That incident ended up changing Norman’s mind about his “last hot rod.” You see, there was something else out there that would bring him to the realization that his hot rodding story was far from over. Turns out another muscle ride was going to continue his saga by stealing his heart and getting him back in the garage to create some more motorized magic.
Like many of us, Norman grew up in a car-infatuated family. “My dad had a gas station/auto repair shop in New Jersey. I spent a lot of time there with my dad and began helping him out. I started by washing tires on cars that came in for service. At 14, he bought me my first car: a ’40 Ford sedan. By then I was already doing tune-ups, brake jobs, and suspension work at the shop,” Norman says.
Over the years, Norman ran through several choice hot rods. One of his first was a ’33 Ford Vicky built with a Chevy 400ci heartbeat. “I sold that ride to build my Minotti-bodied ’37 Ford coupe,” Norman recalls. “While I was working on that hot rod I couldn’t be without a car to cruise so I bought a ’38 Ford sedan to use in the meantime.” Once the ’37 Minotti was complete, Norman drove the wheels-off of it, racking up 50,000 miles over his eight years of ownership.
Vehicle: ’72 Chevy Nova
Type: LS3
Displacement: 6.2L
Compression Ratio: 10.7:1
Bore: 4.065
Stroke: 3.622
Cylinder Heads: Stock L92 style with rectangular intake port, aluminum alloy
Rotating Assembly: Stock nodular iron crank, powdered metal connecting rods, cast-aluminum alloy pistons
Valvetrain: Investment cast roller trunion rockers, 2.165 intake/1.590 exhaust valves
Camshaft: Stock hydraulic roller
Induction: Magnuson supercharger, stock aluminum intake manifold, 90mm throttle body
Engine Management: Speartech wiring harness with GM computer
Exhaust: Ultra long-tube headers, custom stainless steel exhaust with X-pipe, and Borla mufflers
Ancillaries: Walbro fuel pump, Aeromotive fuel pressure regulator, and filter
Output: 470 rwhp
Transmission: 6L80E
Rear Axle: 9-inch rearend with John’s Industries centersection
Front Suspension: Art Morrison front subframe with Corvette C6 upper and lower control arms, spindles, and hub bearings, power rack-and-pinion steering, Strange coilover shocks, Art Morrison front sway bar
Brakes: Wilwood six-piston calipers, 13-inch rotors front; Wilwood four-piston calipers with 12-inch rotors rear; Integral emergency brake; Wilwood master cylinder with hydro tech Hydro-Boost
Wheels: American Torq Thrust IIs; 17×8.5 front, 18×10 rear
Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport; 235/45R17 front, 255/45R18 rear
Upholstery: E3 Upholstery (Pompano Beach, FL)
Material: Black leather
Seats: Reshaped stock
Steering: Custom Billet Specialties 15-inch steering wheel
Shifter: ’10 Camaro
Dash: Carbon-fiber bezel
Instrumentation: AutoMeter
Audio: Kenwood stereo with Infinity speakers
HVAC: Vintage Air
Bodywork: Elite Auto Works (Miami, FL)
Paint By: Elite Auto Works
Paint: PPG black
Hood: Steel 2-inch steel cowl
Grille: Stock
Bumpers: Stock