1971 Nova Parts and Restoration Information

Introduced in 1971, the Rally Nova was a new offering for buyers who wanted the appearance of a muscle car, but without the hassles associated with owning a muscle car during this era of increased insurance premiums and fuel scarcity.

Many manufacturers were forced to lower the compression on their powerful motors from previous model years, due to new requirements for unleaded fuel and increased fuel efficiency, which drastically reduced horsepower and torque ratings. Rather than focus on performance, the Rally Nova was a loud statement that featured full racing stripes, Rally Nova stickers and badging, as well as Rally wheels. Overall, 7,700 Rally Novas were built during 1971.

Another popular Nova model for 1971 was the Super Sport. Although there were minimal changes to the styling between 1970 and 1971 (such as the removal of the front fender vents), the overall performance of the Super Sport also took a hit as Chevrolet had removed the optional big block 396 V8 from the Nova lineup.

Despite this change, Chevrolet still produced 7,015 Super Sport Novas during the 1971 model year. However, overall sales were down from the 19,558 Super Sports produced for 1970, likely a combination of the many factors at play during this transitional period of the American automotive industry.


1971 Nova Brochure


1971 Nova Model Options

 
Body Styles & Model Options:
  • Coupe
  • 4-Door Sedan
 
Engine Options:
  • L22 – Turbo-Thrift 250 | 250ci | 145hp L6
  • L14 – Turbo-Fire 307 | 307ci | 200hp V8
  • L65 – Turbo-Fire 350 | 350ci | 245hp V8
  • L48 – Turbo-Fire 350 | 350ci | 270hp V8
 
Available Transmissions:
  • Powerglide
  • 4-Speed Manual
  • 3-Speed
  • Torque-Drive
  • Turbo Hydra-Matic
 
Production Numbers:
  • Nova: 194,878
    • 2-Door Coupe: 0
    • 2-Door Convertible: 0
    • 2-Door Hatchback: 0
    • 2-Door Sedan: 143,235
    • 4-Door Sedan: 51,643
    • 4-Door Wagon: 0
    • Super Sport: 7,015
 
Dimensions & Capacities:
  • Length: 189.4 in / 15.78 ft
  • Width: 72.4 in / 6.03 ft
  • Height:
    • 2-door Sedan: 52.5 in / 4.37 ft
    • 4-Door Sedan: 53.9 in / 4.48 ft
  • Wheelbase: 111 in / 9.25 ft

 

1971 Nova Engine Codes & Specs

Available Engine Specifications

Type

Size

Carb

RPO

Horsepower

Torque

Bore & Stroke (in.)

Compression Ratio

L6

250ci

1x1bbl

L22

145 hp @ 4200 RPM

235 lb-ft @ 1600 RPM

3.875 x 3.53 8.5:1

V8

307ci

1x2bbl

L14

200 hp @ 4600 RPM

300 lb-ft @ 2400 RPM

3.875 x 3.25 8.5:1

V8

350ci

1x2bbl

L65

245 hp @ 4800 RPM

350 lb-ft @ 2800 RPM

4.000 x 3.48 8.5:1

V8

350ci

1x4bbl

L48

270 hp @ 4800 RPM

360 lb-ft @ 3200 RPM

4.000 x 3.48 8.5:1
6 Cylinder Engine Codes
Code

Size / Carb

HP / RPO

Transmission

Notes

250

       
CAA

250 cid 1x1bbl

145 hp L22

3-Speed Manual

CAB

250 cid 1x1bbl

145 hp L22

Powerglide or Torque Drive

CCI

250 cid 1x1bbl

145 hp L22

3-Speed Manual

CCL

250 cid 1x1bbl

145 hp L22

3-Speed Manual

8 Cylinder Engine Codes
Code

Size / Carb

HP / RPO

Transmission

Notes

307

       

CCA

307 cid 1x2bbl

200 hp L14

3-Speed Manual

CCC

307 cid 1x2bbl

200 hp L14

Powerglide

350

       

CGA

350 cid 1x2bbl

245 hp L65

3-Speed Manual

CGB

350 cid 1x2bbl

245 hp L65

Powerglide

CGC

350 cid 1x2bbl

245 hp L65

TH350

CGK

350 cid 1x4bbl

270 hp L48

Manual

CGL

350 cid 1x4bbl

270 hp L48

TH350

CJD

350 cid 1x4bbl

270 hp L48

TH350

CJG

350 cid 1x4bbl

270 hp L48

4-Speed Manual

Click here for further engine decoding information

1971 Nova Transmission Codes

Code

Description

Engines

Assembly Plants

R3

3-Speed

L6, V8

S = Muncie

WT

4-Speed

V8

P = Muncie

TL

Torque Drive

L6

A = Cleveland

TH

Powerglide

L6

C = Cleveland | E = McKinnon

TJ

Powerglide

V8

C = Cleveland | E = McKinnon

HW

TH350

V8

B = Cleveland | Y = Toledo

Click here for further transmission decoding information

1971 Nova Rear Axle Ratio Codes

Code Axle Ratio

Notes

BL

3.07:1

Open 12-bolt

BM

3.31:1

Open 12-bolt

BR

3.07:1

Positraction 12-bolt

BS

3.31:1

Positraction 12-bolt

PI

2.56:1

Open 10-bolt

PJ

2.56:1

Positraction 10-bolt

PO

3.08:1

Open 10-bolt

PR

3.08:1

Positraction 10-bolt

GJ

2.56:1

Open 10-bolt

GK

2.56:1

Positraction 10-bolt

GR

3.08:1

Open 10-bolt

GS

3.08:1

Positraction 10-bolt

GT

3.36:1

Open 10-bolt

GW

3.36:1

Positraction 10-bolt

Click here for further rear axle decoding information

1971 Nova Factory Options

Regular Production Option (RPO)

