The Chevrolet Nova was originally introduced as the Chevy II in 1962.
Chevrolet created the Chevy II as a compact car to compete with models such as the Ford Falcon. It debuted for the 1962 model year with a conventional front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout and was available in several body styles. The name “Nova” first appeared as a trim level rather than the complete model name.
For 1969, Chevrolet dropped “Chevy II” from the main identity and marketed the car simply as the Nova. The compact later became known for optional V8 power, especially in the muscle-car era. The 1970s Nova was a distinct redesign from the original 1962 car, but both belong to the same broader nameplate history. The word Nova is also sometimes discussed in connection with an alleged Spanish-language marketing problem, although that popular story is widely treated as a myth.