We’ve all heard the story about the little old lady from Pasadena who only drove her car to church on Sundays. Well, in this case, it’s no gag, and the owner was a little old lady from St. Joseph (Missouri), and she also drove her 1972 Chevy Nova to the library twice a week. But she gave up driving in 1999, and the car has largely been idle ever since. There is no indication if the compact runs, and it’s covered with years of dust and dirt. This restoration opportunity is available here on eBay in Blue Springs, MO, where the bidding has reached $11,099 with no reserve.
The odometer reading is just 54,000 miles on this Bow-Tie, and we’re betting that’s accurate. We’re told this Chevy hasn’t moved from its current perch in 19 years. The lack of a battery showing under the hood indicates that no recent attempts have been made to start the vehicle. For all we know, the original 350 cubic-inch V8 could be locked up. And the fuel system may have gasoline in it from two decades ago.
Under layers and layers of grime is a triple color Chevy likely starting with Gulf Green paint as the primary hue. Some surface rust suggests you might find more when detailing the Nova. A dark green vinyl roof covering is present that may be okay, and the matching upgraded interior is potentially good, except for one visible separation in the back seat.
We’re told the 92-year-old owner never drove the car outside of a 100-mile radius of home. It was ordered new with a fair number of creature comforts, such as factory air conditioning. But you won’t know if anything works without hooking up a battery and an external fuel source. Some original paperwork has survived along with the Nova, such as the 1972 window sticker. This could turn out to be a wonderful barn find or a big hole to pour money into.
Don’t really get the neglect part of your title Russ. The car was stored out of the elements and the battery removed. Both big pluses to long term storage.
The fuel system is very likely gunked up from the tank through the carburetor. And considering on how this car was driven before it was stopped, who knows how much sludge is lurking inside the motor, if it will even run.
Parked and obviously neglected for 25 years, never driven more than 100 mile circumference of the city! What a great find and story. Good that it wasn’t completely neglected by being left to rot outside under a tarp beneath a tree on the back 40 in a field. Hopefully it’s not a mouse house or rotten to the core. If it’s solid, Preserve it as is.
Be interesting to see at what price it sells.
Maybe the cat that left the tracks on the rear window kept the mice at bay.
Nice find Russ, this is what I call a true collectible barn find…with a lil ole lady tossed in. Not a four door 99 Oldsmobile or Ferrari that’s gonna be auctioned at Mecum for $2 mil.
Most likely the old lady is no longer with us, or Mecum would have auctioned her off too.
If you are going to park a car and ignore it for 25 years, this is about as good as it gets. Based on the many bidders there are lots of people who think this is the real deal.
100 mile radius: a hundred-plus years ago, it wouldn’t have been all that uncommon to have lived one’s life close to home. Fifty years ago, this must have been the mindset of the elderly owner. Today, at least in better-developed parts of the world, that’s much less common due to increase in wealth and conveniences (example: modern cars). That said, I’m thinking about a family friend who has lived a frugal life and who has never been more than 50 miles from her small town home. Maybe she has a classic in the garage…..
I agree with all the other comments that it is good that it was stored inside.This one is priced right even though it needs a little work to get it going. I just hope it stays original and nobody makes it into a restomod! Minor things in my mind could be done such as maybe putting on ralley wheels but that is it!!
The dome light appears to be illuminated which might indicate an attempt to turn it over. It appears to be a worthy candidate for restoration
I like it! …. I’ll give you $3,000 not a penny more ;/
You’re not getting it!!!
Better dust than rust Dixon 😌
Nitpick’n but surface rust doesn’t have holes like the leading edge of the hood,also “green” radiator,a lot of different shades of green body panels,water stains on the back of the rear seat? I’m always skeptical when they don’t at least wipe the top layer of dust off in one photo,lazy or intentionally hiding defects
You are right, surface rust can be dealt with by using a sheet of sandpaper or a pad of Scotchbrite. This isn’t major rust, but at best will need to be cut out and patched. I’d want to see the underside of the car, what’s visible looks pretty good, but for some reason I don’t see an 80-90 year old woman hosing off the underside of the car when she returned home from her bi-weekly trips to church in the dead of winter.
I’m glad the author didn’t repeat the sellers distortion of this being a one owner car. In my opinion buying a car and parking it for 20 years without transferring title into your name, likely to save money at the time, doesn’t make it a one owner car in an attempt to drive the price higher. It should raise a red flag as to the accuracy of the sellers description. Not to mention and potential issues with paperwork will have to be dealt with by the next owner.
Steve R
It continues to amaze me how entry-level compact economy cars command such prices, largely due to a combination of inflation and scarcity, as the millions of similar cars succumbed to rust and went to the crusher. This one has a lot going for it, with indoor storage and no battery. Replace the gas tank, fuel line and fuel pump, then rebuild the carburetor, and with a fresh battery she should start right up! Just turn the engine over by hand first, to ensure that it’s not seized. Give her a thorough cleaning both inside and out, then decide your next steps. Just for grins and giggles, I’d buy a new gas tank with provisions for a return fuel line, in case you want to retrofit that 350 with some form of aftermarket fuel injection later. This one was equipped with the right motor (350 V8), THM automatic transmission and air conditioning, so the expensive basics are all there.
I’m not sure if it could be called neglected it is under cover,hard to say what’s under the dust, maybe a 50/50 car that’s why there called barn finds,you never know
It’s a 2 door Nova with a 350. With 54,000 miles on it. Easy money.
She was not an old lady when she bought the car,she was 39.
Don Holt – she was 65 when buying it, because she stopped driving in 1999 at the age of 92.
sounds like the nit pickers are pissed this guy is going to make a home run on this.the days of stealing these cars are gone even in today’s market. solid 1 owner car with papers. it will sell. i will not pay that kind of money for a nova but somebody is
sounds like the nit pickers are pissed this guy is going to make a home run on this.the days of stealing these cars are gone even in today’s market. solid 1 owner car with papers. it will sell. i will not pay that kind of money for a nova but somebody is
Pretty close to Grandpa Sams car, like remarkably close. Likenesses include, green color, 350, 3 speed auto, bench seat, differences, no vinyl top, no a/c, no carpet, but by golly, it was a punk senior in HS dream. Way better than the Volvo. I went with gramps to pick up the car, and he wasn’t used to the hair throttle, and put down rubber leaving the dealer, with his grandsons big smile. Grand folks coughed up about $2600 bucks, surely gave him peanuts for his 7 year old ’65 Impala 4 door nobody wanted. It was a fun little car, but to be honest, a bit on the cheap side, and a Chevelle for another $250 was a much nicer car. His 350, a 2 barrel, ran out of steam pretty quick, but did wicked burnouts however.
Naturally, grandpa would plotz if he saw what his old Nova will cost someone, especially like this.
I wouldn’t bet on anything without paperwork
Is it just me, but look at the top of the left front fender to the hood, is that two different shades of green or is the hood just more faded, but it’s been in storage, I’ve never seen a hood fade more than the fender top, the side yes but not the top. Something is odd, IMO something has been changed, just my opinion.
Wow what a Barn Find! It would be really cool if it had a 4 speed on the floor! And a 4 bbl carb! This is a easy fix up as long the 350 turns over. Good luck to the next owner! 🐻 🇺🇸