From the junkyard to jewelry...We are excited to present this collection made from a 1969 Chevy Nova.
We love a good junkyard find and we remember spotting the beautiful Chevy Nova part the day we were scouring the junkyard for metal. We were at a junkyard that would be closing forever in just a few weeks. The owner was retiring and everything was going to be scrapped and forgotten, for good. The Chevy Nova we found that day was just a hood, laying there among many long forgotten treasures, while the rest of the vehicle was nowhere in sight. It seemed to us that this metallic green gem was just waiting to be given new life and we felt honored to do so.
Pyper in the junkyard with the 1969 Chevy Nova hood
The Chevy Nova was first introduced to the market in 1962. Chevy needed a small, compact, economical car to compete with the popular Ford Falcon. From 1962-1967 the car was simply called Chevy ll. Only the high end, top trim model, the Chevy ll 400 series was called Nova at that time. Except for the higher end 400 series there was nothing fancy or exceptional about the Chevy ll's and that's what Chevy was going for, "maximum functionalism with thrift."
Throughout its production run the Chevy ll underwent several design changes and updates as the Nova evolved to reflect the trends of the times. In 1968 the Chevy ll was styled as a new compact with a semi fastback look. It featured bold styling and continued to offer potent engine options. Only two and four door sedans were now being offered while the convertibles, station wagons and hardtop coupes were no longer available. The Chevy ll name was also disappearing around that time as the car was being referred to as "Nova" in sales brochures. By 1969 the Chevy ll nameplate was gone and was replaced with "Nova by Chevrolet."
1968/69 brought big changes and the Nova was quickly becoming idolized as a muscle car. The 1968 version of the Chevy ll Nova went from a grocery getter and into the hearts of enthusiasts for its potential as a muscle car, thanks to its lightweight design and powerful engine options. Although production of the Chevy Nova ended in 1979, its legacy lives on among car collectors. Its simple yet robust design, combined with its association with the muscle car era, ensures that the Chevy Nova remains a cherished part of automotive history.