Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ radiator

Car pics too cool not to share

LukesfirstJeep said:
That Nova looks very similar to the Chevy Spectrum, I once owned. Spectrums were rebadged Isuzu's. Mine was a turbo with ground effects package. One of the first pocket rockets.
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This excerpt from Wonkypedia sums up the chicanery (Spectrum is noted in 1985 section)...

Fifth generation (1985–1988)

The Chevrolet Nova nameplate returned in spring 1984 as a front-wheel drive subcompact vehicle for the 1985 to 1988 model years. It was assembled in Fremont, California, by NUMMI, a joint venture between General Motors and Toyota of Japan, resulting in various Corolla-based cars sold under General Motors brands, also referred to as the S-car within GM. It resurrected a name last used on the compact-sized rear-wheel drive 1979 Chevrolet Nova. The new Nova was a rebadged and mildly restyled Japanese market Toyota Sprinter, a model sold in Japan as a badge engineered version of the Toyota Corolla. Nova shared the Corolla's AE82 platform, 1.6 L (98 cu in) 4-cylinder engines and was available with 5-speed manual, 3-speed or 4-speed automatic transmissions. For the first time ever, quad headlights were used on the Nova (mimicking most other models at the time, such as the slightly-larger Chevrolet Cavalier). It was designed for manufacturability and reached an unusually high level of quality and production speed at NUMMI, compared to other US factories.

1985 model year

The 1985 Nova was initially offered only in a four-door three-box, notchback sedan body style and in the Midwestern states. A five-door hatchback was added shortly after its introduction, and the line was distributed throughout the US and Canada beginning around traditional new-model introduction time in the fall (as were the other Chevy imports, the Suzuki-based Sprint which had been first launched on the West Coast and the Isuzu-based Spectrum which had initially been available on the Eastern Seaboard and throughout New England and New York State). The only engine was a carbureted 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 74 horsepower (55 kW). It was paired with either a five-speed manual or three-speed automatic transmission. This was the same powertrain as offered in the Corolla. The four-door sedan listed for $7,435, a rather stiff tariff by Chevrolet standards. The five-door, which added a split-folding rear seat, started at $7,669. All Nova options were grouped into seven packages, which did away with the long list of optional equipment that accompanied cars like the Chevette, which offered nearly 30 options. However, adding one of the costlier packages could easily push the Nova's sticker to over $10,000.
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If I recall correctly, Ford had similar dealings with Mazda on some of their models, the Ranger pickup and Probe come to mind.
 
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LukesfirstJeep said:
That Nova looks very similar to the Chevy Spectrum, I once owned. Spectrums were rebadged Isuzu's. Mine was a turbo with ground effects package. One of the first pocket rockets.
Click to expand...

The base Nova of all years was an econobox. Nothing special until they were hopped up. I'm all for hot rodding everything.
 
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chili_pepper said:
This excerpt from Wonkypedia sums up the chicanery (Spectrum is noted in 1985 section)...



If I recall correctly, Ford had similar dealings with Mazda on some of their models, the Ranger pickup and Probe come to mind.
Click to expand...

I remember the Ford/Mazda exercise. You could buy a 2 door Explorer from Ford or Mazda, but not a 4 door Mazda.

My Sprectrum/I-Mark was economical, and fun to drive, but we sold an older 5 Series BMW to get it. Those two cars were not in the same league, except both were not very reliable :D
 
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chili_pepper said:
This excerpt from Wonkypedia sums up the chicanery (Spectrum is noted in 1985 section)...



If I recall correctly, Ford had similar dealings with Mazda on some of their models, the Ranger pickup and Probe come to mind.
Click to expand...

Speaking of Mazda, the original 626 is a forgotten (and rarely seen, these days) car that I have always loved. Very difficult to find anymore, though surely some must still exist. I love the styling, and they're rear wheel drive, to boot!
1768163654143.png

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And as for a Ford that's really a Mazda, I like these, especially in blue. But only the second gen, and only the trunk model, preferably without the rear spoiler. Biggest knock against them, IMHO, is the unfortunate name. I just think they'd be a decent daily driver, for some reason. Not terribly exciting by any stretch of the imagination, but I'd drive one, for a while, at least.
1768164643211.png
1768164744427.png
 
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ColoJeep said:
Now the down side would be trying to start one in the cold or real hot . But who could forget revving the crap out of one of them , and getting a giant backfire thats sound would rival a 30 - 06 in sound !

The best part is it was wrapped in full street sleeper mode.

View attachment 666026
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Love the background cars in that pic! '57 T-bird, '55 Ford Club Sedan, '63/'64 Cadillac, and what looks like might be a '65 Galaxie off to the far right. And is that a Vega Kammback I see?
 
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Squatch said:
Love the background cars in that pic! '57 T-bird, '55 Ford Club Sedan, '63/'64 Cadillac, and what looks like might be a '65 Galaxie off to the far right. And is that a Vega Kammback I see?
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On the baby wagen I was leaning more toward a VW 412 Wagen rather than the Kammback . However the photo isn't great so who knows .

OIP-2453173969.jpg
 
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