A 1971 Chevrolet Nova restomod that took 14 months to build will be one of the biggest gems of the Barrett-Jackson auction planned for January 2026. Aside from an all-new body and chassis, it commands an old-school engine capable of 761 PS (750 hp / 560 kW) without any forced induction. There are no price estimates, but with an extensive show history and a clean record, it won’t be cheap.
The tuning company that carried out the conversion turned the classic coupe into a fully functional hardtop, removing the b-pillars while retaining the glass dome. It also reimagined the front fascia using OEM-inspired, but more modern body panels and trim parts.
The interior was allowed to preserve its retro layout, but everything else is new. This includes the steering wheel, the seats, the entire dashboard with buttons and controls, and the trim. A Kicker audio system ensures you won’t get bored driving this piece of history.
That is, until you peek under the hood and realize you probably won’t ever get bored driving this particular restomod. The engine bay houses a giant 7.0-liter Mercury Racing engine built from scratch by a subdivision of yacht and motorboat company Mercury Marine. It is a modified GM LS7 block churning out the aforementioned 750 American horsepower in naturally aspirated form. A four-speed automatic transmission sourced form a modern Chevy sports car conveys the momentum to the wheels.
Since this Nova rides on an all-new chassis from Roadster Shop, it also has an all-new lower body design and per-wheel suspension at both ends. Schott wheels sized 18x8 inches at the front and 20x12 inches in the back make it a looker, although we wonder how efficient this staggered setup is in a real-life scenario.
Visit the Barrett-Jackson website for further details.
