In 2008 a seemingly impossible Nova L89 appeared from nowhere. Unheard of by most in the big-block Chevrolet community, it is highly debated whether or not chassis 114270W289169 actually arrived to the dealer with a L89 396/375 HP engine.

The owner which had the car restored by Legendary Motors in Canada, says it was authenticated by Brian Henderson and has paperwork to verify the car’s authenticity. He kindly displayed it at the 2008 Greenwich Concours and 2009 Meadowbrook Concours before being offered at Russo & Steele’s Arizona Auction. Unfortunately, the car was damaged during a major tent collapse due to high winds. It went unsold with a high bid of $135,000 USD.

Chevrolet planet manager Fran Preve said “The Tonawanda engine plant kept VERY accurate records on engines built during each model year. These “Summeries of Engines Built” list EVERY engine we built by assembly number and description. This number crossed over to a suffix code so from them I could determine how many of each SUFFIX CODE we built. Sometimes, as in the case of the L-89 engines built, I had further records. In these cases it was “engine canceled, not replaced” and then a date. In model year 1970 NO aluminum head LS6 engines were built. In the case of the L-89 engines in 1970, in October 1969 the L-89 396 option was canceled, not replaced. As far as the LS6/L89 NONE WERE BUILT.”

Auction Descriptions

“This 1970 Chevrolet Nova SS is one of one in that it is an L89 aluminum head car. The winner of multiple national awards, it has been featured on calendars over the years. The over 2-year extensive rotisserie restoration with many original components was completed in March, 2008. The car remains as built with 100% numbers-matching throughout and is documented with protect-o-plate and inspection report by a national expert.”

The owner original seller describes the car: “Shown as a “Dream Car” on the TV series “Dream Car Garage” and highlighted as a feature restoration in Hemmings Muscle Machines; this Nova was also a finalist for Muscle Car of the Year in 2008 by Super Chevy and Hemmings. Additional notoriety for the L89 was a Calendar feature in Oct 2008 and two Chevy Vettefest Gold Spinner Awards”

Story by Supercars.net