In production from 1962 to 1979, the Chevrolet Nova was likely the best-selling American-made compact car with rear-wheel drive. Most of the ones you find for sale today are Super Sports (or clones) from 1969 to 1972, not “regular” everyday cars like the one you see here. With just 17,600 miles, this Chevy appears to have been hardly ever used and qualifies for the “Nicest One Left” award in its mostly original condition. Located with a dealer in Springfield, Ohio, you can park this Nova in your garage for $29,900 (available here on eBay, and another great tip from “Curvette”).
The 1970 model year was the Nova’s third-best sales year to that point. And the first without any Chevy II badging, dropping its 1962 roots. 307,000 of them left the assembly line, and almost one-third of these cars had the basic small-block V8 displacing 307 cubic inches. We owned a Nova very much like this one in 1970 (kept it from new until 1981). This one is finished in Champagne Gold paint, while ours had the darker hue (and more attractive, IMO) Autumn Gold. Ours had a 350 V8 with a 2-speed Powerglide, while the shift pattern on this car tells us a TH-350 was installed at the factory.
Now that I’m over my Déjà vu moment, this Nova looks like it just rolled off the showroom floor. The owner (before the dealer) owned it from the 1970s, but that may not mean he/she was the original owner. However, the vehicle was undoubtedly cherished, as it was tucked away in a time capsule and only brought out occasionally to travel a mere 17,600 miles in 55 years. We’re told that “most” of the paint is original, but we don’t know what was repainted or why.
One deviation from stock is the exhaust. This Chevy has true dual exhaust, while if you did order dual exhaust from new, it would have had two pipes sharing one muffler, not two. This car has factory A/C and power steering, but power brakes were not ordered (and would have been a nice edition as the manual brakes on a 350 Nova took a bit of foot pedal effort). And the gas tank has been replaced. If you’re looking for the nicest non-SS left out there, could this car be it?
Nice. The grandkids and a few of their friends can load up and go for ice cream 🍦 with grandpa 👴 and they’ll always remember that great V8 purr w the dual exhaust. Turbo Jet 307.. 200hp/300lb-ft
I love the grandpa vibe of this car, just like buying a year old 1970 Nova.
Looks and condition wise it is very similar to my old Ontario orange ’72 with dog dish caps. Bought it from the original owner’s husband. It was his wife’s car that she used to run around town and go to work at a local elementary school less than a half mile from their home. The Nova had 39xxx original miles on it in 1997. Being a 20 year old, I yanked the 2bbl from the 350, added a Eddy Performer intake and Holley 650dp, hotter cam, redid the heads and added dual exhaust, The car was so clean, ran strong and was fun, but being a little older now, it’s amazing how much different you look at these cars…I would not touch a thing,
I’m almost with you about keeping it home stock, except for one thing. A power brake retrofit kit would be high on my wish list! While adding power brakes wouldn’t keep it “All Original”, it would also improve safety. My goal is to make sure that this car keeps all of its original sheet metal intact and undamaged, and power brakes will aid in that effort. I learned to drive in my Mom’s 1972 Maverick, with manual drum brakes, and while it was doable, power brakes would have been a welcome addition, especially if the front drum brakes were replaced with the optional front disk brakes! The stock drums were devoid of pedal feel, and the high brake pedal and high pedal effort didn’t help matters any.
Listing has already ended.
Very nice clean Nova here with A/C with the belt on it and the added dual exhaust.!!
My Sister in Law bought a new ‘71 Nova 2 Dr. with a 350. “Saved money” by not ordering power steering or brakes. It was a beast to drive, and the lack of power brakes led to any early demise.
A buddy had a 350 Nova like this one, light green with dark green vinyl top. PS, PB, 350 Turbo trans. Posi rear with 3.08 gear. Took the vinyl off, repainted it dark green…headers, hi-rise, 600 Holley, 4.10 gears…killer car even with stock cam. Blast to drive although he was a little scary to ride with! Low end monster…that combo worked well with the auto trans. Looked great too with aluminum slots with wide tires on the rear.
Someone obviously loved it enough to buy it, and I don’t blame them! I’ve always liked this generation of Nova/Chevy II (second to Gen1 (’61-’65) with Gen 5 (’75-’79) coming in 3rd.
red lines out of place. i see an LS and 2 SS added to it and becoming something it never was. change out the tires and leave it be for all that money
The air cleaner lid has a sticker with 307?
Lincoln.. this one has a 307ci.
The author Dixon’s had a 350
Thanks Stan, I didn’t read carefully.
Save for the A/C? This is a replica of my very first car. Bought it off a Dodge dealer in ’76, with a trade for my dirt bike and $500. $30,000…Like Eddie Money sang: “I wanna go back, and do it all over, but I can’t go back, I know.”
This Nova does have a powerglide – note the handy trans drain plug up front on the passenger side. Not many Novas this year & earlier had a/c – i would have sprung for the turbo 350 trans when ordering a/c & skip the vinyl roof, full wheel covers, &/or redlines to compensate for the extra cost.
Hi, I’ve had GM my life. I had a 68 Malibu w/307. Had low mi…2brl 2-speed. cruise at 70 all day. However, bought a set of race headers from a racer! 6 pack pounders + 60$…of course we took it for a “spin”. Holy crap!…like night/day! Put straight exhaust pipes mufflers. You could feel the car, I CAN breathe!! gas mileage went up 4-6 more!…..my dad SOLD it when I was at work. Never forgave him for that….even on his death bed.