A custom-built 1971 Chevrolet Nova packing a Mercury Racing SB4 engine and more than 4,000 hours of craftsmanship has emerged as one of the most ambitious restomod projects of recent years. The car, designed and executed with extensive involvement from Kindig-It Design, blends period styling with cutting-edge engineering and will cross the block at the Scottsdale Auction in January 2026.
Originally a compact and adaptable platform, the Nova earned its reputation as a lightweight canvas for power. But this example reaches far beyond factory imagination. The build began in 2018 with a complete teardown, replacing every original floor panel with hand-fabricated components and installing a Roadster Shop Fast Track chassis. The body was welded directly to the frame, effectively creating a unibody structure designed to increase stiffness and improve handling. The suspension utilizes a heavy-duty four-link system and a 9-inch rear end, underscoring the car’s pro-touring intentions.
At the center of the project is a Mercury Racing SB4, a 427-cubic-inch V8 derived from the LS7 architecture but reengineered with dual overhead cams. Producing 750 horsepower without forced induction, the engine delivers exotic-level smoothness while retaining the character of American muscle. It pairs with a Chevrolet Performance 4L80E automatic transmission for both street ability and durability.
The exterior reflects more than 2,700 hours of bodywork. The Nova features a molded rear bumper, a redesigned front valance, and a reshaped nose that required more than 600 hours alone. Perhaps the most remarkable modification is the conversion from a traditional coupe to a true hardtop, an effort that involved more than 900 hours of fabrication to ensure proper fit and window operation. Finished in Opalcetic, a shifting blue tone created by Kindig-It, the car carries triple-plated chrome and a fully refined underside.
Inside, a custom Terracotta-themed cabin crafted by JS Custom Interiors brings modern comfort into a classic layout. Dakota Digital gauges, a Bluetooth-enabled Kicker system, and a hand-built steering wheel complement the muscle-car aesthetic without overshadowing it.
The Nova rides on staggered Schott wheels measuring 20 inches at the rear and 18 up front, with a 3-inch stainless exhaust and Borla mufflers shaping its naturally aspirated soundtrack. Since completion, the car has appeared at SEMA 2022, Goodguys gatherings, the Boise Roadster Show, and the Salt Lake Autorama, reinforcing its status as a top-tier showpiece.
What began as Chevrolet’s modest compact has been transformed into a high-tech, high-horsepower reinterpretation of classic muscle. As it approaches its 2026 auction date, this Nova stands as a testament to how imagination and meticulous execution can reframe automotive history.