A 1966 Chevy II Nova's Service: From Military Life to Classic Revival
Posted by D. Brian Smith: Eric Peniata, owner and writer on Jun 29th 2026
This 1966 Chevrolet Nova was purchased brand new at De Anza Chevrolet in Riverside, California, in 1966 by Chad and Ruth Manion. It was a 50-year journey through American military history. As the wife of a high-ranking U.S. Air Force officer, Ruth and her husband Chad transported their Nova from base to base across the country and overseas.
Well Traveled 1966 Chevy II Nova
Above: The original 283 SBC engine is now equipped with a FiTech 300005 EFI system, Holley mid-mount serpentine system, CPP 400 power steering conversion, Vintage Air Gen 5 A/C kit, Afco Radiator with dual 12" SPAL electric cooling fans, stock exhaust manifolds, 2.5" custom stainless dual exhaust, and Black Widow Race Venom mufflers. A Wilwood compact manual master cylinder supplies brake fluid to the vastly improved four-wheel CPP disc brake system. (DBS note: The 1966 Chevy II Nova's current owner, Eric Peniata, provided so many great archival photos and recounted the tale of this Nova so well that his words encompass the article's body copy. The captions are from DBS, aka the humble scribe.)
Above: Dakota Digital RTX instrument cluster
Above: Parts Unlimited Interiors 1966 Chevy II Nova seat covers
Above: Ruth and Chad Manion, the 1966 Chevy II Nova's original owners (Thank you for your service! - photo courtesy of Eric Peniata)
The car lived at March AFB (CA) to Cannon AFB (NM), overseas to RAF Lakenheath (England), then Maguire AFB (NJ), Kentucky, and finally Mableton, Georgia. In 1974, the car was refinished red, the same paint it proudly wears today. For 50 years, Ruth drove it. Garage kept, preserved and loved.
When Ruth could no longer drive in 2016, the family sold the car to classic car dealer Smoky Mountain Traders in Tennessee, where it was purchased, sight unseen by Mike Stuart and shipped to Barstow, California.
Above and below: '66 Chevy II Nova at RAF Lakenheath (England) - photos courtesy of Eric Peniata
Above: Fun times for the Manion family at Maguire Air Force Base New Jersey (photo courtesy of Eric Peniata)
Above: Ruth Manion with her car in Mableton, GA (photo courtesy of Eric Peniata)
Above: '66 Chevy II Nova for sale at Smoky Mountain Traders, circa 2016 (photo courtesy of Eric Peniata)
Above and below: Eric Peniata and Mike Stuart shake on the deal (photos courtesy of E.P.).
Above: Church Boys Racing upper and lower control arms with 2" drop spindles and Viking dual-adjustable shocks and CPP front disc brakes greatly improve the Nova's handling and stopping abilities, in combination with the Nitto 555 G2 225x40x18 radial tires wrapping the Rocket Racing Attack 18x7-inch wheels.
Above: Rocket Racing Attack 18x8-inch rear wheels are shod with Nitto 555 G2 245x40x18 radial rubber. Eaton multi lowered leaf springs and Viking double adjustable shocks hang the original 8.2-inch, 10-bolt differential/rear axle that has 3.3:1 gearing. CPP disc brakes now stop the rear meats from spinning most competently and quickly.
Over seven years, Stuart added only 2,000 miles, storing it in a climate-controlled shop.
A Facebook Marketplace listing forwarded by my mother changed everything. I am a Southern California Fire Captain in Riverside (unknown of the cars origin from De Anza Chevrolet of Riverside at the time of purchase), arrived with his father and son to see the Nova in person. It was meant to be. I jumped on this deal of a lifetime. I had been shopping close to a year to find something like this and was seriously looking at one out of state when I found this one just a couple hours away.
Above: That's a RetroSound head unit stereo installed above the Vintage Air Gen 5 A/C controls and vents.
The Nova still retains its original 283 small-block with approximately 140,000 miles and its original two-speed Powerglide transmission. Rather than tearing it apart, I took a different approach.
Honor the history. Improve the reliability. Drive it.
Above and below : Dash and interior before (E.P. photos)
The transformation began inside. The factory instrument panel was replaced with a Dakota Digital RTX system vintage appearance with modern precision. PUI interior components restored the cabin’s proper 1966 look, including new seat covers, panels, handles, window cranks, rebuilt regulators, fresh seals, and matching carpeted floor mats. Audio received a subtle modern upgrade with a RetroSound head unit, kick panels, speaker tray, mixed Kicker and RetroSound components, and dual under-seat subwoofers all hidden cleanly within the classic aesthetic.
Above: Here's how the 283 cubic inch V8 looked when Eric purchased the Nova (E.P. photo).
Under the hood, the original 283 remains, cleaned and detailed. The engine bay was refinished in satin black and motor in Chevrolet orange and upgraded with FiTech EFI for drivability. A Holley mid-mount serpentine system modernized accessory drive, and power steering was added for everyday comfort. A GEN 5 Vintage Air ensures Southern California summers aren’t a punishment. Cooling comes courtesy of dual SPAL electric fans. The stock exhaust manifolds remain, feeding into a 2.5-inch stainless dual system capped with Black Widow Race Venoms subtle at cruise, alive under throttle.
Suspension upgrades came from Church Boys Racing upper and lower control arms paired with Viking dual-adjustable shocks. Competition Engineering subframe connectors stiffen the chassis, while Eaton multi-leaf rear springs dial in stance and drivability. The Nova now sits perfectly over 18-inch Rocket Racing wheels finished in a custom two-tone powder coat.
Above and below: The owner sometimes cruises to the famous Donut Derelicts' early Saturday morning Cars & Coffee gathering in Huntington Beach, CA, aka Surf City U.S.A.! - E.P. photos
It's not a show car. It's not a trailer queen. And that’s exactly the point.
I've added close to 6,000 miles since purchasing it and frequently driving between San Clemente and Huntington Beach to visit Classic Industries. The majority of restoration components came from their catalog - proof that these cars survive not because they’re stored, but because parts are available and owners care enough to use them.
Parts Unlimited Interiors
There are an abundance of interior components available for the 1966 Chevy II Nova available from Parts Unlimited Interiors, as this article so accurately shows. Those new seat covers are from PUI. How great is that? Pretty pristine and great!
