While Jeremiah already knew the exact car he wanted to build, being able to pay for it presented the issue many of us are already familiar with. “My first 1966 Nova was a post car, but I sold it back in 2015 to fund the startup of my oil field distribution company, Total Depth Tools,” he states. “Once business started taking off, I finally had extra funds to acquire another 1966 Nova from my uncle’s lifelong friend, Tom Henline. [Henline] had owned this car since 1994 and I was able to buy it from him in 2017. It was originally set up as a Pro Street car with a hot stroker engine, but I wanted to do something different. I ordered a Roadster Shop chassis, a Wegner 427, a Bowler-prepped T-56, and shipped my Nova off to Driven Speed Shop in Gilbert, Arizona, to get started on the build I had always fantasized.”

Mikey Dascoli at Driven served as the main contact point and main builder of Jeremiah’s Nova. The first portion of the project was to remove the factory frame from the body and prep the Roadster Shop Fast Track chassis for assembly. Obviously, the new frame is designed for high-performance cars, which this Nova was quicky becoming. Once the frame was together, Dascoli dropped the Wegner LS7 engine between the ’rails and then custom built an impressive dual-sided air cleaner system, 3-inch headers, and an exhaust setup to boost the horsepower. Also helping in that department is a Whipple supercharger that Jeremiah was all-too excited about when he purchased it. That T-56 transmission from Bowler was soon mated to the 427 to complete an exhilarating drivetrain situation.

While all this work was being handled, the Nova’s shell was given a full body massage at Kandy Shop Creations in nearby Mesa, Arizona. It was here that all panels were straightened out and given some custom attention in the way of a smoothed and raised cowl, tucked bumpers, deleted trim and driprails, the body line being matched into the front bumper, flush-mounted glass, and a full custom dashboard. PPG Audi Daytona Pearl paint was then applied to the shell. Dascoli then took control of the reassembly process by adding his own custom grille, Dapper Lighting LED headlights, and Fesler taillights to properly update each end.

The interior then received a complete overhaul that now features a 1 1/2-inch DOM rollbar setup, and two-tone, leather-covered TMI seats, dash, and panels by Sew Cal Rods, in Ontario, California. A Holley Pro Dash displays the car’s vitals, and a booming sound system featuring Morel and JL Audio components makes for exciting playback of Jeremiah’s favorite jams. Of course, a Vintage Air climate-control system was a must-add to help beat the sweltering Texas summer heat.

“Seeing the car complete for the first time in 2024 when we unveiled it at Triple Crown of Rodding in Nashville was the best experience by far,” Jeremiah admits. “Even though [Dascoli] handled the entire build, a car of this caliber takes dedication from the builder and car owner with time and financial obligations on the line. The project took a little over four years to complete, but, man, it was worth the wait!”