If you outfit your ride with fat meats on the back and skinny tires on the front, you’d better have something impressive under the hood. This 1968 Chevrolet Nova SS in Midland, Texas answered that challenge as a true 1-0f-600 such cars equipped with the elite 375 HP, 396 cid L78 V8. So, definitely, the fatties and skinnies can be fully endorsed. This listing here on eBay needs one of the Nova Faithful to cast a $9,000 opening bid.
As we might expect, the awesome motor is long gone, but any old budget 396 would tear things up sufficiently while awaiting the perfect L78. The seller reports that the 12-bolt rear end with 3:73 gears remains.
The aftermarket five-slot wheels and slicks suggest this Nova last turned a tire sometime before the Reagan era. The scars of multiple repairs and flared fenders will need to be made right, but maybe not immediately! Would it be crazy to perform some mechanical refurbishment and run the car as a period-correct drag car for a few years before returning it to factory perfection?
Not everyone would argue that a big block Nova needs a stick-shift transmission, but I’ll take the manual any day. This SS four-speed may have given up some parts to other cars, but the Texas climate’s been kind to the visible metal. Who’s ready to trade their piggy bank for this rare Chevy?
Not me, take 9000.00 to Vegas, Better chance at making a profit.
sigh, what coulda been if it had enjoyed even the most minimal of care.
This is a NO GO for me!
Its a shame though… the price is to high for such condition..
Engine, trannie, dash and interior all gone… sorry Charlie..
Without documentation to back up the L-78 claim it’s a $1,000 parts car, at best.
Steve R
Who’d give $1000? Sure wouldn’t be me!
$400-500, 12 bolt posi, regardless of original application, possibly more if it has certain codes.
$100, Manual steering box.
$75-100 for clutch linkage.
$200-400 for the front wheels if they are 15×4 dish mags.
$150-200 for 15×8 dish mags, $250-350 for 15×10’s.
$100-150 if it’s a serviceable floor shift column.
Then whatever the small parts add up to. There are lots of $20-40 parts such as motor mounts, heater box, trim pieces, hood and door hinges, etc.
Steve R
This is an image of one used up and enjoyed car and left for dead.
What other hobby can you beat and ruin something sprinkle the element of time and wa la. Make 1000% profit when you are done without lifting a finger?
This is much better then spending the 401K on a restoration only to never drive it when you are done.
I want back in!
If seems like you think he’s going to get somewhere near his asking price. Thankfully that’s not likely to ever happen.
You are right on one thing, someone enjoyed the crap out of it.
Steve R
I think you might be surprised. He will get relatively close to his asking price.With the exposure of it blasted on the internet and people like us to churn about. Not for me to say it’s a good price or bad. There will be a buyer…..eventually.
Read. It is a Chevy SS Big Block Nova. Not sure if the sellers info is correct. Lets play along and say it’s true. 1 of 600 built. For the mighty GM to build 600 of anything is a low number out of thousands of Nova’s made during that year. Now figure the survival rate. This car would seemingly qualify as a survivor. How many out of the 600 can someone put their hand on? Safe to say 125? 75? 50? Hopefully there is a registry that can shine a light here,
Regardless of it’s condition. It is still a rare car that has enough of the elements for for someone (Chevy Big Block three pedal) to pull out all the stops and want to save it. Not me. Either way good luck to the seller
I read the ad. Please tell me what I am missing. The engine is gone, there is no Protecto Plate or any other piece of documentation that can prove the car is a big block SS. I don’t think many people are willing to spend that much money based on an unverifiable claim by a seller, especially in this cars condition.
You seem to believe the seller, why?
Steve R
I think there are one too many zeros in that price.
It’s JUNK no motor. ITS WORTH THE PRICE OF SCRAP.
Correct, you are!! Both write ups say 396… But, I don’t see any power train at all. Am I going blind? The body is in terrible shape. No interior. Yuch!! Crusher time.
That era of Nova sucks. To start off with it an ugly post car,meaning the post between the door glass and rear quarter glass. Too get any rubber under rear end of car you two options are air shocks which sucks because then the tire sticks out to far and looks ridiculous.Ive seen attempts at wheels with offset still not enough rubber. So really the only option that looks good on those cars is a tubbed car with narrowed rear end,to expensive. I also think Nova’s have ugly interior. What good is a big block four speed car if you have to start put in second or third gear?Is it obvious I think Nova’s suck? Not a wise decision at any cost.
Most people, oddly, on the ’68-73 nova got the black vinyl bench seat interior & a many without carpeting. Looked like a taxi inside. Back then i would have chose a blue car with buckets & no extra cost blue interior – would make a big difference.
