RK Motors’ ’66 Nova SS Makes A Great Sleeper!

Of all the kinds of hot rods and muscle cars that are or have been built, sleepers are by-far among the most interesting. This is because sleepers, or “door-slammers,” have the kind of simplistic visual appeal that just can’t be found in a totally-cherry show car. The difference with sleepers is that they catch attention with their sense of minimalism, sacrificing show paint and outlandish chrome for minimal weight and tire-breaking performance.

Such is the appeal of this ultra-straight, ’66 Nova SS from RK Motors of Charlotte, North Carolina. Not at all flashy in appearance, the ’66 SS maintains the conservative bodylines that are typical of the early-to-mid ’60s, and the paint is an era-correct turquoise that is actually a code FF Marina Blue. Under the hood of the stout Nova is a supercharged, L82 small block with re-worked aluminum heads and a 4-bolt crank. The Vortech supercharger is the dominant feature of this L82 powerplant, and it force-feeds a max boost of 5psi to the 4-bolt small block, a 350-cube motor that produces neck-breaking power without advertising itself.

The number-one drawback with blown motors is that they run low-compression in order to prevent detonation, leaving the motor with very little powerband when the supercharger is not building boost. With a compression of 8.5:1, however, this L82 small block produces ample amounts of power all the way through, not “dogging” like most low-compression engines. But a large part of the car’s stout performance can be attributed to its super-tight, posi differential, which boasts a set of low, 4.10 gears. The car is a factory, 4-speed SS, and the Muncie M20 trans has been re-worked with a 12-bolt, limited-slip rear.

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The Nova’s interior has been re-worked in factory-correct, 737-code blue, and the factory-optioned console for the 4-speed is still intact, along with the original AM radio in-dash and a rear speaker. The Marina Blue, Nova SS is also a correct, code-11837 car with all of the original emblems intact, including the “Super Sport” emblems on the quarter panels, and the car’s cowl tag also indicates that the car was originally ordered with bucket seats.

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With factory-correct interior and a supercharger that hides itself under the hood, not many enthusiasts may stop at the first glance of this Marina Blue Nova SS. But from anyone who knows a good sleeper when they see it, this ’66 Nova from RK Motors should receive more than enough praise.