James Schaad, of Fort Jennings, had his 1977 Chevrolet Nova at the Allen County Fair Car Show in August. The 1962-1979 Novas were simple, durable cars, according to MotorTrend.
Jim Krumel | For The Lima News
FORT JENNINGS – When James Schaad was 15 years old, he went looking for his first car. He found the 1977 Chevrolet Nova that he still owns today.
“I bought it from a guy in Michigan. It was in a similar shape as it is now,” said the 26-year-old Fort Jennings man.
“I put new wheels on it and new seats in it … did some engine work. That’s about it,” said Schaad. “It’s been a good vehicle for 11 years. I’m happy with it.”
Schaad’s car is among the fourth of five generations of the Nova, which saw many changes during the 20 years it was produced.
General Motors introduced the Nova in 1962. It was also called the Chevy II Nova back then, as members of the GM marketing team insisted that the names of all Chevrolet models begin with a “C.” It wouldn’t be until 1969 that the nameplate dropped the Chevy II.
GM’s intention in 1962 was for the Nova to be a compact economy car that would compete with Ford’s popular Falcon, which came out two years earlier. Nova upped the ante in 1963 when it added the SS package, which included a V8 engine.
But the Nova faced heavy competition, not only from Ford, but within its own ranks. Chevrolet buyers gravitated toward the Chevelle and the Corvair. As a result, Ford’s Falcon outsold the Nova by a 2-to-1 margin.
GM gave the Nova a makeover in 1968. The third generation of Nova joined the ranks of muscle cars by offering a 295-horsepower, 350 engine as standard equipment. The muscle only lasted three years, however. Chevrolet offered a new style for the Nova from 1975 to 1979. The Nova would exit from the world of pony cars and enter the world of commuter cars, where luxury and comfort ruled.
As part of the fourth generation of the Nova, Schaad’s 1977 model now had cut-pile carpeting. Speedometers had larger, easier-to-read graphics. Windshields offered greater glass area. Front-door armrests were redesigned with integral pull bars.
Production of the Nova ended in 1979. A fifth generation returned briefly from 1985 to 1988.
The 1985 Nova was built in a joint venture with Toyota. Using Japanese management systems, it was one of the highest-quality cars produced by General Motors in that era, according to MotorTrend.
But the Nova always seemed to be driving on a bumpy road.
It sold poorly in some years largely because of the numerous Chevrolet models in their market segment.
There also was the urban legend that Novas sold poorly because Nova in Spanish means “doesn’t go.”
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