By Nick Licata – Images by NotStock Photography
Dennis Terning has been a self-described motorhead since he can remember. At just 5 years old, he was bending the rules of normal, riding his Montgomery Ward minibike to school every day he could get away with it. His racing career began at age 10, when he bought a 1975 Yamaha YZ 80. With the help of his brother, Eugene, they upgraded the bike with aftermarket parts to make it go faster and went flat track racing. They even got it up to 85 mph with an 80cc engine. Quite a feat for the young ambitious brothers who had yet to learn the meaning of restraint.
By the time he was 15, Dennis made his move into the car world, picking up a 1967 Nova that most would have passed by without a second look. The 400ci engine under the hood was destroyed, but the price was right. Not deterred, Dennis was already forming a vision and within a year had a rebuilt 406ci small-block between the ’rails. That engine was accompanied by a fresh plush velvet interior, new coat of Brandywine paint, and a set of Keystone classic wheels wrapped in Firestone Super Sport rubber. It was 1980, and the car was making a statement. Loud, proud, and more than willing to haze the tires at a moment’s notice.
For several years, Dennis lived that life fully, driving the Nova hard and often. But in 1987, he parked the car in his brother’s pole barn, intending it as a temporary pause. Life, however, had other plans.
Dennis went on to carve out a successful career in IMCA Stock Car racing, and in 1992 he competed weekly at three Minnesota tracks: Arlington Raceway, Fiesta City Speedway, and Madison Speedway. The 1992 season consisted of 52 races where he placed First in 22 of those, earning him three track championships and named IMCA Stock Car National Points Champion. Then, in 1993 everything changed. A violent multi-car crash sent his race car into a series of rolls, leaving Dennis with a spinal cord injury that would ultimately make him a quadriplegic.
The Nova sat for decades, but Dennis never stopped moving forward, and in his words, “I made the choice to make history instead of be history.”
After his accident and several months of rehabilitation, Dennis returned home to the family farm and seed business. “Having no time to dwell in pity or resentment, as I had way too many family members, employees, and seed customers relying on me,” Dennis says.
“As I watched the condition of the car gradually decline, I vowed to not restore the Nova until I had a climate-controlled facility to store it,” Dennis says. “That moment came on August 6, 2021, a date I deemed ‘Resurrection Day,’ as it was the first time the car had rolled into the light since 1987.”
Dennis had not just an idea of how he wanted the car restored, but a reimagined vision that would require just the right shop to handle this one-of-a-kind restomod. Months of research and shop visits led him to Straightline Customs in Prior Lake, Minnesota. Owner Dan Pearson understood the assignment—an elaborate restomod build with big horsepower and top-of-the-line aftermarket parts while addressing the complex issue of engineering a right front seat offering Dennis a comfortable ride and easy access from his wheelchair.
The foundation of the car was completely reworked, beginning with a Roadster Shop Fast Track chassis. Independent front suspension, tubular control arms, rack-and-pinion steering, and Fox coilovers transformed the Nova’s handling way beyond its original design. Out back, a four-link setup with matching Fox dampers and a stout sway bar ensure the rear stays planted.
Underhood sits a Chevrolet Performance LSX 376, but “stock” is where the similarities end. Topped with a Harrop intake and Harrop 2650 supercharger, the engine delivers a robust 1,013 hp and 880 lb-ft of torque. A Texas Speed camshaft sharpens the personality, while a Holley Dominator fuel injection and ignition system keep everything in check.
Ultimate Headers feed into a custom 3-inch TIG-welded exhaust system, exhaling through Borla XR1 mufflers with a tone that’s part refined and part feral. Supporting components from Wegner Automotive, along with a PWR cooling system and Rick’s stainless fuel tank, ensure the combination is as reliable as it is ruthless.
Backing the LSX is a Bowler Performance 4L80E transmission, paired with a Circle D triple-disc converter. Power flows through a Strange Engineering driveshaft to a Ford 9-inch rearend loaded with 3.70 gears, Eaton Truetrac posi, and Strange 31-spline axles. It’s a drivetrain built to take a beating with no complaints.
Inside, the car has been carefully tailored to Dennis’ needs without sacrificing style or cohesion. A custom Procar by Scat passenger seat was engineered to swivel, allowing for smooth transition from his wheelchair. It’s a detail that required serious ingenuity but blends so seamlessly into the interior you’d think it was always meant to be there.
The cabin itself is a combination of contrast and craftsmanship. Hydes leather upholstery, custom door panels with gold and woodgrain accents, and leather-wrapped console create a rich, inviting space. Dakota Digital instrumentation keeps tabs on the Nova’s vitals, while a Vintage Air HVAC system ensures comfort, regardless of the season. Every wire, every control, routed and refined by Straightline Customs, speaks to a level of detail that goes beyond the surface.
