1962 Chevy Nova: A Classic Reborn in Noordhoek
When you think of iconic American muscle, the Chevy Nova is bound to come up. It’s a name that echoes through the halls of automotive history, but here in South Africa, spotting one is a rare treat—especially a two-door. Even SA HotRods magazine has only featured a handful of them. But David Szot-Myburg, a familiar face from his 1948 Chevy Pickup build, has brought something special to the streets of Noordhoek with this stunning 1962 Nova.
Photos by Melissa Maeder
Owner: David Szot-Myburg
Location: Noordhoek, Cape Town
David, a lifelong Hot Rod enthusiast, can’t seem to stop building cars, no matter how many times he tells himself the current project is the last. There’s always another car with potential—another project waiting to be transformed. And that’s exactly what happened with this Nova.
The Gumtree Find and the Vision
David found the car on Gumtree in April 2015, buying it from a seller in Bellville. At the time, it was a four-door, six-cylinder Nova in full running condition—a respectable car in its own right. In fact, it had already graced the pages of SA HotRods in 2012. But David had a bigger plan. He wanted to turn this modest four-door into a sleek, head-turning two-door.
The teardown began almost immediately. David, who works full-time, dedicates his evenings and weekends to these passion projects, doing most of the work himself. He avoids sandblasting to preserve the integrity of the metal, so he painstakingly hand-sanded the entire car. Though it wasn’t riddled with rust, the body had its fair share of dents, which he skillfully removed by hand.
From Four Doors to Two: The Conversion
The real challenge came when it was time to convert the car from a four-door to a two-door. Fortunately, sourcing parts wasn’t too difficult—David tapped into the vast American muscle car parts market, with many components readily available. He quickly discovered that the four-door and two-door versions of the Nova shared much of the same body structure, with pre-existing holes for the two-door panels.
When it came to the rear section, however, David went old school, hand-forming the panels to perfection. After many hours of meticulous bodywork, the Nova gleamed under a fresh coat of Duco 300 Black paint, capturing that classic Hot Rod aura.
Chassis, Suspension, and Brakes
With the bodywork done, it was time to tackle the mechanicals. David reinforced the chassis with custom bars to handle the extra power he planned to unleash. Up front, he swapped in a BMW E36 suspension, while the rear end was upgraded with a four-link setup imported specifically for the Nova. He shortened the differential to a 3.25 ratio to get the power to the pavement effectively.
Brakes were sourced from a BMW E36 for the front, with discs and calipers handling stopping duties. The rear received a unique touch—VW VR6 calipers paired with BMW discs, ensuring this Nova could stop as well as it could go.
Powering the Beast
No Hot Rod is complete without a proper engine, and David’s Nova is no exception. He found a 305 Chevy V8, a perfect fit for this build, and tore it down for a complete rebuild. Using new parts from Motown, including an Edelbrock intake and a 600 Holley carburetor, he brought this small block to life. The exhaust system was custom-built, with full headers and a dual 63mm stainless-steel setup from Roddy at Powerflow, giving the Nova a menacing rumble.
The original Turbo 350 automatic transmission was retained, providing a reliable and classic drivetrain for this street machine.
Interior and Finishing Touches
David turned his attention to the interior, swapping out the original bench seat for a pair of Toyota Camry buckets. The dash and center console were handcrafted and wrapped in luxurious tan leather by Rowan at Motor Trimmers & Upholsterers, adding a modern yet timeless feel to the cockpit. The gauges, all from AutoMeter, were seamlessly integrated into the dash, giving the driver a perfect view of the car’s vital stats.
The final touch came with the wheels—a set of 19-inch alloys from Good Hope Tyres, wrapped in 235x35x19 rubber at the front and meaty 265x40x19s at the rear, giving the Nova an aggressive stance that’s sure to turn heads wherever it goes.
What’s Next?
After three years of hard work, David’s Nova is a masterpiece of South African Hot Rodding. But, as any true car enthusiast knows, the journey never ends. David’s next project is already lined up—a 1974 Pontiac Firebird, which will undoubtedly be another showstopper.
Special Thanks
David would like to extend a big thank you to:
- His wife, Natalie, for all her help and support
- Frans Van der Merwe for the electrical work
- Ralph at Motown Auto Parts
- Rowan at Motor Trimmers & Upholsterers for the interior
- Roddy at Powerflow for the exhaust
This Chevy Nova is more than just a car—it’s a testament to David’s skill, dedication, and passion for Hot Rodding. And with that Firebird in the wings, we can’t wait to see what he builds next!
