RPM FEATURE CAR
EITHER WAY The Nova looks just as good blasting down the street or track as it does sitting still. intake has been topped by a 2-inch blower spacer and a BDS 8/71 supercharger spun to produce around 10 pounds of boost. A pair of QuickFuel 950 cfm boost-referenced carbs meter the fuel delivery, while a Holley Black electric pump sends it up from the fabricated and trunk-mounted fuel cell. Ignition duties are managed by MSD components, including a Pro Billet distributor, 6AL2 box, and Moroso Ultra 40 un-
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der-the-header plug wires. Dougs silver ceramic coated headers direct the spent gases through Spin Tech 3-inch stainless mufflers and exhaust. Backing the blown mill is a TCI Super Street Turbo 400 trans with a 10-inch/3,500 RPM stall converter. A Strange chromoly shaft links it to the differential. Inside, the cockpit is cruise-friendly, where classic factory carpet and dash meld with the race-inspired and modern updates like a
july 2019 | RPM Magazine
full chromoly cage, Kilduff Machine Lightning Rods shifters in a custom console, and AutoMeter instrumentation. The uber-cool chopped TMI bucket seats have been wrapped in suede and leather with body color leather accents, as have the swoopy sculpted custom door panels. The end result is just what Lowe had in mind all along: a classic Chevy that has been “TWEAK’D” (the car’s nickname) with a host of modern twists. Most
amazingly, while the ideas have been bouncing around for close to four decades, completion of the build took about a year from the date of purchase. The effort was good enough to land a prestigious Legends’ Choice Award at the 2018 Street Machine Nationals in DuQuoin—an honor selected by prolific past winners of the event. “I couldn’t believe it, because it was voted on by the pro street legends I have admired since the early ’80s,
and they thought our little Nova was worthy of it. It brought tears to my eyes,” Lowe recounted. So if you have dreams of your own build floating around somewhere in your mind but question if it will ever really happen, consider the story of Steve and Mary Lowe. After 37 years of dreaming and a single year of building, they finally have the car they’ve always wanted. Isn’t that sensational?