After decades of looking at 1/24 scale '63 Chevy SS wheelcovers on a 1/18 '63 Chevy Nova SS I finally decided to do something. I pirated true-1/18 scale SS wheelcovers from Welly's 1963 Impala and scale 14" whitewall tires from Revell's '65 Mustang, made a few shims & adapters, modified the spindle, drilled a few holes, cut here & there....
...and I now have a prototype. Let's see if I finish the other 3 wheels... I'm so lazy. 🙄 🙄
But I think you'll agree, the old Nova looks better.
It looks great and very attractive with the new wheel cover. I have a 1966 Nova from Ertl in yellow and a 1970 Nova SS from Maisto in maroon, and both are very nicely done. Back in the day, it seemed Novas were seen everywhere.
Some actually I recall were set up from the Chicago area dealer with big-block Chevrolet V-8 engines and I believe you bought them with the high-power motor on board. Nice !
Thanks guys - hopefully I'll finish the other 3 wheels and a few odds & ends and yes, this is a 6-banger SS.
Jack's info seems accurate. Like the rest of this Sunstar Nova, the engine compartment has "good bones." This entire model could be gone through with a "detail wand" and improved to a high(er) level. I probably paid $10 or less for this over 25 years ago.
It may well be a six-cylinder Nova replica here but I recall you could get 8 cylinder versions and I believe a couple of Chevrolet dealers offered a special edition of the automobile that featured an even larger V-8 specially fitted under the hood.
All 4 STUPID LOOKING wheels have now been replaced with in-scale 14" 1963 Chevrolet SS wheelcovers & whitewall tires - pirated from Revell's 1/18 1965 Mustang. There was LOTS of shim & drill work involved in this project, lots of Dremel action too! I also narrowed the F&R wheel tracks.
After 25 years of hiding this model (it was filthy before I cleaned it! ) I can FINALLY display it with pride. 😀
I believe both the Maisto 1970 and the Ertl 1966 Nova are badged as a small block Chevrolet V-8 engine .... respectively a 350 and a 327. I think the SunStar 1966 Novas may have been badged as a six-cylinder Turbo-Thrift motor, but I am not sure. The SunStar was available as a convertible. Any and all of these diecast automobiles are great to have in one's collection.
All 4 STUPID LOOKING wheels have now been replaced with in-scale 14" 1963 Chevrolet SS wheelcovers & whitewall tires - pirated from Revell's 1/18 1965 Mustang. There was LOTS of shim & drill work involved in this project, lots of Dremel action too! I also narrowed the F&R wheel tracks.
After 25 years of hiding this model (it was filthy before I cleaned it! ) I can FINALLY display it with pride. 😀
The pride is WELL earned Chris - brilliant job sir!
@jack-dodds Oh, oh Jack.... I hadn't ever given that any thought.
QUICK research revealed '63/'64 SS Novas had silver PAINTED rear coves, NOT silver METAL (3-piece inlay set ).
What I'm NOT clear about is why many pics of factory original '63/'64 SS Novas have UNPAINTED rear coves. None of Sunstar's '63 SS Novas have silver painted rear coves - but I guess that's OK.
Whew! That WAS close Jack - you ALMOST gave me something to worry about! 🤨 😯 🤨 It is a cool look though; you'll notice that my '63 Impala SS has that option. 😎
