Here at ACC and SCM, we keep a small collection of old cars around for our staffers to drive. In addition to that, most of the people who work here also have classics of their own, so there’s almost always an old car up and running somewhere nearby.
Since launching ACC two years ago, we’ve had two main American collector cars: the ’63 Dodge 440 Hemi drag car and our completely restored 1964 Nova wagon. The Dodge sold this time last year, and we figured with the new year just around the corner and two years now under our belt, it’s time to freshen up our collection a little. So we’ll be taking the Nova with us to Scottsdale to sell at no reserve at Barrett-Jackson’s 2014 Arizona auction this January.
I’m really familiar with this car, as it’s been with us for a long time. It’s an odd one, as it’s a factory small-block 283 Nova wagon with the upscale Chevy II 400 trim. The engine is the original unit, but we swapped out the original column-shift 3-speed manual for a Saginaw 4-speed and a Hurst floor shifter. It’s been completely repainted in its original white, and the interior is all new, too, with bucket seats out of an SS hardtop installed in place of the original front bench. Other goodies include some Edelbrock induction parts, glasspack mufflers, rear air shocks (for hauling boxes of magazines in the back), and an electronic ignition conversion. All in all, it starts easy and runs great. We’ve driven it all over the place, from concours to cruise-ins (and it’ll even do a fantastic burnout on Publisher Keith Martin’s front lawn, thanks to Hemi Dodge drag car smoke and Photoshop).
How will it do at auction? We’ll just have to wait and see. Watch for coverage of its sale in an upcoming issue of the magazine, and watch for more information from www.barrett-jackson.com as we get closer to the event.
What should we get to replace it? Maybe a first-gen Viper? Maybe a first-gen Camaro? How about something from the blue oval camp? Let us know what you think in the comments below.