Reaching into the old-school bag of tricks, the car relies on a Jaguar independent rearend just like so many hot rodders did back in the day. A quad set of Aldan American coilovers ensure a modern ride that offers a combination of performance and comfort. Up front is a TCI subframe with GM spindles and Aldan coilovers to complete the premium driving experience. A set of subframe connectors tie it all together.

JFZ brakes take care of stopping duties out back while GM 11-inch rotors and four-piston calipers handle business up front.

To keep with the vintage ’60s style, a set of American Racing Torq Thrust IIs ride on all four corners (17×7 front, 18×7 rear) wrapped in BFGoodrich g-Force rubber (205/45R17 front, 245/45R18 rear). It’s a time-honored method that stays true to the car’s pedigree.

Shifting duties come by way of an ’80s vintage T5 World Class five-speed transmission backed up with a Centerforce clutch.

Touring the inside reveals more time-period correctness with stock-appearing bits, including the black loop carpet, door panels, and black vinyl-covered bucket seats. The stock dash made way for modern VDO gauges perched inside the VDO insert and a Billet Specialties steering wheel adds some pizazz, doing little to dilute the classic scene while the Hurst shifter continues the old-school performance notion.

The car was painted prior to Tom taking ownership, but the photos reveal stellar bodywork was performed in a way that conceals any notion of imperfections along the Nova’s fluid, black shell.

Tom’s had and continues to relish great experiences with the car and enjoys what he calls its go-kart-handling ability. “But when the hood’s open at car shows and people look at what they think is a true Corvette injection system that’s the biggest compliment, Tom tells. “I put a lot of work into the process of getting the Ram Jet EFI to work properly while employing the illusion of a functioning Rochester. What that said, it’s well worth the reactions when I tell them what it really is.”

It’s common for anyone who puts a good amount of sweat equity into a car to rethink the process and do something just a little differently, but Tom sticks to his guns and said if he had the chance to do it all over again, he wouldn’t change a thing.

With so many builds emulating a familiar tone underhood, it’s refreshing when someone comes along and takes a totally different lane when it comes to building a garden variety small-block and gives it an appearance of something more with an array of innovation that takes a car back in time. In this case it’s an era in which Tom has so many fond memories.