The muscle-car period sputtered to finish in 1972. Blame low-quality, low-lead gasoline, more and more stringent emissions rules, and rising insurance coverage prices for the for the sudden wrap-up of the horsepower celebration. The demise of the muscle automobile left a vacuum of types within the lineups of American carmakers, all of which did some critical enterprise peddling large engines to loopy folks hellbent on tearing up the streets each time a site visitors mild turned inexperienced.
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1975 Chevrolet Nova LN
As for that vacuum, it will quickly be crammed—not precisely, and never fully neatly—with luxurious automobiles. Type of. I’m not saying that people abruptly traded of their Hemi ‘Cudas and Skylark GSs for Cadillac Sevilles and Lincoln Continentals, however that makers began constructing premium trim-level variants of automobiles that had as soon as been a part of the muscle-car scene.
Luxurious Trim Ranges
The luxurious trim-level motion, which unfold to automobiles in a roundabout way related to muscle automobiles, was particularly in style with entry-level manufacturers (Chevrolet, Ford, and Plymouth, in addition to AMC) and a few midline marques, together with Dodge. What number of of those 1975 fashions do you keep in mind?
- AMC Matador Oleg Cassini
- Dodge Coronet Brougham
- Ford Gran Torino Brougham
- Plymouth Grand Fury Brougham
- Chevrolet Nova LN
Appears loopy, trying again, that nobody tried to nail down the trademark on Brougham. For the file, a brougham, traditionally, was an enclosed-body automobile with an open-air ahead part for the drive. This allowed the occupants of the automobile to journey in consolation and privateness. As for the motive force, not a lot.
Nova LN Advert
Chevy Nova
Now, if you already know something concerning the Chevrolet Nova, there’s a stable change you’ve heard good issues. New for 1969, and redesigned for 1975, the Nova served Chevy nicely because the model’s modest, reasonably priced, arguably enticing, and finally very-popular compact automobile. Through the years, the Nova was provided as a coupe and sedan, in addition to a wildly underappreciated hatchback. The Nova was additionally current for the muscle-car enjoyable, provided in SS trim and packing a thumping 396-cubic-inch V8.
Nova LN
However in 1975, with its muscle-car days lengthy behind it, the Nova was handled to a brand new trim stage: LN. The Luxurious Nova (LN, in the event you hadn’t guessed), possible struck of us as a bit odd, however on condition that nation was nonetheless shell shocked by the gasoline shortages that got here because of the 1973 OPEC Oil Embargo, a small luxurious automobile made some sense.
Luxurious Gear
The higher-trimmed little Chevy included such niceties as “wide-back” reclining entrance seats, a specifically tuned suspension, and upgraded cabin supplies. The outside was spruced up, too. You’d assume that possibly an FM radio can be a part of the deal, however you’ll be fallacious.
Nova LN Costs
In sedan kind, extra-spiffy Nova began at $3795 (about $22,000 in 2024 {dollars}). On the identical time, a base sedan began at $3209 ($18,500). And if that base value appears low, understand that it didn’t embrace the aforementioned FM radio, nor air-con or an automated transmission.
Regardless of its Seventies-style beauty, and the promise of bargain-priced excessive residing, the LN was a sluggish vendor. Whereas the bottom Nova sedan accounted for nearly 44,000 gross sales, the LN sedan racked up simply 1300. Coupe and hatchback variations of the LN faired no higher.
Nova Concours
For 1976, Chevrolet renamed the LN Concours, however modified little else. The rebranding appeared to do the premium trim stage good, as Concours gross sales had been a lot improved relative to the LN.
As for the advert, we have now to push again a bit on claims the LN was both lovely, or European. The Nova’s obtainable vinyl roof and old-school leaf-spring rear suspension each preclude the Euro claims. As for the styling, we’ll settle for good-looking, however nothing extra. Nonetheless, the Nova LN/Concours had its charms. The cabin upholstery (seen under) was described as “knit material with vinyl,” which to our ears comes dangerously near sounding attractive.
Nova Variants
Kudo to Chevrolet for locating so some ways to hawk the Nova. The model’s bread-and-butter compact was retailed as a muscle automobile, a sporty GT, a budget-friendly household automobile, an financial system automobile, and as a luxurious automobile. Additionally, Chevy bought a good variety of Novas into police service, a commerce for which the versatile automobile appeared nicely suited. Outfitted with Chevy’s 350-cubic-inch V8 and heavy-duty suspension, the Nova in all probability labored nicely as a pursuit automobile.
Dropping the Nova Concours
The Concours returned for 1977, however was dropped from the Nova lineup after that. For 1978 Chevrolet redesigned the model’s midsize Malibu, and luxurious variations of that automobile would have competed too immediately with the premium Nova, so the Concours was discontinued.
There’s nothing actually loopy concerning the Nova LN/Concours, although it was in all probability a bit cynical of the Chevy advertising folks to promote the common-or-garden Nova as a luxurious automobile. That stated, pretty priced because it was, the “luxurious” Novas in all probability didn’t idiot anybody. They had been simply good automobiles bought for an affordable amount of cash. Nothing fallacious with that.
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Chevrolet Nova Footage
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