400-Powered 1965 Chevrolet Nova Sport Coupe

Description

The 1965 Chevrolet Chevy II Nova marked the third year of the compact car’s first generation, continuing its role as a practical yet stylish alternative to larger Chevrolets. Designed to compete with Ford’s Falcon, the Chevy II was offered in three trim levels: 100, 300, and Nova, with the Nova SS (Super Sport) serving as the performance flagship. 

The 1965 model year brought subtle styling updates, including a revised grille and trim details, while retaining the clean, squared-off lines that defined the car’s appeal. Buyers could choose from a range of body styles, including two- and four-door sedans, station wagons, and the sporty two-door hardtop coupe, which Chevrolet marketed as the “Sport Coupe.”  

Under the hood, the Nova offered a variety of engines, from the economical inline-six to the more potent 283 and 327 cubic-inch V8s, making it a versatile choice for both daily drivers and enthusiasts. Though not yet a muscle car, the 1965 Nova laid the groundwork for future high-performance variants. 

This 1965 Nova was the beneficiary of an engine swap and is powered by a 400 cubic-inch V8 with numerous performance upgrades. 

Highlights 

• Powered by a Chevrolet 400-cu-in small-block V8 (swapped by a previous owner) with these performance upgrades: 

  • 2-bolt main, align honed with ARP studs 

  • Stock 400 rods rebuilt with ARP Wave-Loc bolts 

  • Sealed Power cast pistons (.020 inches over) 

  • Pioneer balancer + SFI HD flex plate (Summit Racing) 

  • Rotating assembly balanced by Alpine Performance 

  • Aftermarket camshaft (specs unknown) 

  • Aftermarket aluminum cylinder heads 

  • Edelbrock RPM Air Gap aluminum intake 

  • Freshly cleaned Edelbrock carburetor with new accelerator pump 

  • MSD ignition 

  • Aftermarket aluminum radiator 

• Fiberglass cowl induction hood  

• Three-speed automatic transmission with B&M floor shift kit 

• Finished in white paint with a red center stripe over red cloth upholstery  

• The chassis number (115375N218072) decodes as: 

  • 1 – Chevrolet 

  • 15 – Chevy Nova II 

  • 37 – 2-door Sport/Hardtop Coupe 

  • 5 – V8 engine 

  • N – Norwood (Ohio) assembly plant 

  • 218072 – Sequential production number  

Features 

• Sport steering wheel 

• 120 mph speedometer 

• 8,000 rpm Sunpro tachometer mounted on steering column 

• Center-mounted Sunpro battery/oil/temperature gauges 

• Original AM radio 

• 14-inch, five-spoke Crager wheels 

• Delta Majestic A/S tires: P205/70R14 front, P215/70R14 rear 

Known Imperfections 

• Minor to moderate paint imperfections, including a chip above driver’s rear taillight 

• Light pitting on some of the chrome 

• Scratches on the steering column and a hole where the shifter used to be 

• Carpets have minor fading 

• Door panels and other interior surfaces show signs of wear consistent with the age 

• Passenger side front window does not fully raise 

• Front seats are non-original (but they include head rests and are in good overall condition) 

• Weatherstripping shows signs of wear 

• Tires show signs of deterioration (date coded 2003), so may want to replace 

Included 

• Key 

• Two Crager SS hubs 

Ownership History 

This 1965 Chevrolet Nova has been with the same Michigan family since June 2019. The seller (handling the sale on behalf of her mother) says, “This car belonged to my dad. The body has a clean shell with very minimal rust (excellent foundation), with a lightweight fiberglass cowl induction hood that gives it a mean street-machine look. The car’s Chevrolet 400-cu-in small-block V8 has received a number of upgrades, and it has a three-speed automatic with shift kit. It runs, drives, and shifts well. The paint is in OK condition but does show signs of age. The car has a custom dual exhaust with an aggressive muscle car rumble. The interior is in very good condition — clean and comfortable.”