Kurt Ernst May 15th, 2014 at 8am | 93 comments 1966 Chevy II Nova SS L79. Photos courtesy Mecum Auctions . In 1966, at his fathers insistence , Roger Burleson ordered a black-on-black 1966 Chevy II Nova SS with the optional L79 V-8 engine as his high school graduation present. Over 48 years, its accumulated just 52,000 miles , none of them in quarter-mile increments . Described as wearing mostly original paint , with a mostly original interior, this single-owner, single-year muscle car will cross the stage in Indianapolis later this week , giving one lucky bidder a chance to own an uncommon piece of muscle car history . Though this seems like science fiction today , in 1966 it was possible to walk into a Chevrolet dealership and order a Corvette-engined Chevy II Nova , at a price affordable to nearly anyone with a full-time job . Those preferring show over go could also order the Super Sport trim package with a sensible 194-cu.in. inline six-cylinder engine , but those craving acceleration knew to check the order box for the Corvettes L79 V-8 , which delivered 350 horsepower from its 327-cu.in. displacement . Mated to a Muncie four speed and equipped with the Positraction rear and 3.73:1 gearing , a stock L79 Nova was capable of running from 0-60 MPH in 7.2 seconds , completing the quarter-mile in 15.1 seconds at a trap speed of 93 MPH . Bolting on a few aftermarket parts and a set of drag slicks could easily drop that time into the 12-second range , at a speed of 115 MPH . While many low-mileage L79 Novas have led hard lives, Burlesons car isnt one of them. Although he admits to the occasional (and ill-advised) street throw-down, his Nova has never been to the drag strip , and in nearly five decades , its reportedly never been to a car show or cruise-in, either. Showing almost superhuman restraint, Burleson and his family have enjoyed the car sparingly, and in keeping with family tradition , his own three children have driven the car to their high school proms . Its said to have been garaged since 1972, which explains why much of its paint is described as original . Many L79 Novas ordered for drag strip duty were base models , devoid of luxury amenities like a heater or a radio in order to save weight. Burlesons Nova, on the other hand, is fairly well-equipped with the Super Sport trim package , a center console , an AM radio , Custom Deluxe color-matched seat belts , the Positraction differential (with 3.73 gearing ) and dual outside mirrors . Though some of the components have been changed over the years (like the Novas original Holley four-barrel carburetor and the original alternator ), the parts are included in the sale , as is a stack of documentation and in-period photographs showing the history of the car with the Burleson family . Its believed that between 200 and 300 1966 Chevy II Nova models were built with the optional L79 V-8 , and few can claim the pampered, single-owner existence of this example. That will surely have an effect on the selling price, which Mecum predicts will be in the $200,000 to $225,000 range , in line with an award-winning, restored 1966 Chevy II Nova SS L79 that sold for $207,500 at last years Kissimmee, Florida sale . Roger Burlesons 1966 Chevy II Nova SS L79 will cross the block on Saturday , May 17. For additional details, visit Mecum.com . UPDATE (20.May ): The 1966 Chevy Nova II SS L79 bid to $175,000, but failed to meet its reserve price .