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  A compact automobile introduced by General Motors in 1962, the Chevrolet Nova was originally called the Chevy II. It gave auto consumers a third size choice, falling between the compact Corvair and the full-size Chevrolet. In 1969, the Chevy II name was dropped and the car officially became known as the Chevy Nova. After a brief production hiatus from 1978 to 1984, the Nova returned in 1985 as a sub-compact vehicle. It was manufactured until 1988. The 1972 model year was part of Chevy's third generation of Novas; changes that year consisted only of minor trim differences.
  
  

Engine and Transmission

• The 1972 Chevy Nova base engine was a 4.1-liter in-line six, which displaced 250 cubic inches and generated 110 horsepower. Optional engines for 1972 included a 5.0-liter V-8 with 130 horsepower, a 5.7-liter V-8 with 165 horsepower, a 5.7-liter V-8 with either 175 or 200 horsepower and a 6.6-liter V-8 with 210 horsepower. A three- or four-speed manual transmission was standard on the Nova, with two optional transmissions: the Torque-Drive -- a rare, manually shifted semi-automatic -- or the Powerglide -- a two-speed automatic transmission.
  
  

Suspension and Brakes

• In 1972, the Chevy Nova's front independent suspension featured unequal-length A-arms, coil springs, tube shocks and an anti-roll bar. A solid axle, coil springs, tube shocks and a four-link Panhard bar made up the rear suspension. The steering was a recirculating-ball system with optional power assist. Four-wheel hydraulic drums with optional power assist made up the standard brake system. Front disc brakes were optional.
  
  

Exterior Styling and Dimensions

• Nova restyled their line in 1968; the result was a less boxy, more fluid and muscular design. A sliding fabric sunroof, known as the Skyroof, was added to the Nova halfway through the 1972 production year. In addition to the standard two-door and four-door SS coupe models, the 1972 Nova came in a Rally Sport edition, which included Rally wheels, a blacked-out grill, sport mirrors and black or white stripes that ran the length of the car and around the back. All 1972 models had a 111-inch wheelbase, a 189.4-inch overall length, a 72.4-inch overall width, a 52.6-inch height on the two-door model and a 53.9-inch height on the four-door model. The Nova weighed 2,975 lbs.