1995 Dacia Nova 1.4L SuperNova 5MT FWD (75 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Born as the R523 project, the Nova was the first vehicle designed and produced entirely by the Romanian automaker Dacia in a desperate attempt to recover ground on the post-communist market of Eastern Europe.

After it produced the Dacia 1300/1400 lineup based on a Renault 12 license, the Romanian automaker made a decisive step. It developed a vehicle from the ground up. That project was known internally as the R523, and the carmaker’s engineering team started to work on it in the mid-80s. However, the project was halted at the beginning of the ‘90s due to uncertain financial and political problems. When the automaker finally found solutions, it continued the development of its first in-house design vehicle, and the nameplate was selected through a competition that gathered 44 ideas. The car was an instant success for Dacia, who could provide customers with a better-looking vehicle than the old 1300/1400 lineup that was imagined in the 60s.

At the front, the 1995 Dacia Nova showed a black wrapped-around plastic bumper that could be optioned with a pair of rectangular fog lamps on the lower side. Above it, the automaker placed a narrow grille flanked by a pair of rectangular headlights and corner-mounted turn signal lamps. The simple design was inspired by other French cars from the ‘80s, such as the Renault 11 or the Peugeot 309. Depending on the

From its profile, the short front of the vehicle had an ascending line and was followed by a raked panoramic windshield. The front fenders featured additional turn signal lamps. The hatchback-styled bodywork had almost flat door panels since they were cheaper to produce. However, the automaker offered an option for black rubber stripes that stretched between the front and the rear wheel arches. The vehicle had black plastic door handles flush with the bodywork, which was another technical achievement for the 1995 Dacia Nova. At the back, the automaker installed a tailgate that featured a small, flat metallic area behind the raked-forward rear panoramic window. In 1997, the car went through a facelift, and the panoramic glass was replaced by a flat one. To lower production costs, the 1995 Dacia Nova had rectangular taillights that flanked the trunk’s opening.

Inside, the automaker created a much more modern cabin than what the mid-80s cars provided. It featured a one-piece molded dashboard with a curved area that integrated the instrument cluster and the center console. Fronting the driver was the instrument panel, which, besides the speedometer and tachometer, showed the gauges for the fuel level, the coolant temperature, the oil pressure, and the ammeter. It was unusual for a 1995 vehicle to have all these dials since most automakers had already ditched the info about the oil pressure and the battery charging status. The four-spoke steering wheel was made from plastic, and the bucket seats had little side bolstered areas. In the back, Dacia installed a folding bench seat where three adults could sit, but only for short jaunts. There were just a few options for the vehicle, such as the stereo with four speakers and the central locking. Power steering was unavailable.

Under the hood, the automaker installed a choice of two engines, a 1.4- and a 1.6-liter, both fitted with carburetors and overhead valves. These were paired with a five-speed manual transmission. The McPherson struts and the twisting beam axle in the rear were some of the features that made the Nova a beloved vehicle by its customers. Its power-assisted braking system consisted of disc brakes at the front and drums at the rear, and the ABS was unavailable.