A post car is ideal for the strip – strong & lighter in weight.
I can imagine what you think about the new camaro & chally that pretend to be hardtops & cant even hold 4 people in comfort like the old ones did.
& if you can sqeeze side saddle in the back seat, u are lookin at a teenie tiny rear quarter window that of course does not even roll down.
This particular candidate is yellow originally. Yellow cars just suck altogether. It’s beyond me that an individual would paint or buy a yellow car. When I see late model yellow cars Corvette, Camaro, Challengers,Mustangs,etc I laugh to myself for paying so much for an ugly car. At least back in the day people had something of an excuse with the potent LSD that was plentiful. There is not enough left of this Nova to buy at any price.
I loved my 70 Nova, MR Herbee can say whatever he wants, free country and all that jazz,, I drove our Nova for about half a million miles. Had a 250 inline and a saginaw three speed on the column, yeah 3 on th tree,are u old enough to remember that mr Herbee?1st 250 lasted about 150k miles, 2nd 250 lasted about 150k before I replaced it with a 283 along with a turbo 350 automatic, drove it that way for about another 50K miles, before installing a 400 small block, after that my son drove it for a few years thru his high school days, its gone now but not forgotten, my wife and I bought it and we owned it while raising 5 kids, guess what color it was?
What are you crazy? have you seen what these cars are going for recently???
7 years ago i looked at a 1970 Nova SS deuce the front clip was missing the floors were gone, a tree was growing through the car but it still had its original LT1 but it needed a complete rebuild and it was full of water they still wanted $8000 for it!!!!
Does the vin# reflect all of the options on a 68 Nova?Who is to say what the original drivetrain was.What ever it was, it looks pretty hacked up and not worth the cash it would take to bring her back to life.If you have plenty of time and cash this is major project.
Joe McMannis, no, it is not reflected in the vin# for that year nova, anyone can misrepresent Nova SS even though it was a plain jane, see : https://www.novaresource.org/rpo_Z26.htm
This thing would have been an absolute bear to try and handle when new, especially with a 4 speed, only true gear heads with racing in mind would have ordered a Nova with the L78, heard it was not an easy car to buy in the first place as the 375 horse engine was not listed as an option. She’s wasted, no doubt this thing saw some heavy use, but I’m sure someone will fix it up.
When these cars, 396/375 , 4 speeds or automatics originally hit the streets they pretty much ruled those streets. Not too many competitors could match them. This one is pretty much too far gone & too expensive for what’s left.
I’m sorry, I thought you said that the “Texas weather has been kind to the visible metal”. There are rusty Novas available up here in the salt belt for less, and you don’t have to pay a premium for the Texas pedigree.
Another old L78 Nova missing it’s heart.
Without it’s original heart it’s must another old rough A$$ Nova that needs an overpriced restoration.
Don’t walk, run.
What if it’s an original Yenco?
Or Baldwin/Motion, hehe
That would be doubtful but, even if it was the motor is gone. This car looks like it was in the movie Escape from New York in 1981.
What if after you blast the car it’s made of gold?
Not original anymore
IT’S JUNK GET IT THROUGH YOUR HEADS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It has a big-block heater core setup. Which means little or nothing, but I am inclined to believe that it was originally a 396, not necessarily an L78.
I think that GM really missed the boat in not installing LT1s in Novas.
It’s evidence, but not nearly conclusive. Those were available from GM well into the 1980’s. Several friends installed the big block heater core set up to gain more clearance for their hoses when they went with tall valve covers on their small blocks.
Steve R
If 375 horse can be documented and if I had the cash; I would buy this car in a heartbeat. Used to ride in one when new. More fun than a room full of monkeys.
Why? There is NO power train with it.
No matter if it’s 1 of 600, or 1 of 1 when it was built, all that value based on rarity is shot to hell due to it missing what made this car so unique, most notably the powertrain. Yeah, it has that 1 of 600 VIN, but big deal … that still doesn’t get you an ORIGINAL, NUMBERS MATCHING, 1 of 600 big block Nova. You have a clone. A tribute. A wannabe. Save yourself the hassle, and the coin .. there are much cheaper, less needy Nova shells out there to build your tribute Nova. $9k? I think $900 would be a fair offer depending on how solid the frame is.
I don’t think the vin shows a 375 horse car and I don’t think it shows big block. It might show SS but not engine size. Nova people correct me if I am wrong. If no paperwork; car is no different than a 6 cylinder car. If proof it is 375 car it is worth some bucks even without original drivetrain.
Not an SS car. Good luck finding a dash, as no ’66 Nova dashes or radios (that fit) are available on the aftermarket, like other interior items for this “one year only” car. Ask me how I know!