Frame Off Built Nova Pro Touring LS7 660 HP 6 Speed

These days the pro-touring scene can feel a bit like the pro-street scene – a bunch of show cars built solely for aesthetics. Sure, they all look good with wide wheels and giant brakes, but how many could successfully conquer an autocross course? The number is probably smaller than you think. It's why we never get tired of builds like 1967 Chevrolet Nova. It did the show car thing and has the magazine features to prove it but, in its current configuration, this car is about substance. Sporting a 660hp LS7, a Tremec five-speed, an industrial strength suspension, and a six-point roll cage, the car keeps its spec sheet first-rate while offering a timeless look and a genuinely livable interior with air conditioning and a killer stereo. The car was a contender for Goodguys 2013 Muscle Machine of Year and is an upcoming Popular Hot Rodding Cover car with multiple features in its past. Best of all, this wicked pro-tourer will cross the block at the upcoming "RKM Collector Car Auction":http://www.rkmcca.com in Charlotte, NC where your high bid can bring it home!

So where do you begin with a Nova like this? Probably on the outside where rust-free California sheet metal served as the foundation. Dutch Boys Hot Rods in Vicksburg Michigan took care of the paint and body and certainly did a great job transforming this Nova into a show stopper. The first thing that jumps out is the color – BASF Diamont Jet Stream Blue. There were no less than three blues available on the '67 Nova but this one doesn't compare to any of them – it's more vibrant and lustrous than factory colors could dream of being in the era. Another huge factor is the body work below that top coat. The team shaved the side molding, smoothed the door jambs, shaved and molded the cowl vent panel, and paid extra attention to the body line gaps, ensuring perfect fitment all around. Behind the laser straight quarters, the car has also been mini-tubbed to accept a 10-inch wide wheel.

To stay in line with the minimalist look, there isn't a lot of trim to speak of. The good news is that what did make it onto the car is show quality to the nth degree. The front end sports a polished full-width grille that incorporates a pair of halogen headlights. Below, the form fitting chrome bumper has been smoothed and tucked while a subtle custom chin spoiler mounts beneath. There's no callouts or cowl hood here, just smooth lines that lead towards a green house filled with factory fresh glass and immaculate stainless trim. At the sides, discrete cross-flag emblems adorn the fenders while chrome handles top the doors. Aside from those two items, the crisp body lines are left uninterrupted. The rear view is framed by LED taillights in pristine bezels while an equally clean trunk panel carries right-justified Chevy II script. Like the front bumper, the rear bumper has also been smoothed and tucked, capping the car's simple but infinitely appealing look.

Pro-touring is about usable power – not just big numbers on a show board. With that in mind, it's hard to think of a better platform than GM's LS7. This one was put together by Mast Motorsports out of Nacogdoches, Texas. If you're familiar with the company, you already know they turn out some of the best LSX powerplants on the market today. The foundation for this monster is a fully machined aluminum block which utilizes a custom ground camshaft alongside a forged Callies rotating assembly with Mahle pistons. At the top, a stock LS7 intake manifold rides between a pair of Mast Motorsports CNC LS7 casting aluminum cylinder heads. Assembled by hand with ARP fasteners throughout, the mill is good for roughly 660hp and will gladly wind all the way to its 7,250 rpm limit whenever prompted. The front of the engine spins a blacked out air conditioning compressor, alternator, and power steering pump while the water pump works in harmony with dual electric fans and a custom DeWitts aluminum radiator to keep the bay cool. Turn the key and the LS7 snarls to life, breathing through coated headers that connect to a dual exhaust system with Borla mufflers. Around the engine, highlights like the custom core support, smoothed firewall, and Ring Brothers hinges finish the bay with a sleek modern style you'll be proud to show off.

Take a look underneath this Nova and you'll find even more high-tech hardware and meticulous workmanship. The front end is supported by a full Detroit Speed Chevy II front which houses tubular control arms, triple adjustable coilovers, a splined sway bar, and C6 Corvette uprights. The updates continue out back where a TCI Engineering four-link system works with a set of coilovers to keep the rear planted. A six-point roll-cage further stiffens the modernized chassis. When the road gets twisty, the suspension comes to life with the aid of a power rack and pinion set up. reined in by the combination of 14-inch front and 13-inch rear Baer 6S stoppers, fed by braided hoses throughout. At the center of all that hardware is a TK0600 five-speed which allows authoritative shifts before channeling power back to a narrowed Dutchman 9-inch axle packed with 3.89 gears. Power meets the ground through a set of Fikse Profil 5S wheels which measure in at 18x7 up front 18x10 out back. Wrapped in BF Goodrich 265/35ZR18s up front and 295/35ZR18s out back, the wheels offer an aggressive look with the perfect amount of tire.

If you're the kind of guy that likes to get out and enjoy your cars to the fullest without sacrificing style, this understated black interior was practically designed for you. At the ground level, German square weave carpet with matching floor mats covers the floor, while a custom billet aluminum shifter tops the transmission tunnel. Front row seating is provided by a pair of vinyl-wrapped Recaro seats made safe by five-point G-Force harnesses, while access to the equally well-finished rear seat is largely blocked by the roll cage. The exterior's subtle custom work is continued onto the dash where the ashtray and cigarette lighter holes were filled before Vintage Air HVAC controls and a Pioneer DEH-X8500BS head unit were added. The stereo offers all the basic features plus built-in Bluetooth, Pandora internet radio control, and a USB input so you'll always have entertainment on hand. In front of the driver, a matte finish Covans panel hosts a full set of Autometer gauges, while a quick release Sparco wheel tops a tilt column. At either side, sleek custom door panels with white stitching and sleek black hardware match the custom black headliner and finished package tray. Despite all this, the car still weighs in under 2,900lbs – impressive no matter how you look at it

The sale of this stunning Nova includes a framed copy of its first Chevrolet High Performance feature alongside a Best of Show plaque from the Vicksburg Old Car Festival, and a 2013 Muscle Machine of the Year Finalist badge from Goodguys. The car was also one of 14 invited to Popular Hot Rodding's Muscle Car of the Year shootout and will appear on the cover of an upcoming issue of Popular Hot Rodding.

Spend enough time with this car and you'll soon realize this isn't some amateur build – it's a master's thesis. With the 660hp Mast Motorsports LS7, Tremec 5-speed, and stout suspension, you can fling this car down the drag strip and sling it around the autocross course with equal success, then turn around, kick the air conditioning on and cruise home in total comfort. If you can walk away from the car long enough to have it judged, you're all but guaranteed to go home with a few trophies as well. If you've had the pro-touring look and are ready for the pro-touring feel, step into this 1967 Chevrolet Nova and relearn what the movement is about. For bidder registration or just more information about RKM Collector Car Auctions, head over to www.rkmcca.com.