We’ve seen numerous really nice sixties and seventies Chevrolet Novas through the years here at Barn Finds, some of which have been restored, others turned into a Restomod, and a few that are just well-cared-for survivors. This 1973 Nova SS here on Craigslist is among the latter group, and it’s one of those cars that truly merits the seller’s description of calling it a time capsule. With only 13,082 original miles, this one remains much like it was when it left the dealer over 50 years ago, and it understandably comes with a premium price tag. This Super Sport is priced at $42,995, and with fall being such a beautiful season to visit the New England area, it’s a great time to head up to Huntington, Vermont, and check this one in person. Many thanks to reader Tony Primo for his great tip here!
Just about everything is said to be original here, including the Dark Red Metallic paint. I don’t recall seeing many Novas this color, and it works well with this body style, plus this one also features the exterior décor package. It’s also got the SS option, a feature that only added an extra $79 to the window sticker, which seems like money well spent at the time. We don’t get much detailed information on the car’s background that would provide clues of how this Chevy has remained in such fine condition, or why the car was driven so sparingly, but the seller does tell us that living in the climate of El Paso, Texas, during its early years is an important factor.
Everything inside is still almost like new, with the condition reflecting how I’d expect such a low-mileage survivor to appear. This one also ticks many of the right boxes for the interior’s options, including the bucket seats, console, and special instrumentation. Further back, there’s a rear speaker and rear window defroster, with the one item I first questioned regarding originality being the red carpet. Another check of the window sticker shows that it’s also from the factory, with the brightness complementing the other sporty black components nicely.
With a 350 under the hood, a manual transmission, and a Positraction rear axle, there’s nothing to complain about performance-wise either, at least by ’73 standards. With such low mileage, there’s no telling how much longer this one can go if the next owner continues to give the car a high level of care and maintenance. Nearly $43k is a lot of cash for a Nova SS from this period, but this one seems like a top-tier example all the way around, and it wouldn’t surprise me if this cool Chevy fetches close to that amount. Is this a fair price for what you’re seeing here?
This has got to be one of the cleanest-low mileage Novas from the early to mid 70’s to ever make it on Barnfinds. 350 4 speed is sure to bring a lot smiles driving. I’m really surprised at the low mileage ( I’d be looking for every excuse to drive this thing). But at this point if it were mine, I’d be very choosy as to what day, where, and when I’d take it out. The beat the old saying even further into the ground….. ” They’re only original once.” I wouldn’t want to lose that originality with this one. I remember this color in the 70’s. Its very nice in person. Nice find here Tony P. And another great write up too Mike. I enjoyed it.
I’m happy that you also see this one as being as special as I thought! For my tastes, it’s just about as perfectly-equipped as a Nova could be in 1973, and I hear you about driving this one sparingly and trying to keep it original. As always, thanks for your kind words!
It’s really nice, but $42,995 is a lot of money for a 1973 with a 350 2bbl. The ad doesn’t mention if it’s a 3spd or 4spd, typically sellers will only omit that sort of information if it’s the less desirable of multiple options. This will get a lot of love, deservedly so, but online love doesn’t always equate to willingness to purchase.
Steve R
It should be a three-speed as the M20 was only available with 4 bbl 350.
It could be the non-Muncie 4 spd with the Inland shifter. If so people are going to be surprised how to shift it into reverse.
I have to wonder, I own a 1967 Camaro RS/SS ,396 Numbers matching car the spent most of its life in ElPaso Texas . I don’t understand how a car could be shipped to Texas without A/C ,such as this Nova,which is probably the nicest one I’ve ever seen. I don’t need A/C living in Pennsylvania but just think it’s odd
This is a very good car, but not $43k good. In ’73 a Chev 350 wasn’t nearly as hot as the earlier engines due to the EPA starting to wreak havoc on performance, plus we got the unsightly 5 mph bumpers that year. Even if this was a ’70 with numbers matching 350 and in the same condition, it wouldn’t be worth the chunk of change they are asking.
By 1973, the SS was nothing more than some emblems and striping. The “SS” could be had with ANY engine, including the 250 I6 and was a gimmick option. The U17 gauge option is really nice. As others have pointed out, $43 large is a stretch for this beauty. At least it has the L65 350.
its a 3 speed if you look at the picture of the shifter real close its a R being straight up so 1st with be straight down seller thinks they are being slick by not saying 3 speed or 4 speed and not showing the hole shifter knob so that makes me believe its a dis honest seller and makes me also think its 113k miles just my thoughts LOL
A buddy of mine in high school had an orange one with a black vinyl top and the 350 4-bbl/4-speed. I’m not sure if those stripes could be deleted because his didn’t have those, but they are obviously original.
