Carnival glass

Since many manufacturers produced close copies of their rivals' popular patterns, carnival glass identification can be challenging even for an expert. Finally, as NOVA is a brand of gasoline sold in Mexico, the largest of all Spanish-speaking Latin American countries, it is clear that this urban legend, while perhaps entertaining, is utterly baseless. Identifying carnival glass involves matching patterns, colors, sheen, edges, thickness, and other factors from old manufacturer's trade catalogs, other known examples, or other reference material. [1] The word nova exists in Spanish with the same meaning as in English. Many manufacturers did not include a maker's mark in their product, and some did for only part of the time they produced the glass. In reality, the Spanish no va and nova are as different as the English no table and notable. Identification of carnival glass is frequently difficult. A popular urban legend asserts that the Nova sold poorly in Latin America because the phrase no va means "no go" in Spanish.

Examples of carnival glass can be easily found in antique stores, and there is a very active market for it on eBay. In fact, a majority were fitted with inline sixes coupled to a ZF manual transmission. Prices vary widely, with some pieces worth very little, while other, rare items command thousands of dollars. prior to the introduction of the 1994 Impala SS. Carnival glass is highly collectable. Their SS counterparts were both coupes and 4-door sedans, the latter of which was unheard of in the U.S. In addition, simple pressed glass was iridized by third parties as well. 1962-67) body styles were sold as the Chevrolet 400; the second-generation body style was produced until 1974.

Glass, as well as smaller quantities by many smaller manufacturers. The first- and second-generation (U.S. Carnival glass was produced in large quantity by at least Fenton, Northwood, Imperial, Millersburg, Westmoreland, Dugan/Diamond, Cambridge, and U.S. The early third-generation (1968 body style) Nova was marketed in Argentina as the Chevrolet Chevy from late 1969 through 1978. Other colors of uranium glass were produced in lesser quantities. 1988 was the last year for the Nova nameplate on this (or any) platform, which arrived in showrooms as the Geo Prizm the following year. Vaseline glass and uranium glass actually contains traces of uranium salts (uranium dioxide) in the glass, causing it to glow faintly in the dark with radioactivity. In 1985 the Nova name was applied to a rebadged Toyota Sprinter, an upmarket version of the Toyota Corolla that replaced the Citation and was produced at the NUMMI plant in Fremont, California, as an historic first joint venture between General Motors and Toyota.

It is also made in opaque white, called milk glass, and before the hazards of radiation were well known, it was made in semi-transparent or translucent pale green, called vaseline or uranium glass. Upon introduction of the downsized GM A-body (later G-body) intermediates in 1978, the X-body and downsized A-platform were similar in dimensions, and the more modern downsized A-bodies outsold their X-body counterparts. Carnival glass is made in many translucent colors, primarily amethyst, marigold, cobalt, green, and red. From 1980 onwards, the Nova's original niche in the Chevrolet lineup was filled by front wheel drive compacts including the Citation (1980-1985), and Corsica (1987-1996). The name "carnival glass" was not commonly used until collectors in the 1950s began to refer to it as such. Production ended on December 22, 1978. Some significant production continuing outside the US through the depression years of the early 1930s, tapering off to very little by the 1940s. The front end was revised with square headlights and a new grille for the short run.

Most US carnival glass was made between 1907 and 1925, with production tapering off by 1931. The Nova's final model year, 1979, saw few changes. The popularity of this use made this a very profitable line for the Fenton company. Most were initially purchased by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department in 1976. Only after these markdowns was it frequently used as carnival prizes and as promotional giveaway items. A high-performance police version of the Nova was introduced for the 1975 model year, making it the first compact car certified for police duty in the U.S. However, it did not command the prices expected, and was subsequently discounted. The Nova's X-body was stretched by several inches and fitted with an Oldsmobile fuel-injected V8 to become the Seville for 1975.

