68 Nova l79 Stocker barnfind

Lyn Smith · 08-15-2019, 12:46 PM

A friend sent me some pics the other day of a 68 Nova L79 barn find he came across.It was raced in Mn. in the late 60s ,early70s then put in a barn in 72. Car has 3k miles on it!! Time cards in the glove box said it ran 12:20s 112 mph. Has been sold for 6x the window sticker. Had a 70s red metal flake paint job or it probably would have gone for more.

DeuceCoupe · 09-16-2019, 10:32 PM

Cool find!

Were there any hints as to what class the barn car was running in?

In looking at all the 1961-71 NHRA wins/records as I find the sheets, I don't see any L79 wins/records in STOCK class. All I can figure is, the L79 was overrated, especially at 350hp and even at 325hp though that was closer.

The L79 REALLY wanted more cam and intake, so once it got that in SS/ classes, the wins started coming, for the 66 Holley version anyway.

The 68 Nova L79, rated at only 325hp so it wasn't overrated so badly, might have won more but:
1. I get a W/P=3069/325=9.44, which puts the car near the bottom of its class, not a good place to be. I don't follow how NHRA says that a 327/350 Nova weighs 3069 but a 350/295 Nova weighs 3106 since both intakes are iron. If the 68 Nova L79 was listed at 3106 lb, it would have W/P=3106/325=9.56, right at the top of the 9.50 class, making the car more competitive.
2. The 9.00 and 9.50 classes are where those pesky Z28 cars hung out so they were always tough ones.

I think the 68 Nova L48 350/295 did better, as it competed in the W/P=10.50 class with no Z28 cars, and its mild cam got more benefit from "legal cheater" or "rate of lift" cams since it was so tiny to begin with. That would be my bet anyway.

Jerry Terry · 09-17-2019, 10:37 AM

My neighbor had that exact car he bought new from Bud Gates Chevrolet in Indianapolis, I would love to find a barn find like that. Lyn what was the window sticker on it do you know off hand ?

Jerry
Retired 3490 3492 STK SS SST

Lyn Smith · 09-18-2019, 05:23 PM

Terry pm me your email,and I will send you a pic of the window sticker.Wont let me post it here. Says it is too large.

Jerry Terry · 09-19-2019, 01:12 PM

Thanks Lyn

Jerry
Retired 3490 3492 STK SS SST

08-15-2019, 12:46 PM	#1
Lyn Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Pontiac,il. Posts: 1,183 Likes: 267 Liked 935 Times in 185 Posts	68 Nova l79 Stocker barnfind A friend sent me some pics the other day of a 68 Nova L79 barn find he came across.It was raced in Mn. in the late 60s ,early70s then put in a barn in 72. Car has 3k miles on it!! Time cards in the glove box said it ran 12:20s 112 mph. Has been sold for 6x the window sticker. Had a 70s red metal flake paint job or it probably would have gone for more. Attached Thumbnails

09-16-2019, 10:32 PM	#2
DeuceCoupe Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 274 Likes: 98 Liked 48 Times in 44 Posts	Re: 68 Nova l79 Stocker barnfind Cool find! Were there any hints as to what class the barn car was running in? In looking at all the 1961-71 NHRA wins/records as I find the sheets, I don't see any L79 wins/records in STOCK class. All I can figure is, the L79 was overrated, especially at 350hp and even at 325hp though that was closer. The L79 REALLY wanted more cam and intake, so once it got that in SS/ classes, the wins started coming, for the 66 Holley version anyway. The 68 Nova L79, rated at only 325hp so it wasn't overrated so badly, might have won more but: 1. I get a W/P=3069/325=9.44, which puts the car near the bottom of its class, not a good place to be. I don't follow how NHRA says that a 327/350 Nova weighs 3069 but a 350/295 Nova weighs 3106 since both intakes are iron. If the 68 Nova L79 was listed at 3106 lb, it would have W/P=3106/325=9.56, right at the top of the 9.50 class, making the car more competitive. 2. The 9.00 and 9.50 classes are where those pesky Z28 cars hung out so they were always tough ones. I think the 68 Nova L48 350/295 did better, as it competed in the W/P=10.50 class with no Z28 cars, and its mild cam got more benefit from "legal cheater" or "rate of lift" cams since it was so tiny to begin with. That would be my bet anyway.

09-17-2019, 10:37 AM	#3
Jerry Terry Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 648 Likes: 6,060 Liked 450 Times in 133 Posts	Re: 68 Nova l79 Stocker barnfind My neighbor had that exact car he bought new from Bud Gates Chevrolet in Indianapolis, I would love to find a barn find like that. Lyn what was the window sticker on it do you know off hand ? Jerry Retired 3490 3492 STK SS SST

09-18-2019, 05:23 PM	#4
Lyn Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Pontiac,il. Posts: 1,183 Likes: 267 Liked 935 Times in 185 Posts	Re: 68 Nova l79 Stocker barnfind Terry pm me your email,and I will send you a pic of the window sticker.Wont let me post it here. Says it is too large. Last edited by Lyn Smith; 09-18-2019 at 05:27 PM.

09-19-2019, 01:12 PM	#5
Jerry Terry Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 648 Likes: 6,060 Liked 450 Times in 133 Posts	Re: 68 Nova l79 Stocker barnfind Thanks Lyn Jerry Retired 3490 3492 STK SS SST