Very rare to see one of these that hasn’t been hacked up. Like the Honda Civic of more recent times, most 2-door Novas were questionably modified and then destroyed by young drivers, especially the SS cars. I would however agree with the sentiment that the asking price is way too high given the year and the low horsepower. The 350 2-bbl only had 145 HP this year. By 1973 the SS package was basically just a trim package.
Robert Davis Jr. and others. I don’t think this guy is automatically dishonest as he did not say the car had a 3 speed instead of the 4 speed. He also did not write it did not have air conditioning. Does that make him dishonest? No, he was only writing about options it had, not options it does not have. Be easier on him!
Very nice clean Nova here but the price is way too high for a 350 2bbl engine with no A/C. It is nice to see a 3 speed manual trans. Man I had 2 sets of those ralley wheels 25 years ago and sold them for 100 dollars.
I had a tire shop and had a bunch of those wheels too, sold them by the piece and as sets, $25-30 each.
Red carpeting from the factory?
I bet the factory red carpeting is pretty rare but I don’t personally care for it.
I assume the 4 speed would have been an extra cost item and it does not show it on the window sticker.
Does it not have power steering?
This is a lot of money for the first year of the “big bumper” Novas, which just ruined the car for me, but I think if someone buys this car for long term ownership they will not be disappointed with their investment.
Sure, is an interesting car the way it was ordered.
I kinda like the red carpet with that exterior color. My 74 Hatch SS is now Marina Blue, and I don’t know how well blue carpet would work. I’ve already bought black carpet, so guess it doesn’t matter. I’ll save the pictures to help me figure out how to put mine back together since it’s been apart for 7 years. Factory air with big block is gonna be tricky since factory never did it. I switched to 72 front sheet metal to save 50 or so lbs for the big block. I think if I’d found this car when I began my journey I’d have bought it in a heartbeat!
Your right no power steering or A/C
Not arguing the price..all original..go find another one in this primo Condition..your paying for rarity..get over it..they really do not exist anymore..
This is a nice car, but as others have said the price is too high. For me I would have to dye that carpet black or change it out, and for old times sake I couldn’t resist putting a wider pair of BFG’s on the back with some air shocks.
Princely sum but you may be getting the nicest one left. 350/3-speed aside, she sure is clean. Yes, this is the carpet option I thought was also available on ’74s. I liked the ’73 striping better than the ’74 as it retained the SS emblems.
Take off the SS stuff and the stripe down the side, then make it a hatchback. Puts some 50s on the back with air shocks and chrome traction bars, chrome rear diff cover, and dual exhaust out the back, and you have my first car. So close, but yet so far, and I will pass due to the price. I can get a sweet ’70’ Chevelle for a lot less.
This car would be better with dual exhaust which it does not have last year with not cat convertor.
no cat in 74 either. 75 was the first year , when all cars went to unleaded gas
I have not seen many with that black tailight panel, mine had that also
Rocco, Black rear panel was part of the SS package.
Here is a screenshot from the 1973 Nova brochure.
Mine did not have the SS badges, but it was a Custom. I lost the pictures of it somehow. Really bummed about that.
Maybe it was an option. Here’s the entire brochure.
https://xr793.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/1973-Chevrolet-Nova.pdf
I really like this one…a lot! A buddy in high school had a silver ‘74 optioned very much like it, and it was a great cruiser. Awe inspiring, no, but a really fun car.
You would really have to want one of these to pay that kind of money, and it’s probably priced about $10k too high, but who knows? Good luck with the sale!
I bought a new 1973 Nova SS in the fall of ’73. Paid $2800 out the door. It was the 350 with a 2 bbl with a 3 speed and a bench seat. The stripes were not on the car the car when I bought it, but the dealer said he would put them on since that was part of the SS package.
Drove it for a year and sold it back to the same dealer for $2000 and went and bought a 1974 Datsun 260Z.
Why would a car bound for Texas be ordered with a rear window defogger instead of A/C?
Is a tachometer included here with the special instrumentation pkg, & could you get those on a 6 cyl in ’73?
Did Chevy have the gall to put SS and 250 emblems on the car if it was ordered with the 6 cylinder?
you could have had a six cylinder SS car on the first gen Chevy ll and Chevelles as well.
You can order the SS package per your choice…Same with previous Novas…walk into the dealers show room pick and choose….I have a chevelle that was ordered the very same way