The Chevy II/Nova was one of Chevrolet’s most successful automobiles, built from 1962 to 1979. The third generation arrived in 1968 and would be its most popular, especially from a performance perspective (the Nova SS is an often-cloned model). The car was heavily restyled in 1973 to accommodate a hatchback and bigger bumpers fore and aft. This bulkier-looking Nova is available through a dealer in Omaha, Nebraska although the car is said to be in Canon, Georgia. It’s offered here on eBay for $20,000 but the Make Offer function has also been activated.
I’ve long been a Nova fan, having owned a 1970 edition from new for 11 years. These were fun, nimble cars until they began to get beefier for 1973-74 (IMO). But times and things change and the Nova would return briefly in the 1980s as a rebadged, front-wheel-drive Japanese import (horrors!). Car buyers disagreed with me in 1973, buying 20,000 more Nova’s in ’73 than in ’72. The 1973 model year would be the last year for the 307 cubic inch V8, which is said to be in the seller’s car and numbers-matching.
This Nova could be a survivor as there is no indication of any repaint or rebuild of the engine, although it looks like a different intake manifold sits atop the engine, perhaps to accommodate a 4-barrel carburetor. A 3-speed Turbo-Hydramatic automatic transmission is paired with the 307 as the 2-speed Powerglide had already been retired.
From what we can tell, the body and white paint are fine, and the green interior is quite nice except for one small tear in the front seat on the passenger side. The seller says there is a small rust spot, but we’re not sure where that is. The odometer reading is 25,800 but given that they only recorded mileage to five significant digits, could it have turned over? Whatever the case, the seller says the Chevy runs great and probably needs no mechanical TLC. Everything is said to work except the gas gauge (stop for fuel every 200 miles and you should be fine).
I seriously doubt that there is a Chrysler TorqueFlite behind this 307. More likely a GM Turbohydromatic.
I think this is a scam seller.BF may want to make sure before posting some of these. Some things just look fishy. Scams are getting really good at faking location and send you docs etc. Be careful guys.
I dig looking at barn finds.
My ex-wife was a scam…
Tineye reverse image search is your friend. I found another listing using the same photos.
https://classics.autotrader.com/classic-cars/1973/chevrolet/nova/101756160
It’s listed in Bowersville, GA, which is right next door to Canon. If I had to guess, I would say that there’s a good chance that the vehicle didn’t sell via Autotrader and that this is the same seller relisting the vehicle. Of course, don’t take my word for it, do your due diligence. But my first inclination is “Relisting, not a scam.”
Typically scam listings will not match geographic locations between the stolen photos they use and the location where the car is supposedly being offered for sale. In fact sometimes the mismatch is obvious, like a car that’s being offered in New Jersey and there are palm trees in the background, or all the cars have Illinois license plates, or something.
Bill D: Thanks for the tip on TinEye – never heard of it before, a lot cleaner than doing a Google Image search.
https://tineye.com/
These are great cars! I tried to buy a 70 396 ss when they were new. Couldn’t get insurance. Am now in the process of building one the way I think the factory should have done it. Got 74 SS Hatchback with non-original 350 and automatic. Now has stock-ish 396 w/factory air. (factory didn’t build any 396s with air). 72 front sheet metal (saves 80lbs over 74), fiberglass rear bumper (saves 100+lbs over 74). Buckets, console, gauges, tilt, cruise, 3.73 posi.. Ready for paint (Marina Blue).
Post pictures when done. Would love to see it!! :-)
Just for the record, Russ, the Chevy II/Nova was built from 1962 (not 1963). My first new car was a 1962 Chevy II/Nova convertible in Ermine White with a red interior. Great fun. Took delivery in February 1962.
Yep I have a ’62 400 ugly 4 door grocery getter in my garage with 16,788 miles. Usually a muscle car guy,but this was too nice to pass on lol
A Torque-Flight? C’mon man. Everyone knows the 307 was paired with the Select-A-Shift 3 speed automatic!
My bad. Been visiting too many Mopars lately. Corrected!
We all make mistakes. I always enjoy reading your articles Russ. Keep up the good work!
Just adding a bit of levity. Thanks for the good write up!
My ’70 307 Nova had a 2 speed powerglide …not exactly a race car by any means
Its a nice clean car however that odometer has rolled at least once, blow up the pictures and you can see the brake pedal pad worm down it wouldn’t get that worn in only 25k miles
Agreed. Ditto the worn spot on the upper right back of the front passenger seat–that’s where someone would grab the seat back to move it forward to access the rear seat. You don’t get that kind of wear in 25,000 miles.
Agree. Typical Car Dealer type of B.S.
They don’t make any outright claim that the mileage is original, just state what the odometer says.
$20k for this low option roller. General McAuliffe agrees…. ‘Nuts’.
God start for a hot rod if it were only real. Priced too high for what it is.
What does religion have to do with this car?
Unable to correct.
Agree, no way this only has 25k on it. Do any of you know how many hatchbacks they built in 73? My first car was a 73 Nova 350, a hatchback, maroon, with a black interior, buckets, auto on the floor, sport mirrors, and a black panel on the rear. Sure would like to find another one that is “reasonable”
I also bought a 73 hatchback from a local Burns Harbor,In. Chevy dealer. Had the clear grandpa seat covers but it was a 350 4 speed car. Wish I had it back. Good runner for stock.
Must be a Chevroysler Nova!
I’ll tell you a little story about white cars with green interiors.
A friend of mine bought an exceptional 50k-mile ’62 Impala SS coupe. It was a 327/300 with Factory Air. It was Ermine White with green interior. It had had two previous owners who always kept it garaged. And it showed. This car was original but looked new. This was in the late ’80s.
My friend eventually took the car to Carlisle, PA for the big meet to try to sell it. And he ended up bringing the car back home. He told me he was so tired of hearing snide comments all weekend about why in the hell someone would order a white car with GREEN interior. He even told me two guys were headed over at a furious pace to look at it and he heard one of them say he hoped it had red interior. So, my friend just went ahead and told them it was green. He said they slowed down like they weren’t going to look but they still did anyway. And one guy said to the other, “Sure enough, he was telling the truth!”
Wow. A museum piece there.
One thing I noticed is the battery is not cabled up, could have some electrical problems?? Just sayn
@Rick R
Some go and some blow!
Needs more air filter for that deep breathing 307.
I have in my possession a ‘64. Sedan. Belonged to my grandpa with 68k miles on it. It hasn’t run since ‘90. I really would like to get it running again but lack the time AND knowledge to begin this project. Can anyone recommend someone or a business that could help me out? I’m in the central Texas area. (I’m in a geographical triangle between San Antonio, Houston and Austin) Thank you kindly in advance!
1973 was the last year for a 2 speed powerglide in a Nova and it was only available with the 250 L6, 1973 was the last year for the 307 V8 and would come with either the optional 350 THM 3 speed auto or a three speed manual with either column or floor shift. The 307-2 bbl was replaced in 1974 with the L65 350-2 bbl. The only way your could get a 4 speed man. in a 1973 & 1974 Nova you had to order the optional L48 350-4 bbl.