The town of Sturgis, South Dakota, is best known for its annual motorcycle rally, which draws hundreds of thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts to the area every August. My dad rode there once on his Honda Goldwing motorcycle and couldn’t say enough good things about the people, the atmosphere and the nearby attractions like the Black Hills National Forest.
As it turns out, Sturgis is a pretty good place for muscle cars, too:
Featured on AutoHunter is this 1966 Chevrolet Chevy II Nova Custom Coupe. The car is being sold by a private party in Sturgis, and the auction will end Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at 11:15 a.m. PDT.
Finished in Viper Red, the car has a two-door hardtop body style and has gone through a frame-off restoration. Features include a cowl induction hood, a driver’s-side mirror and chrome brightwork. Footwork comes from a set of 17-inch American Racing wheels wrapped in Nankang Sport NS-1 tires.
The second-generation Chevy II received a restyle on the General Motors X-body platform, and one of the most distinguishing characteristics was the new vertical taillight layout. The design was more squared-off than before, and influences were taken from the larger Chevelle and Impala. Consequently, in advertising, Chevrolet talked about how the car “looked” more high-end than it was. One magazine ad said, “Don’t let the expensive look frighten you. Come closer. It’s Chevy II. Relax, practical car lovers.”
The cockpit is trimmed with gray vinyl bucket seats and matching materials for the headliner, door panels and carpeting. AutoMeter gauges, a Lecarra steering wheel and a Kenwood audio system are among the updates to the interior. The odometer shows 884 miles, although true mileage is unknown (and the title reads mileage-exempt).
Now for the good stuff: Power comes from a professionally-built 406ci V8 mated to a TH350 three-speed automatic transmission. Upgrades include an Edelbrock 750cfm four-barrel carburetor, an Edelbrock aluminum intake, Hooker headers, a custom pulley system, MSD electronic ignition and an aluminum radiator with an electric fan. While horsepower is not advertised, it’s safe to say this combination yields a modest improvement over even the highest-power stock Nova drivetrain for 1966. Included in the AutoHunter listing is a cold-start video that gives us a small taste of how beastly the car sounds.
I’ve made it a life goal to own a Nova at some point, but I think it might have to be a third-generation example like my dad’s old 1968. That means I probably won’t be bidding against you on this 1966, as tempting as it looks. Have at it – and let me know how you like Sturgis when you go pick it up!
The auction for this 1966 Chevrolet Chevy II Nova Custom Coupe ends Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at 11:15 a.m. (PDT).
Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery