A 1967 Nova Drag Car is Transformed into a High Tech Restomod

Every project car has a starting point, whether you’re dragging a rusted hulk out of the woods or disassembling a pristine survivor. With the availability of aftermarket body shells and replacement panels, as well as aftermarket frames, crate engines and high-tech components, the options are endless if you’re not worried about authenticity or date codes. The beauty of a restomod build is the freedom to start and finish your project without referring to a factory assembly manual or rulebook, and Tim Simpson Sr. took an interesting approach with his 1967 Chevy Nova, so let’s dig in. 

The Nova came into Tim’s possession as a turn-key drag car, sporting giant rear slicks, an outdated rear suspension setup and a peppy small block with dual carburetors poking through the hood. The car was freshly painted in GM’s Dark Aqua hue, but other aspects of the build were less than ideal for Tim’s build plan, so he spent several months researching and gathering parts for an intense rebuild. Ultimately, he wanted to retain the driver-quality paint job, but completely gut the car to an empty shell, replacing the existing underpinnings with a fresh chassis and running gear. 

Tim commissioned Derek Bradley at Pooles Mill Rods in Cumming, Georgia to handle the transformation, as Derek and his business partner Dan Kauffman are known for building high-tech hot rods and customs. Derek led this project, handling most of the fabrication and assembly during a seven-month span. Coming from an electrical engineering background, Derek is meticulous and spent several days studying and planning to ensure a smooth build. Tim had previously consulted Derek about the components to use, so when the car arrived at the shop, it came with a truckload of new parts. 

The foundation for the Nova is a Roadster Shop Fast Track chassis, which starts with 10-gauge steel frame rails. Keep in mind that Chevrolet didn’t use a body-on-frame configuration on the Nova platform, so upgrading to a full chassis isn’t a bolt-together process. While the Fast Track series is designed to weld the inner rocker panels to the frame rails, Derek designed and fabricated body mounts for a factory-style configuration. Additionally, Derek fabricated the floor pans, transmission tunnel, firewall, and many other panels to accommodate the aftermarket chassis. 

The Roadster Shop chassis features state-of-the-art suspension, which utilizes coilover shocks on all four corners. Tubular front control arms mate to a pair of C7 Corvette spindles and hub assemblies, while a rack and pinion simplifies the steering setup. The splined front anti-sway bar measures 1-1/4 inches in diameter. Out back, a parallel four-link rear suspension mounts to a narrowed 9-inch Ford rear end housing, which is packed with a Detroit Truetrac differential and 3.70:1 gears. Tim’s Nova rolls on a set of 18×10 and 20×12-inch Hot Rods by Boyd Liberty 2.0 wheels, wrapped in Michelin rubber, sized at 275/35R18 and 335/30R20, respectively. Derek fabricated custom front and rear wheel tubs to contain the massive tires and wheels. Tim went with a Baer brakes system, starting with a booster and “Remaster” master cylinder, which works with the Baer 14-inch rotors and six-piston calipers at each corner.  

Horsepower comes from a Chevrolet Performance crate engine. The LS3-based combination is the LS376/525 package, which consists of an all-aluminum 6.2-liter (376 cu.in.) packed with a bulletproof rotating assembly. Chevrolet Performance uses a hydraulic roller camshaft with .525-inch lift and a split duration that measures 226 degrees on the intake and 236 degrees on the exhaust (at .050-inch lift). The L92-style cylinder heads feature 2.165- and 1.590-inch valves, making for a deep breathing small block. With a 10.7:1 compression ratio, it runs great on 93 octane. The combination cranks out a dyno-proven 525 horsepower, which is more than enough to provide a thrill behind the wheel of this nimble Nova. Behind the potent engine is a GM 4L65E automatic overdrive transmission. 

Adapting the LS engine to an older car requires a host of aftermarket and fabricated components, no matter how you approach the swap. This example uses a Holley Terminator X operating system, a Concept One serpentine pulley system and swap headers from Ultimate Headers to adapt the modern engine to a vintage platform. The LS engine is cooled by a Wizard Cooling radiator package, complete with programmable Spal electric fans. Derek is a firm believer in Cerakote coatings, and he treated the engine and accessories to a matte gray finish, which is a great contrast against the matte black firewall and inner fenders.  

Tim wanted to retain the car’s paint job, as it presented well, but didn’t have a show-quality finish that would inhibit regular driving. As a result of this request, Derek handled intense fabrication tasks without disturbing the paint or underlying materials. The only body panel that got attention was the hood, as the original was cut out for carburetor clearance. Luckily, the previous owner of the car included a quart of extra PPG Dark Aqua paint, which was enough to cover the new hood. Derek installed a hidden fuel filler neck behind the hinged driver’s side taillight and upgraded all lighting to LED. 

On the other side of the smoke gray windows supplied by Auto City Glass, is a stylish interior that combines factory designs with handcrafted details. Shawn Gragg of 626 Upholstery covered the seats, which includes a custom fabricated rear seat, designed to fit around the extra-wide wheel tubs and tall transmission tunnel. Derek repainted the dash and exposed door tops in matte black to match the engine bay. He also built a custom console, which features a 3-D printed insert, Tesla cupholders and a custom storage compartment. Derek 3-D printed several other components, including the brake pedal pads, Vintage Air control panel bezel and a custom A/C vent in the center of the dash. Hiding in the glove box is the fuse panel and touchscreen display for the Holley Terminator system. A Kenwood Bluetooth head unit is also hidden, and the speakers ride behind 3-D-printed grilles in the kick panels and package tray. Other interior upgrades include three-point seat belts by Morris, Dakota Digital RTX gauges and an ididit tilt steering column. Derek finished off the interior with a custom steering wheel from Rieger Auto Company, which features a high-end Alcantara wrap with satin gray spokes. Derek printed a custom ring in 3D to adapt the original Super Sport horn button to the modern wheel.  

Although it took a lot of parts and pieces, the result of Tim’s Nova project is a car that accelerates, handles and stops better than Chevrolet could’ve ever imagined in 1967. The practical upgrades, mixed with high-end details create an outstanding car, while the slammed stance and wide rubber make the ultimate first impression. The car checks all the boxes for Tim Simpson Sr. and his family after it went through the mill and came out the other side with a new attitude.  

The Process

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