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This is the third iteration of Chevrolet’s Nova from the Danbury Mint. Two of them are 1970 model year cars while this one is of 1969 vintage. The release also marks the third “Yenko” to be offered from Connecticut and the second such Nova version. The third DM Yenko wears a Camaro uniform. The Novas, to date, were equipped with and powered by the venerable 396 and killer 427 big block bullets. But this little small block street bully comes with a grudge in its engine pocket the size of a 350 and has an attitude like a northbound wolverine with a burr in his south end.
I’ll never tire of these DM Yenko scale diecast offerings. Pretty rare in 1:1 form, they’re as close as I’ll ever get to owning one. The “Deuce” adaptation is scarce by anyone’s measure. Getting it’s moniker from the days when the car was titled, “Chevy II” or in the top of the line model trim, “Chevy II Nova”, the Deuce harkens back to the good old days when a ’32 Ford hot rod was termed “deuce”. And make no mistake; the Nova Deuce was a modern day hot rod in its own right. Yenko made but 175 1970 Nova Deuce package cars. They had options of a Dixco Yenko hood tachometer and Magnum 500 wheels. AM radios came with them from the factory as part of the Special Interior Grouping, a four-speed Muncie tranny or the Turbo 400 auto was added and so were power brakes; discs in front, a 4:10 posi rear, dual exhausts and rubber floor mats with a church-righteous front bench seat completing the option. This baby dons a Fathom Blue metallic exterior with black interior and the Yenko Deuce name emblazoned on the inside door panels. Being designated as a LT/1, it carried some radical, especially for its time, white striping. Very intricate, DM nailed every nuance of it. From the front of the car the stripes start off small and get progressively more aggressive as they become emboldened and flair up and over the trunk lid. They are flanked on the lower end by two pin stripes that run the entire length of the pattern with their big brother. In pure white, they form a bright contrast to the dark blue paint. DM keeps the stripes laser straight and where the three stripes merge into the, “LT/1” brand on the hood and out of the, “Yenko Deuce” proclamation on the rear fender area, the alignment is flawless. “Deuce” is spelled out in small block letters on the hood edge and finishing the badging treatment are metal photo-etch emblems scattered over the car. Chevy’s, “350”, “Nova” and Yenko’s own branding, along with that of Hurst, of shifter fame, are represented in photo-etched miniature in perfect scale.
DM’s continuation of hi-tech features and parts are readily evident in such essentials as the internal door hinges, hood scissors spring assemblies, complete chassis, engine bay, interior and trunk detailing. The trunk has the prerequisite speckled trunk; DM learned a while ago to get that exact. Spare, jacking accessories and instructional labeling is all present. The interior is up to and beyond precision detailing. Dash, steering wheel, door panels, seats, belts and my gosh, even radio speaker simulation, is all superbly defined. Engine bays, a DM detailing forte, is alive and very well in this little fella. Go ahead, pop that hood why doncha. Gaze in there for a few minutes; bet you it becomes a half hour before you stop. Why shouldn’t it? You have the unbelievably incredible power brake and master cylinder detail with flex tubing to simulate the genuine article, albeit three decades after the fact. The color-code hood tach wiring is present and accounted for. The plumbing, cabling and wiring are true DM-inspired wonders of model-art. Labeling adds that special extra something to the mix and, wow, it all comes together under this scissors-sprung hood from detail-Nirvana.
Of course the antenna extends, the license plate folds down to expose the fuel filler cap and the suspension articulates while keeping the stance accurate and true. DM’s blown the door off that detail expectation. What you have after all the chits are counted, is a remarkably rare and effectively accurate simulation of ‘muscle car’ above and beyond the ordinary. DM, thank you, this blue bomb brightens my whole day!
The issue price is $115.
(04/21/2006)
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