Nova was a high-tech, low-slung futuristic street machine combining an American classic with cutting edge innovation and masterful build quality. Soon after, project ?Innovator? began.

Covington?s faith in the Roadster Shop?s ability to deliver a top-quality car was rewarded when ?Innovator? won the Goodguys 2011 Optima Batteries Street Machine of the Year award July 9th at the Goodguys 14th PPG Nationals presented by Bridgestone in Columbus, Ohio.

Every panel on Covington?s Nova has been reworked and redesigned. The top was chopped three-quarters of an inch, the fenders were reshaped and sloped, new body lines and wheel-well openings were made and a new rocker-panel profile continues around the entire vehicle. The headlights and grill assembly are completely redesigned and hand fabricated as are the taillight bezels. The PPG white is complimented by custom satin accents of charcoal, sliver and bright yellow.

Power is generated by a 700-horsepower GM LSX in a completely handmade engine bay with machined panels and custom intake. Inside the cabin is a handmade dash and console assembly, full roll cage and race buckets covered in black and white leather. Illuminated headliner and floor inserts are as futuristic as it gets.

?Innovator? rides on a Roadster Shop Fast Track chassis with a three-link rear suspension and Watts linkage. Afco remote reservoir shocks cushion the ride. Giant Baer brakes provide extreme stopping power on-track or on the street. Eric Brockmeyer designed the custom center lug seven-spoke wheels.

The car?s maiden voyage came Friday morning during the Street Machine of the Year AutoCross competition. Since the car had never been driven on pavement, tension was high in the Roadster Shop camp but anxiety quickly turned to confidence when Innovator streaked to a 35.3 second lap time. It would hold up as the fastest lap in the entire competition.

The top five finalists for the Goodguys 2011 Optima Batteries Street machine of the Year, the most impressive crop to date, included Joe Brown, Lafayette, LA (1967 Mustang); Alex Covington, Clover, SC (1967 Nova); Gerry Kerna, Cranberry Township, PA (1962 Chevy II); Matt Lazich, Austin, TX (1969 Mustang); and Alex Stoner, Scottsdale, AZ (1970 Mustang).

Source: http://automotive.speedtv.com/article/autos-custom-nova-top-street-machine/

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