There's a great deal of time and money wrapped up in this gorgeous 1972 Nova SS tribute, ranging from the attractive dark red bodywork to the snarling small block under the hood. It's the kind of car that experienced street racers watch out of the corner of their eye, knowing that it's a legitimate threat at the Stop Light Grand Prix.We'll be the first to admit that this isn't an original SS, but by 1972, it wasn't much of a performance package anyway. Instead, what this one offers is a traditional performance look backed by legitimate horsepower, not smoke and mirrors like the factory was peddling in '72. The burgundy paint looks great on the compact Nova and they were quite thorough with their installation of all the correct SS badges and trim pieces so the final effect is quite convincing. And kudos to the builder for keeping a stock hood, the kind with the cool chrome inserts, which sets this one apart from the others with their oh-so-ordinary cowl induction setups. The finish was done a few years ago and isn't perfect, but if you want an attractive Nova that needs no fussing and doesn't mind rolling up its sleeves and getting busy on the street, this is an excellent choice. It's no secret that these cars lend themselves quite well to performance-oriented makeovers, and while it's a bit subtle, this one looks fast, which was entirely the point. The fact that it's also clean and solidly built is only icing on the cake.Where the bodywork was neatly restored to emulate a factory-style SS, the interior got a legitimate performance upgrade. The attractive high-back tan buckets are a striking contrast and actually look a lot more performance-oriented than you'd expect from anything built in 1972. Matching door panels and dash pad keep it bright and airy inside, and the red carpets tie it all together quite nicely. Novas didn't offer much in terms of gauges when they were new, so this one now carries a full set of auxiliary gauges in a cool custom console that has a factory look. And you'll also note that this car has factory A/C, which is complete but in need of a recharge, as well as a newer AM/FM/CD stereo system for cruising and a tilt column with a late-model leather wheel. The trunk is finished with spatter paint and a full-sized spare with jack assembly.A glance under the hood tells you all you need to know about this Nova's real identity. It's a built 350 with the usual upgrades so it's a strong runner but reliable. Edelbrock supplied both the intake and carburetor and there's a factory-style HEI ignition system to light it up. Long-tube headers enhance torque production and sound gnarly, and finned valve covers add a racy look. Power steering and brakes make it feel nimble on the street, and the quick-shifting 4-speed manual transmission drives a 10-bolt rear end. Original-style Rally wheels wear polished trim rings and spinners, just to dress things up a bit, and are wrapped in fat Goodyear Eagle radialsHandsome and fast, this Nova doesn't have to pretend to be something it's not, it's already better. Call today!