Chevrolet is one of the most important manufacturers in American automotive history, and rightly so. General Motors' bowtie brand has given the world some legends like the Corvette, the Camaro, and the Silverado. In the golden age of the muscle car, the Chevy Camaro has another sibling to take the fight to the Plymouth Barracuda and the Mustang, and that was the Chevy Nova. As the Mopar Wars picked up speed, manufacturers scrambled to put more and more power into their cars, coming up with special editions and packages.

This is what makes the Chevrolet Nova SS special. The SS equipment from Chevrolet turned any Nova into a street brawler that could set the tarmac on fire while remaining relatively affordable. The greatest days of the Nova SS were undoubtedly before the Malaise Era, and the 1970 Chevy Nova SS 396 stands out as a rather unique car that has plenty to gush about. Here are 10 things we love about the 1970 Chevrolet Nova SS 396.

10 The 1970 396 Was The Last Big-Block V8 For The Chevy Nova SS

1970 Chevrolet Nova SS 396 Dual Tone
via Hemmings

There's a big reason why the 1970 Chevy Nova SS is extremely special. This was the last year that Chevy outfitted the Nova SS with a big-block V8 unit.

Chevrolet Nova SS 1970
via OPUMO

For the 1970 model year, Chevy produced over 250,000 units of the Nova, and less than 20,000 (around 19,500) were SS models that came either with the 350 or the 396 cubic-inch V8 engine under the hood.

9 The '70s Chevrolet Nova SS 396 Remains One Of The Rarer Classic Cars From The Muscle Era

1970 Chevrolet Nova SS 396 Black
via Barrett-Jackson

There's nothing like a classic Ford Mustang, but it's undeniable that a classic 'Stang is also common as air on the streets. That is what makes the Chevy Nova SS a lot rarer to drive around the roads today.

1970 Chevrolet Nova SS 396 Blue Front
via GMAuthority

After all, there were only 19,500 units of the Nova SS produced in 1970, and even fewer of the 396 engine. Compared to over 190,000 units of the Mustang that Ford sold in the same year, the '70 Nova SS 396 is all the rarer.

RELATED: 10 Classic Muscle Cars To Consider Instead Of The Ford Mustang

1970 Chevrolet Nova SS 396 Blue Side
 Via GM Authority

The powerful Super Sport (SS) version of the Chevy Nova also had visual upgrades to hint at the power under the hood. This came in the form of added black accents to the headlamp bezels, the grilles, and the tail panel.

1970 Chevrolet Nova SS 396 Blue Rear
via GMAuthority

'SS' emblems flanked the front and rear of the Chevy Nova SS, and the hood featured a simulated air intake on top, with a pad underneath. The fender louvers had a bright trim, and on the inside, the black steering wheel featured the 'SS' logo in all its glory.

7 The '70 Nova SS 396 Engine Churned Out A Whopping 350 Horsepower

1970 Chevrolet Nova SS 396 Blue Engine Bay
via GMAuthority

While the 1970 Nova SS also came with a 350 cubic-inch V8 that churned out 300 horsepower, the engine options on the sporty muscle coupe became even more impressive with the inclusion of the 396 cubic-inch unit, which jetted out a staggering 350 horses.

1970 Chevrolet Nova SS 396 Blue Right Side Profile
 via GMAuthority

Topped with a Quadra-jet carburetor, an iron-intake manifold, and oval-port cylinder heads, the 350-hp 396 was a beast of an engine, and one to be reckoned with on the road.

RELATED: Parked Up For 10 Years: This 1963 Corvette Has A 1972 Nova SS Engine

6 The 396 L78 Engine Took The Chevrolet Nova SS Up To 375 Horsepower

1970 Chevrolet Nova SS 396 Engine
via GMAuthority

Sure, the 300-hp and 350-hp engines on the Nova SS were pretty darn powerful. However, it was the Turbo-Jet big-block L78 variant of the 396 engine which rode on a monstrous 375-hp engine.

