Cruising Down Memory Lane in the Chevy Nova SS
The Chevy Nova SS is an American muscle classic. Just ask this classic American frontman.
Written by Alex Reale
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
The ‘60s were heady times for American automakers.
Against the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement and the Cuban Missile Crisis, companies like
Chevy
and Ford were in an arms race, determined to make the muscle car that would give them the edge in the American market. When Ford built the Mustang, Chevy built the Camaro
, and when Ford built the Falcon, Chevy responded with the Chevy Nova SS. Jerry
, the car ownership super app
, looks at the history of the Chevy Nova SS—including one celebrity’s wild ride with his Novas.The Chevy Nova SS—A ‘60’s joyride
In 1962, Chevy added a new trim level to the Chevy II compact, and rechristened the car “Nova.” This rejoinder to the Ford Falcon sported a 120 hp 3.2 L straight six, and came in sedan, wagon, or coupe form, says
MotorTrend
. The SS (super sport) trim became available in 1963, and this option placed the Nova on the path toward muscle car, culminating in 1968 with the 295 hp version.
The Nova, which officially became just Nova in 1969, hit its heyday in the late ‘60s. Drag racers loved them because of their light weight and superb handling.
But like other muscle cars of the era, Nova suffered during the malaise of the ‘70s, during which automakers were forced to rethink their choices to cooperate with new emissions standards. Though better for the environment, these updates initially kneecapped muscle car horsepower, and thus their high performance. The Nova was no different, eventually petering out in the late ‘80s.
One frontman is a fan
The Nova had its ups and downs, but its continued rivalry with Ford’s muscle cars and its status as an iconic American make is a surefire combination in the world of classics. Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong is a fan, and owns at least two, and one of his Novas recently caused a stir when it was stolen in Costa Mesa, California.
Armstrong posted an impassioned plea on Twitter for the safe return of his 1962 Chevy II, including a couple photos of a gorgeous off-white car basking in the sun. He then took to Instagram, says
LA Times
, reassuring the thieves that he did not plan to press charges and would even pay bail. “I just want my car back,” he said. A hunt ensued, and after an extensive search, police found the stolen Nova parked in the El Modena area near Orange, according to
NBC Los Angeles
. The expensive musical equipment inside it had been taken, but the car was untouched. Armstrong seemed quite pleased, posting a thank you to everyone who had searched on his Instagram. No more walking the boulevard of broken dreams.Saving on car insurance
Not all of us are lucky enough to own ‘60s classics like the Chevy Nova SS, but that doesn’t mean you can’t luck out with your car insurance.
If you want to save money on car insurance, the
Jerry
app is a good place to start. A licensed broker, Jerry does all the hard work of finding cheap quotes from the top name-brand insurance companies and buying new car insurance. Jerry will even help you cancel your old policy.And to ensure you always have the lowest rate, Jerry will send you new quotes every time your policy comes up for renewal, so you’re always getting the coverage you want at the best price. This level of service is why Jerry earned a 4.6/5 rating on the App Store and made it the top insurance app in the country.
4.7