Owner: David Szot-Myburg
Location: Noordhoek, Cape Town
David, a lifelong Hot Rod enthusiast, can’t seem to stop building cars, no matter how many times he tells himself the current project is the last. There’s always another car with potential—another project waiting to be transformed. And that’s exactly what happened with this Nova.
The Gumtree Find and the Vision
David found the car on Gumtree in April 2015, buying it from a seller in Bellville. At the time, it was a four-door, six-cylinder Nova in full running condition—a respectable car in its own right. In fact, it had already graced the pages of SA HotRods in 2012. But David had a bigger plan. He wanted to turn this modest four-door into a sleek, head-turning two-door.
The teardown began almost immediately. David, who works full-time, dedicates his evenings and weekends to these passion projects, doing most of the work himself. He avoids sandblasting to preserve the integrity of the metal, so he painstakingly hand-sanded the entire car. Though it wasn’t riddled with rust, the body had its fair share of dents, which he skillfully removed by hand.
From Four Doors to Two: The Conversion
The real challenge came when it was time to convert the car from a four-door to a two-door. Fortunately, sourcing parts wasn’t too difficult—David tapped into the vast American muscle car parts market, with many components readily available. He quickly discovered that the four-door and two-door versions of the Nova shared much of the same body structure, with pre-existing holes for the two-door panels.
When it came to the rear section, however, David went old school, hand-forming the panels to perfection. After many hours of meticulous bodywork, the Nova gleamed under a fresh coat of Duco 300 Black paint, capturing that classic Hot Rod aura.
Chassis, Suspension, and Brakes
With the bodywork done, it was time to tackle the mechanicals. David reinforced the chassis with custom bars to handle the extra power he planned to unleash. Up front, he swapped in a BMW E36 suspension, while the rear end was upgraded with a four-link setup imported specifically for the Nova. He shortened the differential to a 3.25 ratio to get the power to the pavement effectively.
Brakes were sourced from a BMW E36 for the front, with discs and calipers handling stopping duties. The rear received a unique touch—VW VR6 calipers paired with BMW discs, ensuring this Nova could stop as well as it could go.
Powering the Beast
No Hot Rod is complete without a proper engine, and David’s Nova is no exception. He found a 305 Chevy V8, a perfect fit for this build, and tore it down for a complete rebuild. Using new parts from Motown, including an Edelbrock intake and a 600 Holley carburetor, he brought this small block to life. The exhaust system was custom-built, with full headers and a dual 63mm stainless-steel setup from Roddy at Powerflow, giving the Nova a menacing rumble.
The original Turbo 350 automatic transmission was retained, providing a reliable and classic drivetrain for this street machine.
Interior and Finishing Touches
David turned his attention to the interior, swapping out the original bench seat for a pair of Toyota Camry buckets. The dash and center console were handcrafted and wrapped in luxurious tan leather by Rowan at Motor Trimmers & Upholsterers, adding a modern yet timeless feel to the cockpit. The gauges, all from AutoMeter, were seamlessly integrated into the dash, giving the driver a perfect view of the car’s vital stats.
The final touch came with the wheels—a set of 19-inch alloys from Good Hope Tyres, wrapped in 235x35x19 rubber at the front and meaty 265x40x19s at the rear, giving the Nova an aggressive stance that’s sure to turn heads wherever it goes.
What’s Next?
After three years of hard work, David’s Nova is a masterpiece of South African Hot Rodding. But, as any true car enthusiast knows, the journey never ends. David’s next project is already lined up—a 1974 Pontiac Firebird, which will undoubtedly be another showstopper.
Special Thanks
David would like to extend a big thank you to:
- His wife, Natalie, for all her help and support
- Frans Van der Merwe for the electrical work
- Ralph at Motown Auto Parts
- Rowan at Motor Trimmers & Upholsterers for the interior
- Roddy at Powerflow for the exhaust
This Chevy Nova is more than just a car—it’s a testament to David’s skill, dedication, and passion for Hot Rodding. And with that Firebird in the wings, we can’t wait to see what he builds next!
Selling Price:
0.00
Sold:
Yes