A heavily modified 1967 Chevrolet Nova recently featured by Autotopia LA proves that some older custom builds still have plenty of life left in them. Owned by Butch from Hot Springs, Arkansas, the car combines rare bodywork, a serious chassis, and a twin-turbo small-block V8 built for real road use.
The Nova was originally completed around 2012, which explains a few period-specific custom touches. Even so, the core of the build remains impressive more than a decade later.
This is not a trailer queen built only to sit under lights at car shows. Butch says his priority is dependability, and the car was designed to be something he could drive long distances without constant drama.
That makes the setup especially interesting. Despite producing around 600 horsepower at the rear wheels on low boost, the Nova is tuned with drivability and longevity in mind.
Twin-Turbo Small-Block Power
Under the hood sits a Dart Little M 406-cubic-inch small-block Chevy. The engine uses a Callies crank, JE pistons, a custom turbo camshaft, and twin 66mm Turbonetics turbochargers.
On roughly 6 psi of boost, the car makes about 600 horsepower at the tires. A previous setup allowed boost to be increased to 12 psi with higher-octane fuel, though the current low-boost configuration better fits Butch’s reliability-first approach.
The engine also runs low compression, around 8:1, helping keep the boosted setup manageable. A Ron Davis intercooler and radiator package helps control heat in a car clearly meant to be driven rather than babied.
A Rare Promax Body And Chassis
The Nova’s body is far from ordinary. It uses a rare Promax body and frame setup from Tennessee, with Butch estimating that only about 32 were built.
Promax started with a steel Nova, removed a few inches from the body, raked the windshield, and created molds for a lower, wider, more aggressive shape. The result keeps the factory-style wheelbase but gives the car a squashed, widebody stance.
The chassis is a full-frame design from front to rear with heavy bracing and a Promax-built Fab 9 rear end. Butch describes it as extremely rigid, even compared with well-known aftermarket chassis builders.
Built For Street Use
The transmission was upgraded from a Turbo 400 to a built 4L80E automatic, giving the car an overdrive gear for highway driving. That makes sense for a boosted street machine intended to cover real miles.
The Nova rides on 17-inch front wheels with 225-width tires and massive 345-width rear tires on 18-inch wheels. Baer brakes handle stopping duties, while the side-exit exhaust stays neatly tucked beneath the body.
Even with the aggressive hardware, the car is surprisingly quiet at idle. The turbos help mute the exhaust pulses, giving the Nova a calmer personality until the boost comes in.
Still Due For Some Updates
Butch admits the car has a few dated elements from its original build era. Features like shaved door handles, the current interior layout, and some ergonomic details are on his list for future updates.
He plans to refresh the interior, add more comfortable seats, and make the cabin better suited for long-distance driving. That fits the overall theme of the car perfectly.
This Nova may be extreme, but it was never meant to be uncomfortable for the sake of style. Its owner clearly wants a car that looks wild, pulls hard, and can still be enjoyed from behind the wheel.
A Custom Nova With Real Character
Plenty of restomods chase huge numbers and show-car perfection, but this 1967 Nova feels different. It has enough power to be intimidating, yet its owner talks about reliability and usability just as much as horsepower.
That balance is what makes it stand out. The twin turbos, rare Promax body, full-frame chassis, and massive rear tires all create drama, but the car’s purpose remains simple.
It was built to be driven, sorted, improved, and enjoyed. More than a decade after its original build, this Nova still has the kind of presence and personality that makes custom muscle cars so addictive.