Hut Stricklin drives fast for a living: he's a superstar in the nation 's biggest, fastest, loudest sport -- NASCAR. With such a high-octane job, what does he do for fun when he's away from the track? That's easy: he slows down -- and rebuilds classic cars. And not just any old car -- the Chevy Nova is his vehicle of choice. Stricklin was born and raised in Alabama, where his parents owned a salvage yard. It was there that his lifelong passion for cars was born and nurtured. His first car was a 1966 Nova, which he began restoring years before he was even old enough to drive! But in a moment of weakness, he sold the car to a friend, who also subsequently sold it, and the final buyer totaled the vehicle. That made up young Stricklin's mind: he vowed that if he ever owned another Nova, he would hang on to it. His promise was kept, and today he owns three classic Novas (figure A), which are housed on his 180-acre cattle farm in North Carolina. Stricklin's pride and joy is a '67 Nova Super Sport (figure B), which still has the original engine (figure C). It was in bad shape when he bought it -- he had to buy two new front fenders and replace the driver's side door. He also bought a red '66 Nova -- despite the fact that it was lacking an engine. Completely restored, it now sports a Corvette engine (figure D)and a high-performance shifter (figure E). Auto Trivia: Although they're very common today, bucket seats were a special feature back in the '60s. One of the few cars that had them was the Super Sport.
RESOURCES :
The Cobra Story: A Man, His Dream and His Automobile
Author: Carroll Shelby and John Bentley
1965, Trident Press
Carroll Shelby website
Classic Car Restorer's Handbook: Restoration Tips and Techniques for Owners ...
Model: 1557881944
Author: Jim Richardson
Order this book from Amazon.com
H.P. Books
Classic Car Restoration Guide: The Complete Illustrated Step-By-Step Manual
Model: 1850108900
Author: Lindsay Porter
Order this book from Amazon.com
Haynes Publishing
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