Decorative art glass called "Iridill" was originally produced by Fenton in 1907, inspired by Tiffany and Steuben art glass. Even Cadillac got into the act. After interest waned in the late 1920s, Fenton quit producing carnival glass for many years, but due to a resurgence in its popularity, Fenton produces carnival glass today. The Nova SS continued for 1975 and 1976; when the SS was discontinued, the option code for the SS -- RPO Z26 -- continued as the Nova Rally until 1979. They were well known for quality, and were among a very few makers who made red carnival glass. This led to civil action against GM. The Fenton Art Glass Company was founded in 1905, and was the first and largest producer of carnival glass, producing many different pieces in over 150 patterns. Base V8 motors included a Chevrolet 262 (and 305) and Oldsmobile 260; Pontiac Venturas were not fitted with a Pontiac V8 from the factory after 1975, when Oldsmobile 260s and Buick 350s were installed as optional equipment.

. During the 1977 model year for the Ventura, the GM Iron Duke was the base motor (in response to the Arab Oil Embargo) coupled to a Borg-Warner T-50 transmission (it has no relationship to the T5 found in third-generation GM F-bodies); this is a rare find these days although the motor differed from the six-cylinder based 153 last offered as an option in 1970.) The Ventura was replaced by the Phoenix in the middle of the 1977 model year. Glass workers sometimes refer to carnival glass as "dope glass" because the process of applying the iridescent coloring to the surface is called "doping". BOP versions of the Nova had either a Chevrolet inline six or Buick V6 as the base powerplant. Carnival glass gets its iridescent sheen from the application of metallic salts while the glass is still hot from the pressing. The Apollo was replaced by the sportier Buick Skylark after 1975 (during the 1975 model year, the Apollo nameplate was used for the 4-door sedan, while the coupe was badged as the Skylark), while Pontiac's Ventura became a more luxurious Phoenix during 1978 (the Phoenix was the first X-body fitted with square headlights). It is produced in the US and Britain from the early 20th century until the present. The LN was replaced with the Nova Concours (1976 and 1977; 1977s had a 3-taillight lens scheme much similar to the Impala with a Cadillac-esque front clip.).

Carnival glass is an inexpensive pressed glass, made as both functional and ornamental objects, mostly iridescent and of deep amethyst colour. The Nova lineup ranged from the stripped-down "S" model, base, Custom (1975 and 1978/1979, which in later years became the LN and Nova Concours replacement), and the luxury-themed LN (the LN was the first to sport metric displacement badges -- either "4.3 LITRE" or "5.7 LITRE"). The front suspension and subframe assembly was similar to the one used in the second-generation GM F-body (Camaro, Firebird), whereas the rear axle and suspension were carried over from the 1968-74 generation. Six-cylinder and V8 engines remained the norm through the end of the decade (and the end of the X-body platform.) Rival Chrysler introduced their Plymouth Volare/Dodge Aspen as a competitor to GM's X-body compacts; the GM X-cars outsold their Chrysler counterparts. (For the Pontiac Ventura, the side vents were horizontal.).

Base coupes including the hatchback had fixed side windows (or the optioned swing-out windows similar to extended-cab pickup trucks) and vertical side vents. A facelifted Nova was introduced in 1975 and continued through 1979. This was the final GTO until 2003, when rebadged Holden Monaro coupes were imported from Australia by Pontiac as the 2004 GTO. Pontiac's final GTO of this era was based on a facelifted 1974 Ventura coupe fitted with a shaker hoodscoop from the Trans Am.

Buick and Oldsmobile entered the compact car market; both the Apollo and Omega debuted, using the same bodystyles from the Nova lineup. A luxury-themed Nova Custom became part of the model lineup. Nova SS models offered a higher-performance 350 in³ (5.7 L) V8. By this time, six-cylinder and V8 engines were de rigeur for American compact cars, with the 307 and 350 in³ (5.0 and 5.7 L) V8s becoming fairly common.