Outside, the Nova carries its history forward while embracing its new identity. Finished in House of Kolor Brandywine, the paint pays homage to its earlier life while elevating it with modern depth and precision. The body has been smoothed and sharpened, with tucked bumpers, shaved driprails, flush-mounted glass, and custom vents integrated throughout.
A Goodmark cowl hood hints at the power below, while details like Ringbrothers mirrors, custom billet taillights, and a bespoke “Casa Nova” emblems add layers of individuality. Mini-tubs and custom inner fenders make room for the aggressive stance, anchored by Forgeline wheels wrapped in Firestone Firehawk rubber.
Baer brakes with 14-inch rotors and six-piston calipers at all four corners provide the stopping power to match the Nova’s brute strength. It’s a complete package, engineered with balance in mind.
Dennis calls the car “Casa Nova” a name that carries both history and personality. For him, the most meaningful moments weren’t found on the dyno sheet (although impressive), but in the simple act of bringing the car home after 34 years and sharing it with the world at Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale and at the 2025 Triple Crown of Rodding.
Dennis’ Nova is a timeline and a reflection of what he started, what he endured, and where he chose to go next.
Some projects are about horsepower, while others are about redemption. Casa Nova manages to be both, with a little extra soul mixed in for good measure.
Check out this story in our digital edition here.
TECH CHECK
Owner: Dennis Terning, Cokato, Minnesota
Vehicle: 1967 Nova
Engine
Type: Chevrolet Performance LSX 376
Displacement: 376 ci
Compression Ratio: 9:1
Bore: 4.065 inches
Stroke: 3.622 inches
Builder: GM
Machine Work: GM
Rotating Assembly: Forged steel crankshaft, forged powder metal rods, forged aluminum pistons
Valvetrain: Stock LSX valves, stock LSX valvesprings, Johnson pushrods
Camshaft: Texas Speed 640/639 lift, 331/239 duration, LSA 115
Cylinder Heads: GM LSX aluminum
Induction: Harrop intake manifold, Harrop 2650 supercharger
Fuel Injection: Holley Dominator
Ignition: Holley
Exhaust: Ultimate headers, custom 3-inch TIG-welded exhaust, Borla XR1 mufflers
Valve Covers: Wegner Automotive
Accessory Drive: Wegner Automotive
Ancillaries: Powermaster alternator, PWR fan, K&N air cleaner, custom coolant lines, CVF hood hinges, Rick’s Tanks stainless 18-gallon fuel tank
Output: 1,013 hp, 880 lb-ft of torque
Drivetrain
Transmission: Bowler Performance Transmissions 4L80E
Torque Converter: Circle D Triple-disc 258 mm
Stall: 3,200/3,400 rpm
Shifter: B&M
Driveshaft: Strange Engineering
Rear Axle: Ford 9 inch, 3.70 gears, Eaton Truetrac posi, Strange Engineering 31-spline axles
Chassis
Chassis: Roadster Shop Fast Track
Front Suspension: RS independent, RS tubular control arms, RS spindles, RS rack-and-pinion steering, Fox coilover shocks, Fox 600-pound springs, 1-inch sway bar
Rear Suspension: RS four-link, Fox coilover shocks, Fox 450-pound springs, RS 1-inch sway bar
Brakes: Baer 14-inch rotors, six-piston calipers front and rear, Baer Remaster manual brake master, Baer proportioning valve
Wheels & Tires
Wheels: Forgeline DE3C 18×8.5 front, 19×11.5 rear
Tires: Firestone Firehawk 235/40R18 front, 325/35R19 rear
Interior
Upholstery: Hydes Saddle and black
Carpet: Douglass Products, Charcoal and Luxenburg
Installation: Knish Kustomz (Kilkenny, MN)
Door Panels: Three-D designed leather-wrapped gold and woodgrain accents
Console: Custom leather-wrapped
Insulation: HushMat
Seats: Procar by Scat with custom powered handicap passenger seat
Harness: Seat Belt Planet four-point
Steering: Ididit column, Sparc Industries steering wheel
Pedals: Lokar
Dash: Stock
Instrumentation: Dakota Digital
Wiring: Coach Controls by Straight Line Customs (Prior Lake, MN)
HVAC: Vintage Air
Control Panel: Vintage Air
Vents: Vintage Air Billet
Exterior
Bodywork and Paint: Straightline Customs
Paint: House of Kolor Brandywine
Painter: Dan Pearson (Straightline Customs)
Hood: Goodmark 2-inch cowl
Grille: Evod Industries
Bumpers: Smoothed and tucked
Headlights: Oracle
Taillights: Custom billet
Side Mirrors: Ringbrothers
Glass: Fesler flush mount
Plating: Jacobson Welding & Powdercoating (Burnsville, MN)
Body Mods: Shaved and smoothed drip rails, added vents, flush-mount glass, rear corner panels, side exhaust outlets, custom floors, smoothed firewall, mini-tubs. Rear trunk molding with custom “Casa Nova” logo, custom inner fenders, custom chin spoiler with air vents.