RPO Description Units
AK1 Deluxe belts & harness front 13,617
AS4 Rear seat shoulder harness – deluxe 65
A01 Tinted Glass – all windows 84,513
A51 Front bucket seat – Strato type 6,399
B37 Floor mats 18,623
B84 Body side molding 60,249
B90 Door and window frame molding 22,386
B93 Door edge guards 41,429
C08 Exterior soft trim roof cover 37,555
C50 Rear window defroster 9,456
C60 Air Conditioning – deluxe 49,257
D33 Outside mirror – remote control 11,279
D34 Vanity visor mirror 2,907
D55 Front compartment floor console 6,493
F40 Special heavy duty front & rear suspension 15,238
F41 Special performance front & rear suspension 1,370
G80 Rear axle – Positraction 9,117
JL2 Disc brakes front 15,988
J50 Vacuum power brake equipment 25,656
L22 L6 engine – 250 96,756
L48 V8 engine – 350 7,016
L65 V8 engine – 350 2-bbl 18,273
MB1 Torque-drive transmission 2,993
M11 3-speed Floor shift transmission control 16,998
M15 3-speed manual transmission 31,676
M20 4-speed manual transmission 3,950
M35 Powerglide transmission 126,921
M38 3-speed automatic transmission – TH350 71,810
NK2 Deluxe steering wheel 485
NK4 Sport steering wheel 2,603
N40 Power steering 150,002
PK8 E78-14/B tires – whitewall 112,333
PL1 E70-14-4 PR tires – B/B white stripe 7,498
PL3 E78-14/B tires – whitewalls – 2X2 53,568
P01 Wheel trim cover 93,065
P02 Deluxe wheel trim cover 705
P06 Wheel trim ring 21,331
T60 Heavy duty battery 7,666
U17 Front compartment console instrument cluster 1,680
U35 Electric clock 7,216
U63 Radio – AM push button 218,290
U69 Radio – AM/FM push button 4,133
U76 Windshield antenna 228,390
U80 Auxiliary speaker 12,490
V01 Heavy duty radiator 5,782
V30 Front & rear bumper guards 5,845
YD1 Axle for trailering 235
YF1 Rally package 7,700
ZJ1 Custom interior package 14,243
ZJ2 Custom exterior package 9,527
ZJ3 Interior convenience package 37,374
ZJ5 Exterior decor package 68,801
ZJ7 Special wheel, hub cap and trim ring (Rally wheel) 27,211
ZJ9 Auxiliary lighting group 5,613
Z26 Super Sport 7,015
751 Interior trim – black vinyl 33,207
753 Interior trim – black vinyl 4,915
757 Interior trim – dark green vinyl 16,006
760 Interior trim – dark green vinyl 18,987
763 Interior trim – vinyl 28,500
764 Interior trim – vinyl 3,345
956 Color combination two-tone 3,362
960 Color combination two-tone 2,210
968 Color combination two-tone 1,778
969 Color combination two-tone 2,325
971 Color combination two-tone 1,140
977 Color combination two-tone 2,104

1971 Nova Cowl Tag Information

1971 Nova Example Cowl Tag & Breakdown

1971 Nova

The Cowl Trim Tag, located on the cowl area identifies significant information about your car. 

Click here for further cowl tag decoding information

Line 1: Year, GM Division, Model & Body, Assembly Plant, Sequence Number

Year

GM Division

Model Series

Body Code

Assembly Plant

Sequence Number

71 = 1971

1 = Chevrolet

13 = Nova, L6

27 = 2-Door Sedan

WRN = Willow Run, MI

Starts at 100001

   

14 = Nova, V8

69 = 4-Door Sedan

   

Line 2: Trim and Paint

Interior Trim

Exterior Paint (Lower/Upper)

750 = Black Cloth Bench (Standard)

11 = Antique White

751 = Black Vinyl Bench (Standard)

13 = Nevada Silver

752 = Black Cloth Bench (Custom)

19 = Tuxedo Black

753 = Black Vinyl Bench (Custom)

24 = Ascot Blue

754 = Black Vinyl Buckets

26 = Mulsanne Blue

756 = Dark Blue Cloth Bench (Standard)

42 = Cottonwood Green

757 = Dark Blue Vinyl Bench (Standard)

43 = Lime Green

759 = Dark Jade Cloth Bench (Standard)

49 = Antique Green

760 = Dark Jade Vinyl Bench (Standard)

52 = Sunflower Yellow

761 = Dark Jade Cloth Bench (Custom)

53 = Placer Gold

763 = Light Sandalwood Vinyl Bench (Standard)

61 = Sandalwood

764 = Light Sandalwood Vinyl Bench (Custom)

62 = Burnt Orange

767 = Dark Saddle Vinyl Buckets

67 = Classic Copper

 

75 = Cranberry Red

 

78 = Rosewood Metallic

 

A = White Vinyl Roof

 

B = Black Vinyl Roof

 

C = Dark Blue Vinyl Roof

 

F = Dark Brown Vinyl Roof

 

G = Dark Green Vinyl Roof

Line 3: Build Month and Week

Month

Week

01 = January

A = First Week

02 = February

B = Second Week

03 = March

C = Third Week

04 = April

D = Fourth Week

05 = May

E = Fifth Week

06 =June

 

07 = July

 

08 = August

 

09 = September

 

10 = October

 

11 = November

 

12 = December

 

Disclaimer
The numbers have been compiled from many sources to make these pages as correct as possible. There is no guarantee that the numbers are complete or accurate, therefore, we cannot accept any liability or responsibility for damages incurred from the use of this information.

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