Here are several pics of my Nova, which is considered the "last generation" X-cars that were produced between 1975 and 1979.  Not too many people consider this bodystyle a collectible, since the disco-era vehicles of this period earned "NO RESPECT."  This is the car that I have had since high school (September 1988), and has been asleep since September 14, 1997*, in which the motor died and went to heaven.  The body is still alive, in my garage, but the car is currently dismantled, and decommissioned from street duty.

*The three hyperlinks below the four pics will have more of the whole 9.  Read page 3 for more details.

A friend of mine has always dissed me because the car that I have isn't considered a "true" or "real" classic, but who gives a s*** anyway?  Here are several pics that I have of the car, but what you see here is the real thing.

I  managed to locate a few pics that featured the Nova before the car was painted black.  There are two sections that detailed the early days, and the transitional period when the car was painted, and features the original engine swap, as well as the second motor that was grenaded:.

Not too many people consider the late X-car as a "real" X-car (this does not count the Toyota-esque Nova from 1985-88), but they are becoming popular since the older generations (1962-67 and 1968-74) are becoming harder to locate and/or going up in value.  (hence the Rodney Dangerfield term "NO RESPECT") This also holds true for anything manufactured during the 1970s (the disco decade), in which Detroit shyed away from the musclecar era, and built quasi-luxury vehicles.  This was a time in which the Arab oil embargo (from October 17, 1973 -- March 1974) and the second energy crisis of 1979 (when gas sold for $1.61), along with high insurance premiums, DOT mandates on safety issues, and stringent EPA regulations on emission regulations, forced the traditional musclecar to its "apparent" doom.  This was way before EFI and overdrive trannies were standard equipment in production vehicles.

Since the disco-era vehicles are approaching its silver anniversary, this is the time in which appreciation of these vehicles as "classics" is a major issue.  A lot of traditionalists/aficionados of classics wouldn't consider disco decade vehicles as classics, since Detroit produced "wannabe Cadillacs" that appeared obnoxious or as eyesores.  Over the years, owners of disco-era vehicles have been treated as a minority, in which car shows and cruise events wouldn't allow anything post-1972 because of the "rules".  Another thing is that owners of traditional musclecars would frown upon anything post-1972 because of the negative hype, but the machismo does not end there.  Right now, the issue of affirmative action has been effective in the demands of disco-era vehicle owners getting the recognition and equal treatment like their counterparts that own 1972 and older iron.  Another thing is that magazines like Car Craft, Hot Rod, Chevy High Performance, and Super Chevy are beginning to feature these X-cars as street machines, but due to its lesser appeal to the public, not too many of the later X-cars are featured in magazine spreads.

Back then, it was deemed uncool to own a disco-era vehicle, since they were the Hyundai Excels of the 1970s.  Glass ceiling prices are the "ego" today for real classics, and there have been alternatives to pre-1973 iron, since "golden oldies" are approaching the glass ceiling and/or becoming scarce.  Another thing to consider is that the late X-car is treated differently that their older counterparts, and discriminated against.  The June 1995 issue of Super Chevy details only 3 generations of X-cars, except 1975-79, and this serves as a testament to why this generation of X-cars are ignored, and treated as a minority; a few have either been used as dirt track racers, for the demolition derby, and the art car community.

Here's a section that may be of interest to the owners of the late X-car, which details the overall history and technical specifications: :

*The 1975-79 X-car is often referred to as the fourth generation by the majority of the members (via consensus) of the Nova listserv, but the December 1985 issue refers to these cars as the third generation.  The third generation is based on the chassis, and the June 1995 issue of Super Chevy refers the 1962-67 generation as the first (1962-65) and second (1966/67), due to the change in the bodystyle.

One of the problems of maintaining a disco-era classic is that parts availability is "second to none".  Traditional resto catalogs would have "cutoff" years (most aftermarket companies limit their stock to certain year brackets), in which owners of disco-era vehicles would have to look elsewhere.  Currently, the only way to procure parts is to buy a parts car, and pirate whatever is needed.

Here's the whole 9:
vin# 1X27D5L1xxxxx (manufactured in Los Angeles/Van Nuys, California, 9/74)*
1: Chevrolet Division
X:  Nova
27:  2-door sedan
D:  250 I6 (this was the original motor that came with the car)
5:  1975 model year
L:  Van Nuys, CA plant
1xxxxx:  production sequence*

*production sequence # censored (as of 7.6.04)

The Disco-Era Nova wasn't the only Nova in my family's household.  There was a 1965 Nova that my dad bought in late 1969 or early 1970.  This car was sold off in 1976, when the current Disco-Era Nova is today.  Here's the link:

(2/7/99 update):  There are no future plans as of this day, since there is a long debate in which I should put in the new motor.  Right now, I am busy with graduate studies, and haven't had the luxury and time to work on the Nova.  Right now, the interior has been dismantled, in which bucket seat braces are being installed.  Another issue that I have to contend with is the gashed out rocker panels, which was damaged when the car was towed to my home.

(12/26/99 update):  To this day, the Nova hadn't been attended to, and there is a future debate that titling rights will lead to repercussions concerning ownership.  Currently, the Nova isn't "technically" mine, since the title is in my mom's name, but own the following items that are/being used by the car:  motor, tranny, rims, exhaust system, car stereo, and car stereo equipment.  The pics seen on the RIP section of this webpage is the current state of the car at present.

(2.26.02 update):  It's been over 2 years since I have last updated this website, and in November 2000, the pictures depicted on this page will be recommissioned as an art car for my cyberorganization, the WestFest Purists Organization.  Since November 25, 2001, a fundraiser has already been initiated, which will involve the rehabbing of a Chevrolet 305 that was pulled out of my daily driver, a 1981 Blazer 4 x 4.  The 'Saturday Night Special' motor project, which was supposed to have been installed in the Nova, was lowered into my pickup before Xmas day 2001.  Here's what I will need for the art car project:  light bar rack, DJ lighting equipment, and 2 disco balls.

(7.6.04 update):  the 1975-79 X-Car Facts page has been updated with more information about the 76-79 Cadillac Seville, as well as a few uploaded pics.  Since June 2001, I had plans of un-retiring my Nova; the project has been subjected to multiple work stoppages since April 2002 - present due to my commitment as a freelance photographer/journalist with Houston Indymedia.  A brief work session commenced in September 2003 where salvaged components from a 76 Skylark and Omega were installed - as of this writing, the heater core has been swapped out.  The only thing awaiting completion is a 4-speed tranny hump, as well as to wire the power windows using a circuit breaker from a 78 Camaro.

Here's the vehicle it will be modeled after:  the Harris County Green Party's Greenmobile.

*The Disco-Era Cars page is one of my creations, and is uncredited by the author, because of its obnoxious language and offensive remarks.  This page is not meant to disrespect or disparage owners of 1973-80s vehicles and/or the owners of Oriental imports.

The links section is 1975-79 exclusive, since other generations are considered "traditional", and disassociated.  A proposed web ring is in the works, which will be a separate webring from the Chevy II webring that is currently in existence.  To this day, this site will be a stand-alone site outside of the Chevy II Webring, until the Disco-Era X-Car webring is conceived and operational.

Copyright 1998 - 2002 LSC Publications (c/o DON "The Emissary" SERIBUTRA).  Unauthorized use of any images is prohibited and illegal.

Copyright 2001 - 2004 WestFest Purists Organization. All Rights Reserved.  Unauthorized duplication of this page and/or pics without consent of the author for exploitation is subject ot criminal prosecution.

"I don't get NO RESPECT."

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