Red River Customs Tribute to Drag Racing Legend Shirley Muldowney

The Red River Customs Shirley Muldowney tribute Chevrolet Nova uses an all-new 1968-1972 Nova Body as the foundation for the series. Cha-Cha Nova 01 debuted in the TREMEC display booth at the 2024 SEMA Show in Las Vegas and will be sold at the 2025 Barrett Jackson Scottsdale auction. Only 24 other Cha-Cha Novas will be built for a total of 25 in the series. All 25 will have the same specially designed and Muldowney-inspired design cues inside and out. The drivetrains will be the same, with a Chevrolet Performance 1,000-horsepower 632 big-block crate engine spinning a TREMEC Magnum 6-speed manual transmission. All will be painted in Red River Customs tweaked Axalta Switchblade Silver and Tropical Glitz Sparkling Berry.

The Red River Customs Cha-Cha Nova was unveiled at the 2024 SEMA Show as car #1 of a 25-car series tribute to drag racing pioneer and legend Shirley Muldowney. Built from original and full restored Chevrolet Nova bodies, only 25 will be built on a first come first served basis. The paint scheme was designed by Red River Customs using Axalta Switchblade Silver (mix tweaked by Red River Customs) and Tropical Glitz Sparkling Berry paint. This Cha-Cha Nova, number 01, will be available for purchase on January 25th at the 2025 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction in Arizona.

The Red River Customs Shirley Muldowney tribute Chevrolet Nova uses an all-new 1968-1972 Nova Body as the foundation for the series. Cha-Cha Nova 01 debuted in the TREMEC display booth at the 2024 SEMA Show in Las Vegas and will be sold at the 2025 Barrett Jackson Scottsdale auction. Only 24 other Cha-Cha Novas will be built for a total of 25 in the series. All 25 will have the same specially designed and Muldowney-inspired design cues inside and out. The drivetrains will be the same, with a Chevrolet Performance 1,000-horsepower 632 big-block crate engine spinning a TREMEC Magnum 6-speed manual transmission. All will be painted in Red River Customs tweaked Axalta Switchblade Silver and Tropical Glitz Sparkling Berry.
ABOVE: The Red River Customs Shirley Muldowney tribute Chevrolet Nova uses an all-new 1968-1972 Nova Body as the foundation for the series. Cha-Cha Nova 01 debuted in the TREMEC display booth at the 2024 SEMA Show in Las Vegas and will be sold at the 2025 Barrett Jackson Scottsdale auction. Only 24 other Cha-Cha Novas will be built for a total of 25 in the series. All 25 will have the same specially designed and Muldowney-inspired design cues inside and out. The drivetrains will be the same, with a Chevrolet Performance 1,000-horsepower 632 big-block crate engine spinning a TREMEC Magnum 6-speed manual transmission. All will be painted in Red River Customs tweaked Axalta Switchblade Silver and Tropical Glitz Sparkling Berry.

The idea had been around since 2008. Part of the build plan was to have Muldowney herself involved in coming up with the Cha-Cha Nova concept. Her input helped shape the car’s appearance and performance. “You better make’em fast,” was her mantra for the design of the car to have her signature emblazoned in large letters on the trunk lid.

For a car bearing her signature, Shirley Muldowney gave one simple instruction “You better make’em fast!” Well, speed is no problem with a 1,000-horsepower big-block under the hood. More specifically, the Chevrolet Performance 632 big-block crate engine. With typical big-block bottom-end grunt plus upper RPM power, the Cha-Cha Nova with its TREMEC Magnum 6-speed assures these Novas will be plenty fast.
ABOVE: For a car bearing her signature, Shirley Muldowney gave one simple instruction “You better make’em fast!” Well, speed is no problem with a 1,000-horsepower big-block under the hood. More specifically, the Chevrolet Performance 632 big-block crate engine. With typical big-block bottom-end grunt plus upper RPM power, the Cha-Cha Nova with its TREMEC Magnum 6-speed assures these Novas will be plenty fast.

For making the Cha-Cha Nova fast enough to satisfy its namesake was choosing the right engine. The goal was to build a car that appeals to enthusiasts from all genres but stay true to Muldowney’s drag racing history. One of the most iconic engines in drag racing is the big-block Chevy, so the new Chevrolet Performance 632 cubic-inch crate engine was selected as the heart of the Cha-Cha Nova. The largest displacement Chevrolet crate engine ever, with 1,000 horsepower and an axle-twisting 876 lb-ft of torque, the 632 provides a punch worth of Shirley Muldowney’s name but also runs on premium pump gas so owners won’t have issues feeding the big-block.

The Cha-Cha Nova borrows a little something for its front fascia from the 1969 Camaro. But instead of front turn signals these openings in the fascia feed air to the atmosphere hungry 632 big-block to mix with 93-octane and turn it into 1,000 horsepower. The Nova’s front grill, rear valence and other pieces are Red River Customs designed and machined by M&M Precision Metal Fabrication.
ABOVE: The Cha-Cha Nova borrows a little something for its front fascia from the 1969 Camaro. But instead of front turn signals these openings in the fascia feed air to the atmosphere hungry 632 big-block to mix with 93-octane and turn it into 1,000 horsepower. The Nova’s front grill, rear valence and other pieces are Red River Customs designed and machined by M&M Precision Metal Fabrication.

Equally important as the engine to make the car worthy of the Muldowney name was the transmission selection. In addition to being able to handle the big-block’s momentous power, the transmission had to give the driver a full and pleasurable experience behind the wheel. The TREMEC Magnum 6-speed manual transmission was a natural choice, sourced from TREMEC Elite Distributor Dederichs Motorsports. With dual-cone synchronizer technology and smooth high-RPM shifting, the Magnum 6-speed gives the Cha-Cha Nova full track capability while also being downright fun to drive on the street. Its double overdrive gears also make the car a joy to cruise at highway speeds without having to turn high RPMs. Also adding to the driver’s comfort and experience is a hydraulic clutch system from Mal Wood Automotive to actuate the Ram Clutch that handles the 632’s prodigious amount of torque.

