1964 Chevrolet Super Nova show car.
A New shape for the Chevy II
THE IDEA CAR has become a tradition with American automakers
as a place to try out advanced and different styling concepts, component
designs, and control refinements. Should such a dream puff excite public
interest in the current vehicle which serves as its basis, so much the
better. Chevrolet has unveiled its latest, built around the sturdy Chevy
II, which it calls the Super Nova. Its fiberglass body, finished in "fire
frost" silver, has a sloping 7.5-in extension of the hood and a bobbed
tail on the same 11O-in. wheelbase. The casual observer might see a hint
of Riviera from the side. Normal door handles, both inside and out, have
been eliminated from the car by putting an electric solenoid switch flush
with the chrome window molding on each door. The windshield has a 60" rake
and curved side glass extends to the pillar, eliminating vent windows.
Minimum trim consisting of a rocker panel strip and different wheel covers
and tires are used. Beneath the drooping snoot is a finely tooled grill,
deeply recessed into a crisp well of bright metal. A pair of rectangular
headlights, mounted vertically, flank the grill opening and are integrated
into the surrounding casting, which serves in place of a bumper. Three
large dials, fitted in individual pods hanging under the dash lip, are
the only instruments before the driver. In addition to the 160-mph speedometer
and 8000-rpm recording tachometer, there is a novel "Elometer" (elapsed
time meter, n seconds). All other instruments and radio are lined up down
the central panel from dash to console, with all window lift and other
control switches aligned along the latter. Dual turn signal levers are
installed behind the custom steering wheel, but are designed to turn with
the wheel so as to always remain hidden behind the wheel spokes. The all-black
interior is trimmed in a combination of leather, vinyl and polyurethane.
At the rear, the stylists have come up with an awkward combination of styling
clichés. The recessed rear window is an attempted adaptation from
Porsche and Ferrari racing cars, the four rear lights are buried under
the deck lip in separate holes and exhaust pipe tips form sides of the
license plate cover. In all, it's an interesting version of a fastback
snowplow. Car Life, July 1964
Show car is thought by some to look like a baby riviera, possibly a
hint at what Chevrolet has up
its sleeve to counteract Mustang boom.
Rear window is recessed inside pillars; vents under window remove cockpit air.
All black interior has everything but three dials removed from dash.