Nova Widebody Concept

[TheBandit]

I'm a big fan of wide body muscle cars, especially trans-am style cars. I have been toying with "some day" ideas for my '70 Nova and decided to employ my amateur photoshop skills to visualize what I would want. Below is what I came up with.

For the front (blue car), the basic concept would be to cut and add metal on the tops of the fenders between the top outer edge and the hood to create a rounded trapezoid edge shape from the top view. That area of the fender is somewhat flat so it should be easyish to make patch pieces. I assume I would have to put a vertical cut at the center of the fender and put an extension patch in to recover overall length. I'm not really sure what other relief cuts might be needed to achieve this shape. For the fenders, I started with the photo of a blue Nova from CHP Magazine because it had a convenient angle. Here is the original image (http://www.superchevy.com/features/1311-1971-chevy-nova/)

For the rear (green car), I would like to add width to the quarter panels up high extending from the existing body line that runs along the bottom of the sail panel. To show this, I started with a photo of LS1NOVA's car (his thread here (https://www.pro-touring.com/threads/57537-71-Nova)). Hopefully he and PHR don't mind me using their image. Here is the original image (http://www.popularhotrodding.com/features/1104phr_1971_chevy_nova/photo_07.html)

Thoughts?

[csouth]

Chris at JCG has already been doing this for a while. It's nice if you pull it off and add the right wheels. I'd still like to see the Nova below in finished form.

https://www.pro-touring.com/threads/71146-DriverzInc-1970-Nova-build-under-way!/page4

https://www.pro-touring.com/threads/71146-DriverzInc-1970-Nova-build-under-way!/page7

I'm pretty sure its the similar concept he uses for most of his builds

[TheBandit]

Thanks for the reply Chris. I have been staring at the Driverz Inc Nova photos for the past few weeks. I'm having a hard time estimating how much JCG stretched it - I think about 2" in the front, but perhaps the images are deceiving. For mine I was thinking 4" would be the right amount, going for 315s up front with a bit of dish to the wheels. I think the more aggressive bulge would be more typical of a race car. Also the lines in top-view on the Driverz Inc car are more rounded than I would want - I like a more trapezoidal shape (3 straight sections).

I am going to work on a quarter panel rendering later. I would like all the width added near the top of the quarter rather than a slow bulge from top to bottom; I think that gives the Nova too much of a saggy-diaper look. I think overall the Driverz Inc car is a bit more subtle than I'd want.

I'm not sure if I have the skill to pull it off myself, but JCG is right around the corner if it wouldn't require a second mortgage to get it done.

[csouth]

I am going to work on a quarter panel rendering later. I would like all the width added near the top of the quarter rather than a slow bulge from top to bottom; I think that gives the Nova too much of a saggy-diaper look. I think overall the Driverz Inc car is a bit more subtle than I'd want.

I'm not sure if I have the skill to pull it off myself, but JCG is right around the corner if it wouldn't require a second mortgage to get it done.


I see what you mean about the bulge from the bottom. I hope you can figure it out because I think thats a good look on Nova's. There is always that second mortgage...lol. Good luck

[TheBandit]

I edited the first post and added a photohack of what I envision for the rear quarter panels.

[LS1NOVA]

You know what they say...have to take big risks to get big gains. Do it!