The Nova was offered in 1971 and 1972 with the RPO-YF1 Rally Nova option. In 1977 thru 1979 the Nova was offered with the RPO-Z26 Nova Rally option. The first time around, the Rally option was a pseudo musclecar. It had the look of a musclecar with stripes and rally wheels but it could not be ordered with the SS-only L48 350 4-bbl engine. You could get a 250, a 307 or the L65 350 2-bbl. This was done for 2 reasons, people who wanted the musclecar look could have it without paying for the more expensive Super Sport option. The other reason was because of the surcharges applied to owners of "real" musclecars. The SS was more expensive to insure because of the top engine. The Rally option ended after 1972 because beginning in 1973, you could order the Super Sport with any engine (250, 307, L65 350 2-bbl and the L48 350 4-bbl). You could also now order a non-SS Nova with the top L48 engine

The second time around the Rally option replaced the Super Sport option dropped after 1976 and it even carried the same code: Z26. The option was basically just a name change as it was mostly the same as the 1976 Super Sport option. It included different stripes, the grille was now chrome instead of black and the F40 suspension was no longer part of the Z26 option (however it could be ordered separately).

One common mistake made by people is they call it a "Nova RS" or a Nova Rally Sport". The word sport was never used in the Nova Rally option. The Rally Sport (or RS) option was on Camaros, not Novas. Also, unlike Camaros, you could not combine the Rally option with the SS option. This was because of the reasons mentioned above. The 1971-72 Rally was a "cheaper SS" and for the 1977-79 Rally, there was no SS option to combine with.

I hope this clears up some of the confusion surrounding the Rally options. They are special cars with a very limited run. Only 7,700 built in 1971, 33,319 in 1972, 6,901 in 1977, 6,903 in 1978 and 2,299 for 1979. For those restoring 1971-72 and 1977-79 Rallys, Stencils and Stripes Unlimited, Inc. makes reproduction stripe kits.

1971 Rally Nova - RPO YF1

Model Availability

• Nova coupe - 27

Power Train Availability

• 250 L6 1V L22
• 307 V8 2V L14
• 350 V8 2V L65

Equipment (used in addition to or in place of standard equipment)

• Exterior

  • Bright roof drip moldings
  • Color-keyed floor carpeting
  • Left-hand sport mirror
  • Black painted grille with bright upper and lower horizontal bars
  • Black painted headlight bezels
  • Special tapered side decal stripes (front fender, door and rear quarter)
  • Special decal stripe on rear end panel between taillamps
  • "Rally Nova" name decal on hood
  
  

• Chassis

  • 14x6" Rally rims without trim rings
  • F40 Heavy duty suspension
  
  

1972 Rally Nova - RPO YF1

Model Availability

• Nova coupe - 1X27

Power Train Availability

• 250 L6 1V L22
• 307 V8 2V L14
• 350 V8 2V L65

Equipment (used in addition to or in place of standard equipment)

• Exterior

  • Bright roof drip moldings
  • Color-keyed floor carpeting
  • Left-hand sport mirror
  • Black painted grille with bright upper and lower horizontal bars
  • Black painted headlight bezels
  • Special tapered side decal stripes (front fender, door and rear quarter)
  • Special decal stripe on rear end panel between taillamps
  • "Rally Nova" name decal on hood
  
  

• Chassis

  • 14x6" Rally rims without trim rings
  • F40 Heavy duty suspension
  
  

1977 Nova Rally - RPO Z26

Model Availability

• Standard Nova hatchback - 1X17
• Standard Nova coupe - 1X27

Power Train Availability

• 250 L6 1V L22
• 305 V8 2V LG3
• 350 V8 4V LM1

Equipment (used in addition to or in place of standard equipment)

• Exterior

  • Black finished headlamp bezels with bright perimeter molding
  • Special chrome plated, diamond pattern grille with specific horizontal parking lamps
  • "Nova Rally" emblem, multi-colored, in center of grille and on front fenders (delete "Nova" or "Nova Custom" from front fender side)
  • Triple-band striping on lower body and over wheel openings - available in 3 colors: gold, black and white
  • Triple-band striping on rear end panel
  • "Chevrolet" block letter nameplate on deck lid
  
  

• Chassis

  • Rally wheels 14x6 painted to match striping (argent if striping is black) with bright center hub, lug nuts and trim ring
  
  

• The following options are restricted when the Nova Rally package is ordered

  • B84 Body side moldings
  • B96 Wheel opening moldings
  • D85 Pin striping
  • D99 Two-tone paint
  • N95 Wire wheel trim covers
  • P01 Wheel trim covers
  
  

1978 Nova Rally - RPO Z26

Model Availability

• Standard Nova hatchback - 1X17
• Standard Nova coupe - 1X27
• Custom Nova coupe - 1Y27

Power Train Availability

• 250 L6 1V L22
• 305 V8 2V LG3
• 350 V8 4V LM1

Equipment (used in addition to or in place of standard equipment)

• Exterior

  • Black finished headlamp bezels with bright perimeter molding
  • Special chrome plated, diamond pattern grille with specific horizontal parking lamps
  • "Nova Rally" emblem, multi-colored, in center of grille and on front fenders (delete "Nova" or "Nova Custom" from front fender side and "Chevrolet" emblem from center of hood)
  • Triple-band striping on lower body and over wheel openings - available in 5 colors: gold, orange, red, black and white
  • Triple-band striping on rear end panel (not included in 1XY27 Custom Coupe)
  
  

• Chassis

  • Rally wheels 14x6 painted to match body color (except with gold striping where wheels are painted to match stripe color), with bright center hub, lug nuts and P06 trim ring
  
  

1979 Nova Rally - RPO Z26

Model Availability

• Standard Nova hatchback - 1X17
• Standard Nova coupe - 1X27
• Custom Nova coupe - 1Y27

Power Train Availability

• 250 L6 1V L22
• 305 V8 2V LG3
• 350 V8 4V LM1

Equipment (used in addition to or in place of standard equipment)

• Exterior

  • "Nova Rally" emblem, multi-colored, in center of grille and on front fenders (delete "Nova" or "Nova Custom" from front fender side)
  • Triple-band striping on lower body and over wheel openings - available in 5 colors: gold, orange, red, black and white
  • Triple-band striping on rear end panel
  
  

• Chassis

  • Rally wheels 14x6 painted to match body color (except with gold striping where wheels are painted to match stripe color), with bright center hub, lug nuts and trim ring