The 1973 model year introduced a hatchback bodystyle based on the 2-door coupe. 1973. Interestingly, the intials of the four model names spelled out the acronym NOVA (Nova, Omega, Ventura, Apollo.). After 1971, other GM divisions began rebadging the Nova as their new entry-level vehicle, such as the Pontiac Ventura II (once a trim option for full-sized Pontiacs to 1970), Oldsmobile Omega (1973) and the Buick Apollo (mid-1973).

1971 Novas were similar to the previous year but with the loss of the simulated fender vents and the discontinuation of the 396 motor for the SS with the 350 taking its place. 1971. A beater coupe is seen in the movie Beverly Hills Cop. Approximately 177 COPO Novas were ordered, with 175 converted by Yenko Chevrolet (the other two were sold in Canada.).

The car took the simpler "Chevrolet Nova" name this year. Final year for the SS396. Basically a carryover from 1969; the side markers and taillight lenses were wider. 1970.

Like other 1969 GM vehicles, locking steering columns were incorporated, along with simulated fender vents underneath the Nova script, which was relocated to the front fender instead of the quarter panel. The Chevy II nameplate was retired, and all models took the name "Chevy Nova". 1969.
The 153 four-cylinder option was offered between 1968-70, then was dropped due to lack of interest.

1968 was the final year that the Chevy II nameplate was used, although all 1968 models were "Chevy II Novas.". Although the front subframe design was a Chevy II-exclusive design, the Camaro introduced a year earlier was the first to incorporate such a design; the redesigned Chevy II was pushed a year back to 1968 instead of 1967. One notable change was the front subframe assembly -- as compared with Ford, Chrysler and AMC, in whose cars the entire front suspension was integrated with the bodyshell, a separate subframe housing the powertrain and front suspension (similar to GM fullsized vehicles) replaced the earlier style. This body style continued (with minor revisions) through 1974.

An extensive restyle came in 1968, when the station wagon and two door hardtop were discontinued. 1968. Engine options still included the basic inline four- and six-cylinder engines but now included the 283 and 327 in³ (4.6 and 5.4 L) V8 engines as well. In general, proportions were squared up but dimensions and features changed little.

1966 Novas saw a significant restyling, based in part on the Super Nova concept car. In 1962 and 1963 the Nova was available in a convertible body style, and a two-door hardtop was added for 1963-65. As mentioned above, Novas could not "officially" have V8 engines at this time -- the standard SS engine was the six-cylinder -- but many ended up with a small-block V8 under the hood. For 1963, the Chevy II Nova Super Sport was released.

The combination of readily available V8 power and light weight made the Nova a popular choice of drag racers. It wasn't long before Chevrolet V8s were offered as dealer-installed options (between 1962 and 1963), up to and including the fuel-injected version available in the Corvette. Although the Nova was not originally available with a V8 option, the engine bay was perfectly proportioned for one. Rival manufacturer Chrysler introduced the Slant Six in their Plymouth Valiant, a Chevy II competitor.

The six was actually the third-generation powerplant, replacing the second-generation Stovebolt. Available powerplants included a four-cylinder and an inline six. . Intended as a low-cost alternative to Chevrolet's rear-engined Corvair and as competition for the Ford Falcon, the Nova ended up outlasting both.

The original Chevy II was of unibody construction, powered by an OHV inline four or six-cylinder engine, and available in two-door and four-door sedan configurations as well as convertible and station wagon versions. The Chevrolet Nova or Chevy II was an American compact car introduced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors in 1962. Pontiac Ventura Page. Chevy Nova at Muscle Car Facts — A year-by-year account of the Nova's history from 1962–1976.

Chevrolet Nova Internet Source — The second known Nova site on the Internet; not significantly updated since 1998. Nova listserv — The first and only known public mailing list dedicated to Chevrolet Novas and other X-bodies; in continuous existence since January 1998. Scott Windle's NovaResource.com.