You’ve probably heard the trope about how the Chevrolet Nova wasn’t sold in Latin America because the name translates to “it doesn’t go.” This is an urban legend that doesn’t go away considering the Latin word for “a star that suddenly increases its light output and then fades away to its former obscurity” is nova.
However, the vehicle known as the Chevy II and Nova to Americans was sold under a different name, and some of these cars showed up at a monthly meeting of the Club Amigos de Chevrolet Buenos Aires.
The Chevy II was introduced in Argentina as the Chevrolet 400 in 1962. Only four-door sedans were available though, starting in 1967, a Super Sport sedan was introduced. Aside of a more powerful 250 six and four-speed manual, the 400 Super Sport also received quad headlights, styling we never received on our shores. Base models featured dual headlights, including a sporty companion to the Super Sport called the Rally Sport, all with the straight-six.
Though production of this generation in the U.S ended in 1967, it continued into 1974 in Argentina. Meanwhile, in August 1969, General Motors de Argentina introduced a restyled Chevy II that was produced concurrent with the Chevrolet 400. However, the new vehicle was called the Chevy — that’s right, a Chevrolet Chevy. The four-door sedan was joined by a coupe, with Super Sport variants being available for both.
There also was an upscale Chevy Malibu four-door version, as well as a snazzy SS Serie 2 coupe, complete with sporty striping and, in later years, Oldsmobile Super Stock II wheels. The Chevrolet Chevy was produced through 1978, all the while keeping the U.S.-spec car’s 1968 styling, though over the years there were some unique styling (like parking lights on the outer edges of the grille) that differentiated these Argentinean vehicles from their American counterparts. A V8 was never available.
Pablo Andreacchio, member of Club Amigos de Chevrolet Buenos Aires and owner of a 1969 Chevrolet 400 Super, sent us pictures of the club’s June gathering at the Parque de la Ciudad in Buenos Aires, including some trucks.
Very interesting!
On the red quad light Nova, are those hood scoops common to any other GM or is it unique to those cars? They look a bit like a Skylark scoop. Love those cars!