Building a Legend The Story of the South African Nova
In 1961, Chevrolet’s Clare MacKichan got the call to design a new compact car to take on the Ford Falcon. The job wasn’t glamorous, and the timeline was brutal—just 18 months from concept to production. MacKichan put it best: “There was no time for experimentation or doodling around with new ideas. It had to be a basic-type car.” And that’s exactly what the Nova was—a straight-shooting, no-frills sedan meant for families, not the race track. But fast-forward a decade, and the Nova’s story took a hard left turn into the world of speed.
Photography by Stefan de Koker
By the 1970s, South African racing legend Willie Hepburn saw untapped potential in this compact cruiser. Lightweight? Check. Simple design? Check. Room under the hood for something mean? Absolutely. Hepburn turned the unassuming Nova into a dragstrip contender, wringing out every ounce of performance it had. The car made its mark on the South African racing scene, but by the mid-‘80s, it was ready for a new chapter. Enter Mick van Rensburg—the godfather of South African drag racing.
Van Rensburg wasn’t about to let this Nova fade into obscurity. He rebuilt it, refined it, and kept it evolving. Like all great dragsters, it’s never really “finished.” A few years ago, another big name, driver Louwtjie van den Berg, took the reins, adding his own flair to the Nova’s storied legacy.
Let’s talk about what makes this Nova a bona fide beast. The first thing you notice is its attitude. The bright yellow paint screams for attention, while the massive blower sticking out of the hood warns you not to mess around. Those classic round headlights and the original family-sedan silhouette give it a quirky charm, but don’t be fooled. Underneath, this car is all business.
Pop the one-piece fiberglass front end, and you’re greeted by a 454 cubic-inch King Rat Bowtie engine. This isn’t just a powerplant; it’s a masterpiece. Dart aluminum heads? Check. Manley severe-duty valves? Got ‘em. Crane Cams mechanical roller camshaft? Absolutely. Inside, you’ve got Venolia pistons and aluminum connecting rods. The cherry on top? An Enderle mechanical fuel injection system topped with a Mooneyham blower—functional and drop-dead gorgeous.
Feeding this monster is an Enderle high-flow fuel pump delivering methanol racing fuel. The 9.5:1 compression ratio ensures this engine isn’t just high-powered—it’s on a hair trigger. The result? A screaming 1,700 horsepower, enough to make grown men giggle like kids.
All that power is harnessed by a custom chrome-moly suspension designed by van Rensburg himself. The front end borrows from a Corvette C4, keeping this featherweight monster planted and pointed straight. Out back, a 9-inch locked Ford differential handles the abuse like a champ. Shifting duties fall to a four-speed Lenco manual gearbox—because real drag racers don’t let the car do the work for them. Stopping power comes courtesy of Strange Engineering four-pot disc brakes, backed up by a custom parachute that’s as stylish as it is functional.
The details on this car are what set it apart. The grille isn’t metal—it’s painted on, courtesy of Johan van der Linde Jr. from Xpression Auto Body. The fiberglass front end, rear bumper, and custom rear wing keep weight down while maintaining that race-ready look. Even the plexiglass windows serve both form and function.
Inside, it’s all business. The dashboard is a bare-bones aluminum panel with a single oil pressure gauge. A racing seat and five-point harness are the only “comforts,” but who needs luxury when you’re strapped into a chrome-moly roll cage built to NHRA spec? Safety comes first, but speed is a close second.
Now, let’s talk numbers. This Nova can blast through the quarter-mile in 8.5 seconds, hitting 253 km/h. That’s right—a 50-year-old family sedan turned dragstrip dominator. It’s a car that’s earned its stripes, its scars, and its place in hot-rodding history. From humble beginnings to 1,700 horsepower, this Nova proves one thing: legends aren’t born—they’re built.
By the 1970s, South African racing legend Willie Hepburn saw untapped potential in this compact cruiser. Lightweight? Check. Simple design? Check. Room under the hood for something mean? Absolutely. Hepburn turned the unassuming Nova into a dragstrip contender, wringing out every ounce of performance it had. The car made its mark on the South African racing scene, but by the mid-‘80s, it was ready for a new chapter. Enter Mick van Rensburg—the godfather of South African drag racing.
Van Rensburg wasn’t about to let this Nova fade into obscurity. He rebuilt it, refined it, and kept it evolving. Like all great dragsters, it’s never really “finished.” A few years ago, another big name, driver Louwtjie van den Berg, took the reins, adding his own flair to the Nova’s storied legacy.
Let’s talk about what makes this Nova a bona fide beast. The first thing you notice is its attitude. The bright yellow paint screams for attention, while the massive blower sticking out of the hood warns you not to mess around. Those classic round headlights and the original family-sedan silhouette give it a quirky charm, but don’t be fooled. Underneath, this car is all business.
Pop the one-piece fiberglass front end, and you’re greeted by a 454 cubic-inch King Rat Bowtie engine. This isn’t just a powerplant; it’s a masterpiece. Dart aluminum heads? Check. Manley severe-duty valves? Got ‘em. Crane Cams mechanical roller camshaft? Absolutely. Inside, you’ve got Venolia pistons and aluminum connecting rods. The cherry on top? An Enderle mechanical fuel injection system topped with a Mooneyham blower—functional and drop-dead gorgeous.
Feeding this monster is an Enderle high-flow fuel pump delivering methanol racing fuel. The 9.5:1 compression ratio ensures this engine isn’t just high-powered—it’s on a hair trigger. The result? A screaming 1,700 horsepower, enough to make grown men giggle like kids.
All that power is harnessed by a custom chrome-moly suspension designed by van Rensburg himself. The front end borrows from a Corvette C4, keeping this featherweight monster planted and pointed straight. Out back, a 9-inch locked Ford differential handles the abuse like a champ. Shifting duties fall to a four-speed Lenco manual gearbox—because real drag racers don’t let the car do the work for them. Stopping power comes courtesy of Strange Engineering four-pot disc brakes, backed up by a custom parachute that’s as stylish as it is functional.
The details on this car are what set it apart. The grille isn’t metal—it’s painted on, courtesy of Johan van der Linde Jr. from Xpression Auto Body. The fiberglass front end, rear bumper, and custom rear wing keep weight down while maintaining that race-ready look. Even the plexiglass windows serve both form and function.
Inside, it’s all business. The dashboard is a bare-bones aluminum panel with a single oil pressure gauge. A racing seat and five-point harness are the only “comforts,” but who needs luxury when you’re strapped into a chrome-moly roll cage built to NHRA spec? Safety comes first, but speed is a close second.
Now, let’s talk numbers. This Nova can blast through the quarter-mile in 8.5 seconds, hitting 253 km/h. That’s right—a 50-year-old family sedan turned dragstrip dominator. It’s a car that’s earned its stripes, its scars, and its place in hot-rodding history. From humble beginnings to 1,700 horsepower, this Nova proves one thing: legends aren’t born—they’re built.
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