There are a lot of options available when it’s hot-rod time. You can buy a perfect “turn-key” example, buy an old worn out muscle car and bring it back to a sporting life or build your own, your way by buying a roller like this 1972 Chevrolet Nova, located in Citrus Heights, California and available here on eBay for a current bid of $1,900, reserve not yet met. There is a BIN price of $3,500. Thanks to local_sheriff for the tip!

There is no denying the high-performance potential of the ’68 to ’72 Chevrolet Nova coupe; they were a favorite when new and continue to have a strong draw among bowtie fans that are looking for speed. Their diminutive size and light weight, along with the ability to swallow a big-block V8 engine, are some of the attributes that placed this generation Nova in a desirable realm. By 1972, the best a Nova could muster from the factory was a 200 net HP  350 CI V8 engine but many didn’t maintain their stock bearing for long as they were subjected to Day 2 upgrades and much more.

So, what do you need for a good roller project? Well, a sound body, frame and basic suspension components is a good start. This example appears to have those bases covered but a cautionary word should be mentioned as the only thing the seller states regarding this Nova is, “1972 Nova Power front disc brakes ..Power Steering .. Needs motor and trans. Clean project ready to finish.” And that’s all he/she wrote! The body looks pretty straight and rust free, floor pans too. The finish on this Chevy looks reasonable and it certainly is passable for use but it’s probably not a critical matter as a do-it-yourself project like this frequently ends up with a new coat. All of this said, I’m not sure this is a, “ready to finish” project as the seller suggests, he may be getting a bit ahead of himself – there’s still a lot to do. Oh, and another observation, I’m not sure what’s up with the wheels, steelies on the passenger side and Magnum 500’s on the driver side?  I think I prefer the Magnums.

Being a roller, the sounds of silence is all that emanates from under the hood. So, what’s your flavor? As I read comments about other vehicles and what our readers would prefer to do with those various examples, it sounds like a GM “LS” series engine is the way to go with a project like this. Of course, being the malleable Nova, a traditional small-block or even a Mark IV or Gen VI big-block would fit the bill too. Transmission-wise, the world is your oyster as you could go with an automatic or a manual; there is a hole cut into the transmission tunnel to accommodate a floor shifter.

While the floors look solid, the acquirer is going to need an entire interior, and perhaps a dash/instrument panel too. It’s all doable but it adds up to when you consider every tiny detail like wiring, nuts, bolts, cables, grommets, levers, etc., the small but necessary stuff that frequently gets overlooked. The upside is that this Nova is a blank canvas.

This Chevy seems to be a good foundation from which to create whatever you fancy. I’d probably go for a street-sleeper vibe but there are endless possibilities. How about you, which way would you go?