Ray’s dad traded a 1968 Road Runner in for the 1971 Rally Nova back in June of 1971. His dad sold the 1971 Nova in 1978 with 18,000 miles on it even though it was perfect. He bought a new 1978 El Camino.
The 1971 Nova was lost until 1984 when he found it and bought it back. Well, it needed to be restored, as it was rough when they got it back. They ended up having the 1971 Nova restored in 1985. Ray was 16 and had not learned to do bodywork yet, so the paint stayed that way until 2008 when he decided to do a frame-off restoration on the car.
He was restoring the car, so his dad could take it to the local car cruises and shows. As usual, the restoration took 9 years to complete, and his dad passed away a year before the car was finished. So he was never able to see the 1971 Nova completed.
The engine is a GM performance ZZ5 385h crate engine, Dynatech headers, Flowmaster exhaust, 700r transmission, Moser 12 bolt with 3.42 gear.
The special thing about this Nova is 1971 was the first year for the Rally Nova, and this car is Green w/ green interior. The car is painted with PPG envirobase paint code 43 Citrus green and olive interior, w/ Billet Specialties wheels and Mickey Thompson drag radials.