Lou Constable’s YouTube video series, “My Car Story,” features unique cars and their owners that the interviewer finds at different car shows around the country. Each one of these vehicles featured on Constable’s videos seems to have a story that is unique as the car itself. In this edition of Constable’s videos is the story of Ronson and Teri Burton’s 1963 Chevy II as told at the World of Wheels show in Rosemont, Illinois, March 11, 2015.
The Burton’s Atomic Bomb Orange 1963 Chevy II has over 10,000 hours in the build alone. Ronson explains that the couple have owned several Novas over the years but he’s never seen a ’63 Nova convertible built this way. Wanting to give it a try, they bought the vintage Chevy and started putting in the hours. Five years later the Burtons were ready to show it off.
Burton’s goal was to compete for the Detroit Autorama Chevrolet Performance Ridler Award. The Ridler Award has represented for over 50-years, the best of the best custom builds in the country. Careers have been launched or defined by winning the award. While the Burtons did not win the Ridler, they were awarded a “Great Eight.”
The “Great Eight” is defined after the final Ridler Contenders have been determined and the field is narrowed to eight finalists. These finalists are referred to as the Pirelli Tire “Great Eight.”
Ronson Burton claims that there are 110 modifications done to the Nova. Visually noticeable is the clean exterior look with no door handles of any kind. The drivetrain features a ZZ 454ci engine with a 350 Turbo Hydramatic transmission and a Strange 9-inch rearend.
The Burton’s Nova II is a great example of how Chevrolet should have built the Nova back in 1963 in the first place.