Inside, the Cha-Cha Nova features a custom dashboard with modern digital display readouts on vehicle functions and a dashboard-integrate touchscreen controls the car’s infotainment system. Specially designed pedal covers match the overall color theme of the Cha-Cha Nova along with the TREMEC Magnum 6-speed shifter knob. That shifter is surrounded by a Red River Customs designed console that also houses the power window and door-lock switches.
ABOVE: Inside, the Cha-Cha Nova features a custom dashboard with modern digital display readouts on vehicle functions and a dashboard-integrate touchscreen controls the car’s infotainment system. Specially designed pedal covers match the overall color theme of the Cha-Cha Nova along with the TREMEC Magnum 6-speed shifter knob. That shifter is surrounded by a Red River Customs designed console that also houses the power window and door-lock switches.

Even though Shirley Muldowney was a Hall of Fame drag racer, the Cha-Cha Nova is capable of doing more than just quarter-mile passes. Speedtech Performance was tapped to give the Nova handling prowess, making its 1,000 horsepower as controllable and useful as possible on the street and at the track. Speedtech’s Extreme XS system is used front and rear so the Nova can handle corners as well as it can straight-line sprints. The front suspension features QA1 coilover-equipped suspension with short/long control arms, rack and pinion steering and built-in brake-cooling ducts to keep the huge Baer 16-inch diameter brakes cool during heavy use. Out back, instead of the Nova’s factory solid-axle leaf-sprung rear suspension is Speedtech’s Extreme High-Mount IRS (independent rear suspension) with unique cantilever QA1 coil-overs extending into the trunk.

After the unveiling of the Red River Customs Cha-Cha Nova, Shirley Muldowney signed autographs for fans. Besides her own promotional photos, fans brought a variety of things including race helmets signed by other famous drag racers for Shirley to add her signature.
ABOVE: After the unveiling of the Red River Customs Cha-Cha Nova, Shirley Muldowney signed autographs for fans. Besides her own promotional photos, fans brought a variety of things including race helmets signed by other famous drag racers for Shirley to add her signature.

So much power and capability meant the Nova’s interior needed to be properly equipped to meet racing safety standards. That meant a four-point roll cage and five-point harnesses. Keeping tabs on the big-block Chevy’s health and vehicle speed is a Holley Pro Dash system. A separate custom installed touchscreen runs the Restomod Air heating and air conditioning. Making sure some nefarious character can’t make away what doesn’t belong to him, a Digital Guard Dawg anti-theft system was installed along with its digital start system.

Red River Customs added a special accent to the inserts on seats and door panels. A tribute to Shirley Muldowney’s groundbreaking drag racing career, every dragstrip she raced on is listed on the Cha-Cha Nova upholstery.
ABOVE: Red River Customs added a special accent to the inserts on seats and door panels. A tribute to Shirley Muldowney’s groundbreaking drag racing career, every dragstrip she raced on is listed on the Cha-Cha Nova upholstery.

A special touch added by Red River Customs to the seats and door panels were custom inserts displaying every track Shirley Muldowney raced on during her career. Making the Cha-Cha Nova truly a tribute to drag racing’s female pioneer and legendary racer.

A stock Nova suspension wouldn’t be up to the task of handling 1,000 horsepower and making sure it gets applied to the road. So, the Cha-Cha Nova uses Speedtech Performance suspension front and rear, including an Speedtech IRS system in the back with some minor mods. Behind the Forgeline Wheels are massive 14-inch Baer Brakes to slow things down when necessary.
ABOVE: A stock Nova suspension wouldn’t be up to the task of handling 1,000 horsepower and making sure it gets applied to the road. So, the Cha-Cha Nova uses Speedtech Performance suspension front and rear, including an Speedtech IRS system in the back with some minor mods. Behind the Forgeline Wheels are massive 14-inch Baer Brakes to slow things down when necessary.
The 1968-1972 Chevrolet Novas didn’t have a factory rear spoiler. In designing the carbon fiber trunk lid, Red River Customs integrated a rear spoiler for a seamless look. The Cha-Cha Nova front and rear bumpers are carbon fiber along with the hood. Not done there, the car’s inner fenders are also carbon fiber helping the Cha-Cha Nova shed dead weight to be even faster.
ABOVE: The 1968-1972 Chevrolet Novas didn’t have a factory rear spoiler. In designing the carbon fiber trunk lid, Red River Customs integrated a rear spoiler for a seamless look. The Cha-Cha Nova front and rear bumpers are carbon fiber along with the hood. Not done there, the car’s inner fenders are also carbon fiber helping the Cha-Cha Nova shed dead weight to be even faster.
All 25 Red River Customs Cha-Cha Novas will have Shirley Muldowney’s signature emblazoned on the trunk lid and front seat headrests.
ABOVE: All 25 Red River Customs Cha-Cha Novas will have Shirley Muldowney’s signature emblazoned on the trunk lid and front seat headrests.
Shirley Muldowney started racing on the street in a hopped up Chevrolet C1 Corvette. The new Cha-Cha Nova has almost three times the horsepower her original racer did, and when she sat behind the wheel her racing instincts and drive wanted to immediately see what the car was capable of.
ABOVE: Shirley Muldowney started racing on the street in a hopped up Chevrolet C1 Corvette. The new Cha-Cha Nova has almost three times the horsepower her original racer did, and when she sat behind the wheel her racing instincts and drive wanted to immediately see what the car was capable of.

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