The Chevy II (later just called Nova) debuted in 1962 as a more conventional compact compared to the Corvair from two years earlier. It would remain a staple in the Chevrolet line-up (as a rear-wheel-drive car) through 1979. The 1973-74 editions were highly facelifted versions of the popular 1968-72 models and would result in two of the best sales years for the Nova. This ’73 version with a 350 cubic inch V8 looks pretty rough but will run with coaxing. So, bring your trailer to Davenport, Florida, and take it home if you’re the winning bidder here on eBay. The auction has reached $4,550 so far.

Perhaps the best way to describe the 1973-74 Nova’s was to think of them as bloated 1972s. They looked somewhat the same, but were longer and wider, perhaps to accommodate the new bigger bumpers fore and aft as well as a hatchback addition for the coupe. I say this because I had a 1970 Nova, and it was a trimmer car compared to the later editions. The buying public didn’t agree with me as 369,509 of the little cars were built in 1973, the nameplate’s second best. And almost a third of them, 104,036, came with the 2-barrel, 145 hp, 350 motor. When you specified an automatic transmission with the 350, you got the Turbo-Hydramatic as the 2-speed Powerglide was in its last year and only available with the inline-6 or 307 engine.

This ’73 Nova is said to be a one-owner car, but the seller has had it for two years. That probably means he/she bought it to restore or flip. The car alleges to be all original, and it looks like it. The Chamois paint (Chevy code 56; aka mustard) is long past its prime and there is plenty of surface rust. There looks to be something worse starting to brew in the rear quarter panels. Open the trunk and you’ll find a bunch of parts, including what may be the car’s factory A/C.

We’re told it’s been sitting for 18 months which equates to bad gas in the tank. In the same breath, the seller says it starts right up. Either way, expect to at least service the fuel delivery system. And at 116,000 miles (16,000 on the odometer), the drivetrain certainly could be tired at this point. The Chevy “needs a little cleaning” which is the understatement of the year. Although the upholstery, door panels, and dash pad are a mess, a five-minute vacuum job could have helped a little.

Hagerty estimates that super nice versions of the ’73 Nova are worth $13-14,000 at best. Since this is not a Super Sport and with the 4-barrel 350 engine, there’s no reason to go any higher. But you’ll quickly have twice that amount tied up in the Chevy if you want it to be right, so plan to keep it a long time.