Final Repose by CoreyBlack
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Description
In scientist speak, the term "nova", if my feeble grasp of the terminology is correct, is the name of a complicated process where a star blows itself up. In the much more down to earth world of American automobiles, a Nova was a compact car manufactured by the Chevrolet Division of General Motors between 1962 and 1979. "Compact" being a relative term, and very era specific, considering that the Novas 111 inch wheelbase chassis, though smallish in its day, would now underpin something like a full-size Buick. Why anyone would want to name a car after an exploding star is a mystery to me, but that's why I don't work in marketing...
Novas, like most Chevys of the time, were extremely popular cars, and you would see them everywhere. Of course, more than 30 years after the last one rolled off the assembly line, Nova sightings (at least here in the Rust Belt) have become quite rare. I first discovered this 1971 model reposing behind a local car repair shop about 5 years ago. It was the first one I'd seen since the late 90s. I'm not sure how long it's been sitting there, but the license plates expired in 1992. This is the only Nova of any kind I've seen since discovering this particular one, and I was hoping somebody might try and fix it up. But considering how long it's been sitting, the shape it's in, and the fact that it's ultimately just a cheap mass produced Chevy, a restoration would be a fool's errand. At least it makes a nice subject for a rusty car picture if nothing else.
Photographed in the Albany Park area of Chicago on May 21, 2011.
Comments (15)
bmac62
Neat image of a 40 year old derelict. Hadn't thought about a Nova for many a year. Didn't realize they were gone so long. Just googled "Nova for sale" and they are still immensely popular for the motorhead crowd:) Like your narrative...exploding star! Bet that wasn't the idea the marketing boys wanted to portray:-)
auntietk
In the mid 80s the Nova was the same car as a Toyota Corolla. Weird stuff. I remember these older models, though. You got me curious, so I looked up 1971 Chevy Nova. You wouldn't believe how many of them are still around, all fixed up and still (or again) running! shakes head Boggles the mind. You're right about the rusty car shot though. This rocks!
durleybeachbum
SUPERB decompo compo!
jayfar
I think the light has gone out!!! Lovely capture.
kgb224
Superb capture my friend.
evinrude
Real character. Nicely composed.
Bothellite
That is indeed rusty ;( They don't waste any space parking there either. Nice nostalgia piece, yup, had one.
annie5
Great find..super capture! :)
Sea_Dog
I remember these NOVA ( Novae?) well. If I remember correctly they came in every model from plain-vanilla family hauler to tire-smoking Super Sport models. Sad in a way to see one end up like this. Great shot - I like the tight framing.
beachzz
I had a '62 Nova, white with red interior. It belonged to a friend of my mom's who smoked and took me one full day to clean what I thought was a tan headliner. It was white (ugh, can you imagine being in that car when she was driving??). Took gallons of soap and water, then I had to do the seats. By the time I was done, the car sparkled and you could breathe in it again. These days, the 66 is THE Nova to have and I see lots of them here in California. It's the muscle car of choice for those "old farts" (my son's term--he once asked me how come only "old farts" had cool cars. I told him it was because they were the only ones with the time and money to fix em up!!) who restore them, I'm sure they'd love to find one of these!!
flavia49
fabulous
sandra46
AMAZING COMPOSITION!
Chipka
I love this image, and technically, a nova is when a star burps and sheds its outer skin in a kind of star-skin bubble that looks fairly impressive and not like a car at all. I guess star-skin bubbles sound sufficiently impressive to automotive designers, and a bit safer than Supernova, which is a star that explodes. Bad name for a car unless you like automotive pyrotechnics. Anyway, enough of the science lecture. Especially since I like this photo. I remember when you were taking it and I remember thinking: "It's a damn shame what they did to that headlight!" I had no idea THAT was what you were capturing and what a surprise. I like it. The colors are nicely distressed too. And yeah, I'll say it again: It's a low-down, dirty, rotten shame what they did to that headlight.
danapommet
I don't like to see old cars just sitting, rusting and leaking fluids. They were once a working machine that proudly carried people, families, groceries and the family pets. Then they were turned over to the kids and accumulated more memories and still served a purpose in life. I'm not asking that it be buried, the day the end comes but recycle it before its dignity dies. I love this shot Corey - it tells a story - it had a life and a history. Dana
KatesFriend
The title "Requiem for a Prize Fighter" comes to mind as I look at its smashed out head light and think of the beating it once took. Perhaps, like the boxer of the famous TV play, this one took one last beating (in an accident). After which it just became a source of usable spare parts for surviving Novas. It's old former glory forgotten.