The Chevy Nova was a common sight in the 1970s, but what wasn’t so common was one with a factory skyroof. It was an option only in 1972 and 1973, and just 164 of them came in blue in ’72. This car is one of them and it’s your basic Nova otherwise. This Chevy has its share of rust, but the mileage may be as low as 31,000. Located in Naples, Florida, this Nova is available here on eBay where the bidding lies at $4,300.
My favorite car happens to be the third-generation Nova (1968-74). That’s probably because I had one from 1970 and kept it 11 years. This one is similar to mine, excepting the hole in the roof, of course. It comes with a 307 cubic inch V8 which output 115 horsepower (detuning had begun and ratings were stated in SAE net terms). Although the 2-speed Powerglide automatic was still available, this one has the 3-speed Turbo-Hydramatic, which would have made it slightly better on gas. Power steering was also ordered along with a vinyl top, which I believe was required in order to get the skyroof.
Chevrolet built nearly 350,000 Nova’s for 1972, meaning it was still a quite popular automobile. More than a third of them came equipped with the 307 engine. But just two percent (6,822) built in ’72 had the skyroof option and just 164 Nova’s finished in Mediterranean Blue had the skyroof (RPO WV4). Chevy would build 3,250 more Nova’s with that option in 1973 before pulling the plug.
From the paperwork offered, the car apparently was first sold in West Virginia, a state known for its harsh winters. We don’t know how long it stayed there before finding its way to Florida, but it has managed to find a lot of rust along the way. Much of the sheet metal south of the tops of the wheel wheels have rust issues as does the floor pan in the trunk. The seller adds that the frame rails have the blight, and we wouldn’t be surprised to find some under the vinyl floor covering that was standard on the base Nova back then. Even the air cleaner has surface rust, so that has to be concerning.
The paint, vinyl top and interior all look original and all will need some work. We don’t know the condition of the skyroof, which was manually operated. There is no evidence from the headliner that this optional equipment has ever leaked. We’re told that everything on the car works as it should, although the radio is not original. It looks like an aftermarket job that may double as an 8-track tape player.
One interesting thing to note is that the rear bumper on this Nova is from a 1973-74 model, not the 1972. They were larger and bulkier and this suggests the car was hit in the rear at some point. Which might also explain why the paint on the trunk lid has deteriorated at a different pace than the rest of the car.
This seller says the car runs, drives and stops, but only well enough to be loaded on a trailer. He goes on to say that the gas tank is “out”, but does that mean it’s physically actually out of the car or just in bad condition? The Nova runs off a small container under the hood and an electric fuel pump has been rigged due to a faulty mechanical pump. These non-SS Nova’s don’t have the resale prices of the more powerful cars. $20,000 should be about all you’d have spend to get one like this Nova in Excellent condition, according to Hagerty. There’s no mention if the skyroof adds any kind of premium.
A few years ago, in Scottsdale, Russo & Steele sold the Pontiac version – Ventura Sprint II – with a 350, auto, buckets & console, power steering & brakes, factory a/c (complete), rally II’s and painted orange with black vinyl. One of 250 – and out of California. Sold for just under $10,000, and resold for around $13,000. I should’ve bought that one…
The first few pictures make it look like an easy project with sunburned paint, but then start on a down hill slope. I give credit to the seller for telling potential buyers who actually read the ad that the car needs a total restoration, including frame rails. That inclusion probably cost him a significant amount of money.
Steve R
My buddy had one in HS and his top always leaked . Its hood to see one that didn’t. That one was wayyy back to mid 80s . I have a feeling ot went to the bone yard snd repurposed as the floors from the weather were a flint-stones specialty.
Could be a neat Nova err NoGo car restored.
And then you open the trunk… Yikes.
Sunroofs were invented by people who hate people who have to fix them. I like ’72 Novas but on this one, I will pass.
I don’t think being one of 164 blue 1972 Novas with the Skyroof option will be enough to blind potential buyers to all the rust issues. It’s like saying, “hey, it’s garbage, but it’s *rare* garbage.”
i have this nova, completely restored powered by ls fuel inj, 4l60
I like Novas and I like Naples. The first new car I bought was a 69 Nova. My wife and I lived in Naples, Florida, and she still has family there. I lived in Lake City, Washington when I bought my new Nova. It was dark green, black vinyl top and ralley sport wheels.
God bless America
Yes Naples is nice, I’ve lived here for 32 years. My dad have had the same year and color Nova. Rotted around the windshield so bad that the windshield was loose lol
That snow tire and the condition of the trunk tells you that this car spent some of its formative years playing in the winter salt.
The 2004-2010 Ohio license plate tells everything we need to know where it spent it’s life. There is nothing left. Buy all the sheet metal you want, you can’t weld it to air.
My Dad bought a 72 new, it was silver in color, no vinyl roof. Sunroof was black color. It leaked water and wind noise from the first day he owned it. The dealer was unable to stop the water leaks from the roof.
Traded it in before it was 3 months old.
Although we had grown up with many cars with canvas sunroofs, the old man refused to buy another car with one, only the steel sliding ones from that point on. Recall he used the Nova as an example of what he felt were crappy American cars and designs. He said it was inexcusable that the Japanese and Europeans could build steel sunroof cars, and a canvas topped Nova was the best the USA could do. (I think he had a good point)
This one is a Loch Ness monster for sure. Tree-fiddy is my max offer.
If someone could fit an 8 TRACK TAPE into that CASSETTE TAPE slot in the ( resemblant of a Delco) AM FM Sterio ..more power to em’…
That would be a neat trick… ijs
Maybe I’m an optimist. If I had the room I would buy it, restore it, and drive it.
The amount of body work needed would not justify a restoration, or even a partial to make it safe to operate, donor/parts car in my semi-informed opinion.
If a ’73 Nova rear bumper fits a ’72, does a ’72 rear bumper fit a ’73(or ’74)? Many cars back in the day leaked water in the trunk even when new – you don’t need salt for rust to happen there, especially if the trunk mat remains on the floor.
73s , probably . 74s had huge bumper shocks instead of bumper brackets so probably not, or not easily
I live in California and my friend bought a 72 Pontiac Ventura Ii from the original owner back in the early 80s and it had a sunroof. It was a four door originally silver but repainted like a rust color but it had the 350 Pontiac, bucket seats, console, floor shift with a turbo 350, power steering, air conditioning and Pontiac rally wheels. We had a lot of trouble finding a replacement sunroof and it turns out it was made by a company called weathershield in England. We were able to find one in southern California but it was the last one an upholstery shop had in stock very rare piece.
If you got this car really cheap and you had to have that optional top, you’d be better of cutting the roof off and swapping it onto a better Nova. The roof looks like the only solid part of this car
I’ve got one. A ’72 SS with the Skyroof option. It is my 2nd Skyroof Nova. My first wasn’t an SS.
Took me 19 years to find this one. They leak. All Skyroofs. To find a Skyroof car that is solid is not a simple task.
I’d love to have this one for parts, but it isn’t worth more than a grand.
I think I recall Eddie Murphy driving that in Beverly Hills Cop.
this nova completely restored now. LS powered
I had a 72 rally nova skyroof, sunfire yellow black vynal top 350 3 speed