Take a classic ’66 Nova, keep it clean outside, and stuff it with 1,000 horsepower and a top-shelf chassis. That’s the extreme approach Driven Speed Shop took with ‘Slick 66’, a build that mixes incredible power with surprisingly subtle looks to showcase a high level of custom craftsmanship.

Recently  featured on Autotopia LA, the build was completed over roughly four years. While Driven Speed Shop handled the core mechanical fabrication and assembly, SoCal Rods crafted the interior, paint and bodywork.

Mikey, from Driven Speed Shop, emphasized their shop focuses on “cars to use,” and this Nova, destined for owner Jeremiah in Texas, fits that bill. Jeremiah intends to follow through, as Mikey confirmed, “Jeremiah is going to drive this car … he’s going to let it eat.”

Power comes from a supercharged LS7 V8, which, according to Mikey, “did 1080 on the engine dyno on E85.” A 2.9 liter Whipple blower, fed cool air through custom 3D-printed air boxes, greatly contributes to that number. Handling that kind of grunt starts with a serious foundation. Driven Speed Shop opted for a full Roadster Shop Fast Track chassis instead of modifying the car’s stock chassis.

Getting the exterior look required extensive metalwork, including sharpening lines, shaving trim, flush-mounting glass, and hand-making the rear bumper and taillight panel. Inside, SoCal Rods handled the clean custom work. Mikey mentioned the dash design took inspiration from a “1965 Chevy C10 dash … double hump.”

Despite its immense power, the car manages impressive road manners. Sean Malek praised the drivability, saying “What a time we live in where you can be in a 1,000 horsepower ’66 Nova that looks like this, and has AC, and is comfortable, and works.” He did, however, confirm the engine’s potential, exclaiming it was “Still spinning a tire in third gear.”

Stuffing nearly 900 horsepower (engine dyno figures suggest over 1,000 potential horsepower) into a classic like this ’66 Nova certainly makes a statement about modern build potential. But is it too much for the street, even with a top-tier chassis underneath? Or is this exactly the kind of exciting machine American shops should build? We want to hear what you think!