1970 Chevrolet Nova SS 396 Blue Side Profile
via GMAuthority

The 375 horses and accompanying 415 lb-ft torque is what made the top engine option on the '70 Nova SS capable of decimating larger and heavier muscle car rivals, downright embarrassing them.

5 The 375-HP L78 Engine Propelled The '70 Nova SS At Blistering Speeds

1970 Chevrolet Nova SS 396 Parked
via LegendaryMotorcarCompany

Armed with the big-block 396 cubic-inch L78 V8 engine that churned a staggering 375 horsepower, the '70 Chevrolet Nova SS could truly set fire to the tarmac, be it the roads or the drag strip, right off the assembly line.

1970 Chevrolet Nova SS Red Front
via MecumAuctions

The numbers are still as impressive by modern standards as they were back in the day, with the 375-hp Nova SS going from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.9 seconds, and covering the quarter-mile in under 15 seconds, reaching the mark in just 14.5 seconds with the speedometer touching 101 mph.

RELATED: Ranking The Fastest Muscle Cars Ever Made

4 Chevrolet Equipped The L78 396 Engine On The 1970 Nova SS With Durability Upgrades As Well

1970 Chevrolet Nova SS 396 Engine Bay
GM Authority

The 375-hp 396 engine on the 1970 Chevy Nova SS wasn't just all about the horsepower, either. Chevy equipped their highest SS trim engine with plenty of durability upgrades as well, knowing just how much it would be pushed to its limits.

1970 Chevrolet Nova SS 396 Red
 via Barrett-Jackson

These upgrades included an aluminum intake manifold, rectangle-port high-performance heads which came with larger intake valves, forged pistons, and an aggressive solid-lifter cam.

3 Chevrolet Offered A Host Of Options With The Entry-Level Nova

1970 Chevrolet Nova SS
 via MecumAuctions

Knowing that the MY1970 Nova SS was going to be the last with a big-block V8, Chevy went above and beyond in the options they offered for the '70 Nova, with an exhaustive list that spoiled would-be customers for choice.

1970 Chevrolet Nova SS Interior Front Row
 via GMAuthority

These options included an air-con, a center console with a six-way power seat, a vinyl roof, tinted glass, and power brakes. Customers could also avail a dual exhaust system, a tilt steering column, a rugged heavy-duty clutch, power steering, push-button radio, and a tachometer to stay on top of the revs.

RELATED: Check Out This Hoard Of Iconic Cars Including A Green, Mean 1969 Chevrolet Nova SS L78

2 The Value Of The 1970 Chevy Nova SS 396 Remains High As Ever

Chevrolet Nova SS 1970
 via Hagerty

Classic Mustangs might be way more common than a '70 Nova SS from Chevy, but they also come cheaper. That is clearly not the case for the 396-equipped 1970 Nova SS, as one would have to pay quite a significant amount to bring home one of these babies.

1970 Chevrolet Nova SS Red Rear
via Barrett-Jackson

Hagerty evaluates the asking rate for a 350-horsepower 396 engine on the MY1970 Nova SS at $58,300, while the L78 396, which churned out the maximum 375 horsepower, is currently valued at a whopping $75,200. If this is one car your heart is truly after, you'd better start saving up.

1 The Rare 1970 Nova SS L89 Is Nothing But Legendary

1970 Chevrolet Nova SS L89 via Supercars
 via Supercars.net

The rarest version of the 1970 Chevrolet Nova SS is one that came with an L89 engine. If you've got your eyebrow raised right now, you're not alone. Most of the community questioned the existence of the car, doubtful whether Chevy ever made this car.

1970 Chevrolet Nova SS L89 rear
via Supercars.net

However, Brian Henderson himself authenticated the car, making it a one-of-one Nova SS from the 1970 model year armed with an L89 engine. This rare beauty became the object of everyone's desire after its feature on Dream Car Garage, and Hemmings Muscle Machines, too, highlighted it as a feature restoration.