The Nova is a Superstar

Posted by John Mellberg April 06, 2021

The Nova is a Superstar

While not well known outside of the UK Kit Car scene, Richard Oakes has always been an inspirational figure to me. His path into the world of car design was unconventional, something personally relatable to me having taken an unusual route in my own career. Having a keen interest in car design and wanting to get involved in the industry, he sent speculative letters out to various auto makers, offering his services to the likes of Aston Martin, Lotus, and even Marcos.

While none took him up on it, he did manage to find employment as a pattern maker among the development staff at Adrian Evan's new firm Davrian. However it was at Western Laminates that he had the opportunity to design his first specialty car called the "Tramp". It was a Volkswagen Beetle based dune buggy, which went to production in 1970. This would be among the inspirations for his next project and it would be the stuff of legend.

A period correct Nova build, showing its iconic canopy roof

Oakes teamed up with his friend Phil Sayers in South London, founding Automotive Design and Development Ltd., and set about creating what would ultimately be the most famous kit car of all time. This car would combine the appeal of a dune buggy's layout and construction with the styling of an exotic sportscar. Taking cues from cars like the Adams Probe 15, Ford GT-40, and Lamborghini Miura, Oakes penned a low and curvaceous sportscar with a one piece canopy for entry and egress. Called the "Nova", it was unveiled to the motoring press in the fall of 1971.

The car was based on the VW Beetle and was offered for sale as a kit. The Nova's low slung bodywork was designed to bolt directly to the VW's floor-pan using the original mounting points, coming pre-drilled for ease of assembly. It consisted of more than twenty separate moldings. The package also included all necessary glass, lights, signal indicators, and windshield wiper, which were factory installed. Its iconic "canopy" roof and all related hardware were also mounted before delivery. At the time, a fully assembled version could be had for £750 in 3 separate gel-coat colors.

The Nova skillfully blended aesthetic of cars like the Lamborghini Miura and GT40
into an iconic design of its own. This example is owned by Patrick Noble

The reaction in the press was electric and it was called by some "The prettiest car in the world". It was seen on Magazine covers from the UK's "Hot Car" to America's "Road & Track" and journalists lavished its styling, ease of assembly, and overall finish with praise. Sales got off to a brisk start, with more than 100 units being sold in its first year of production.

Yet, despite success, sales of the Nova slowed by '73 and the imposition of the UK VAT, along with the oil crisis, had all but killed the concern. Sayers left the company and Oakes sold off the property, turning to freelance design of trailers and even taking a job making molds for concrete "Garden Gnomes", of all things! As a result, his planned replacement for the Nova, due in 1974, did not see the light of day.

Oakes' design for a Nova successor

With his credibility established, Oakes became the UK's go-to designer for specialty cars. He also did freelance work for JCB tractors, and SAAB. His ensuing work in the kit car industry included such notables as the Dutton Sierra SUV, the GTM Rossa sportscar, Pimlico Domino Mini conversion, and unusual projects like the Jephcott "leaning" 3-wheeler.

In 1987 he designed the Deltyn Pegasus for The Parradine Motor Company and by '96 Oakes decided to do his own car and sell it under the banner of "Blackjack Cars". Its first product would be the Avion, a "two-in-front" trike, based on Citroën running gear. Blackjack went on to add a second model to the range in 2001 and remained a going concern until Richard Oakes retired in 2013.

The Nova also established itself as an icon around the world. While its original tooling changed hands numerous times in the UK, licensed copies and various derivatives were marketed successfully all over the world. Some notable offshoots of the Nova were kits like the American "Sterling", Australia's Purvis Eureka, the Italian Puma, as well as gull-winged progeny like the UK's Eagle SS and another US kit, the Cimbria. That last one, the Cimbria was built near where your author currently resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Slotted mag wheels complete this Nova's '70's look

Roughly 170 original Nova's were built by Richard Oakes and Phil Sayers. In subsequent years, thousands of its clones were produced and the design continued to grace the covers of kit car and VW oriented magazines. Today it is widely regarded as a classic, being credited by many as having "put kit cars on the map".

To this author's eye it is still a fantastic design, a perfect distillation of its time created by a prolific master. A car that still turns heads to this day, nearly fifty years after its debut.

The Nova really is a superstar.

Sources:
World Sportscars Magazine, Spring 1989 issue by Chris Rees. (from my library)
Rare Component Cars - UK Edition (from the original website, now inactive)
Light Auto (A nice write-up of Oakes career)