Chevy Dropped A 396 Big-Block Into Its Falcon-Fighter And Told Almost Nobody
You can only get in trouble for something if you get caught, right? That’s the absurd logic Chevrolet applied when it secretly stuffed a 396 big-block V8 into a scrawny car. No one knew the tiny economy car was secretly packed with serious power because it wore skinny rims, lacked fender badging, and was deliberately left out of brochures to avoid insanely high insurance premiums. As a result, the ultimate sleeper model was released on the streets.
Chevrolet Turned Its Ford Falcon Fighter Into A Drag Strip Monster
In the late 1960s, Chevrolet got the wild idea to turn a small, economy model into a high-performance muscle car without attracting attention. It hoped no one would notice that its Ford Falcon fighter was hiding big-block V8 power under the hood. For context, the 1968 Ford Falcon is a compact car weighing in at between 2,650 and 3,225 pounds, depending on the body style and engine options.
It was paired with more modest engines, like the 302 cubic-inch V8 with 210 to 230 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. But Chevy was technically allowed to put an engine designed for the larger Chevelle in its compact rival. The Chevelle weighs about 3,719 to 3,850 pounds, so you can imagine the impact that a much larger engine had in a car that was hundreds of pounds lighter.
Chevy wanted to keep the compact beast affordable, much like the 1968 Falcon, which had an original MSRP of about $2,252 to $2,301. The 1968 Chevelle rang in at $3,201 for the high-performance model, but it was also targeted by insurance companies with insanely high premiums. Muscle cars were seen as expensive liabilities as they were linked to higher rates of accidents.
As insurance companies cracked down, premiums cost more than most buyers could afford each month, pricing younger buyers out of the market. So by hiding how much power the compact sleeper had, Chevy created the perfect plan to deliver high-performance specs to its fans at a fraction of the cost.
No One Was Supposed To Notice The Chevy L78 Nova
The 1968–1969 Chevy Nova L78 wasn’t supposed to exist. It came with a 396 cubic-inch (6.5-liter) big-block V8 engine with a factory-rated 375 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque, with an engine compression ratio of 11.0:1 and solid lifters. The Nova weighs in at about 3,200 to 3,400 pounds.
This sleeper car accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in about 6.0 seconds and can finish a quarter mile in roughly 13.8 seconds at around 105 mph with a top speed of 120 mph. Meanwhile, the Chevelle 396 SS could reach 60 mph in around 6.0 seconds with a 13.6-second quarter-mile time at around 105 mph and a top speed of 130 mph.
Plus, the standard Nova had an original starting price of $2,200 to $2,285, and the 396 engine could be added for about $500, bringing the total cost up to about $2,785. It hovered around the $3,000 mark with other required packages. This means that the drag strip monster could keep up with the Chevelle SS at a much more affordable price while avoiding expensive insurance premiums.
Along with the 396 engine, the Nova L78 features an independent front suspension mounted to a durable bolt-on frame stub, stamped steel control arms, multi-leaf rear springs, and staggered rear shock absorbers to confidently handle its immense torque. It was available with a close-ratio four-speed manual transmission.
Here’s How Chevy Hid The L78 Nova
Chevy deliberately left the Nova L78 out of brochures and marketing materials to elude insurance companies. The L78 was limited to a Regular Production Option (RPO) code on order forms, so buyers had to know about its specific code or depend on knowledgeable dealers to order one. Many dealership salesmen were left in the dark, so the Nova 396 SS became an insider secret.
The Nova L78 was also hidden in plain sight. Instead of having an aggressive muscle car style, it was a bit plain with minimal chrome, muted corporate colors, and basic steel wheels with dog dish hubcaps. It was unassuming with the look of a basic family grocery hauler. Plus, the 396 badges were left out on purpose, and the interior features bench seats.
It’s widely believed that the Nova L78 was underrated at 375 hp to dodge insurance premiums. The same engine and hardware was factory-rated at 425 hp in 1965. But it was reduced to 375 hp in 1966 without any changes, and its price remained the same. Dyno tests put its output closer to 455 and 500 hp.
A few buyers were lucky enough to learn about the Nova L78 by word of mouth. Other hot rodders caught on by figuring out the performance math. For example, the Chevelle weighed 300 to 400 pounds more than the Nova L78, providing a significant power-to-weight ratio advantage because it was available with the same 396 engines.
Collectors Finally Discovered What Chevy Was Hiding
Due to a lack of advertising, not many people knew they could order the Chevy Nova L78. Only 677 units were sold in 1968. Word spread further in 1969, and about 5,262 units were sold. However, more and more hot rodders have heard about its lore during the past few decades, causing it to rise in value as an incredibly rare sleeper model.
It’s unclear how many models still survive today. Chevrolet didn’t keep official registries for its production models. But the sleeper cars may not have been as well cared for as flashy options with more popular badges like the Camaro and Chevelle. Plus, they were heavily raced to their full potential, leading to wrecks and blown engines.
Chevy Nova L78 396 SS models found in project condition sell for between $50,000 and $65,000. Then models in good, average condition cross the auction block for between $65,000 and $85,000. Examples in pristine condition fetch between $90,000 and over $110,000. Exceptional models with proper documentation have sold for as much as $275,000.
Source: Classic, Chevrolet
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