This Light Blue Metallic paint has seen better days, I don’t know if cutting and buffing would even bring it back. As a last-year car (last year of the typical rear-drive X-body Nova), not to mention having an interesting drivetrain, this 1979 Chevrolet Nova is worth restoring, in my opinion. The seller has it posted here on craigslist in Millersburg, Ohio, and they’re asking $3,100. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Rocco B. for the tip!
Despite the faded paint, the body on this Nova looks great. The photos are another case where it looks like the camera timer was set, the camera was tossed into the air, and this is what came out. There isn’t one photo showing the whole car without part of it being cut off. Not one. I don’t get it at all, but they showed most parts of the car other than the back seat, the trunk, and the underside, so that’s nice.
The last of the traditional Chevy Novas, the fourth-generation models, were made from 1974 for the 1975 model year until 1979. They were the last of the rear-drive Novas and came in two-door and four-door body styles. Rectangular headlights were on board for the ’79 model year, and buyers had several trim level choices, including the base model as seen here, or a Custom with more luxury touches. The seller says the front floor boards need work, so be prepared for underbody rust on this otherwise solid-looking car.
The interior is bare-bones, and it appears to have seen better days. I’m not sure what happened on the passenger side door panel, but it looks like it was stripped of most of its hardware, unless it just fell off and hasn’t been replaced? The front seat has been reupholstered, unfortunately, but you can see the back seat through the rear side window in this photo, and it’s one of the coolest fabric patterns ever: Sport Cloth. I would not rest until I tracked down that material to redo the front seat. Here’s what it should look like. The original three-speed manual and column shifter have been changed to a four-speed on the floor. That’s either good or bad, depending on whether you’re a fan of original spec cars as I am or not.
While there’s visible surface rust on parts of the underhood components, the fenders and everything else look rock solid. The engine is Chevy’s 250-cu.in. OHV inline-six, which would have had 115 horsepower and 190 lb-ft of torque when new. This one has benefited from an Edelbrock four-barrel carburetor upgrade along with an Offenhauser intake manifold, which adds some much-needed power to this six. Sadly, they think it needs a fuel pump so it’s connected to an under-hood gas can now. Bring your trailer and some ideas on how to redo this Nova. Depending on the underbody rust, $3,100 seems like a bargain for this unusual example.
Another basic car of its day. For me it would be even more interesting if it was still a three-on-the-tree. That original upholstery is ultra-cool.
Based on my experience with a 1979 Mustang with similar silvery blue paint, I’m surprised it has any paint left on it.
Maybe someone will find this Nova worth some love.
Thanks Scotty.
The 4 speed grabbed my attention. Thats got to be super rare with the 250 straight six if its factory which I think it is looking at the shifter housing on the transmissiont. Unless its a 4 speed overdrive, which may have been an option. GM had a floor shifter for the 3 speed manuals too by then as well. I would have loved to see this brand new on the dealers lot. That cool interior patern and that blue. Its a nice color when new. A coat of paint and an interior restoration would really make this one pop. Its got good bones for sure and it looks solid.
They swapped the factory 3 on the tree 🌳 for a 4 on the floor Driveinstile.
I just zoomed in on the one picture showing the column, and now I see it ( smacking myself in the forehead). Is it too late to say that I’m not the most observant guy in the room here??? Sorry about that. We had a neighbor with I believe it was a ’78 Lemans with a 3 speed and it was on the floor from the factory. Thanks Stan, and Bob too, you guys have better eyes than me.
That was supposed to say transmission tunnel. Sorry. Long day
Craigslist ad already deleted by author, I’m not surprised. Thats a very reasonable price for that car. The 4 speed makes the car so much more interesting that I can forgive the fact it’s down 2 cylinders (for now). As for the paint? The choices are limitless. Cut and buff, scratch and shoot, or go with a complete strip and refinish down to bare metal. I would see if I could save the paint first, and I don’t mind patina. I would have also inspected the floor pans personally before I made an offer, but that is irrelevant now. I think someone scored a good deal!
We refer to these as ” gramma cars ” and nobody wanted them new . I cant imagine anyone wanting it now . Its crusher bait .best to just send it .
Mr Chambers I respectfully disagree. I still have my great aunts original 79 Nova! I received her on Christmas when i was 14 and Im over 50. She is beautiful and could still be a daily driver but is too wonderful to be out in the sun that much. Yes. most of these cars did make their way to the crusher but the few that are still are around deserve original preservation. Respectfully Natasha Hollis
https://youtu.be/hvUtqm2P9oQ?si=josXo-B1ZRIaM90n
Uhhhh, someone wanted it, the seller has deleted the listing. Crushing this car would have been a crying shame if someone wanted it enough to buy it. I hope you weren’t one of the people complaining about Cash for Clunkers in the late 2000s.
I read an online article once about the last 3-on-the-tree passenger car made in the U.S. AND the winner was 1979 Chevrolet Nova. So that makes this car an icon that is no longer an icon. I wonder if anyone knows which exact car was the very last one. Could this be it?
geezerglide 85: Is this the article you are referring to? https://www.autoweek.com/car-life/classic-cars/a34566051/what-was-the-last-3-on-the-tree-column-shift-manual-car-americans-could-buy/
Written by Murilee Martin, a great writer who still writes for AutoWeek, although they no longer offer a print version – drats!. He does write for other automotive-related websites, and it is worthwhile to look him up.
Hi Colorado junkyard visits high mileage discoveries, and other assorted oddities are always worth the read.
A fuel pump for one of these is around $20, and wouldn’t have been much more effort than getting it to run off a can.
Price is very reasonable, I’m not surprised that the ad is down, almost enough to make a dog break his chain to run and buy it. (so to speak).
I had a similar transmission swap that was very disappointing. We had a 65′ El Camino with a 283 2-barrel and 3 on the tree. MY partner totaled his 68 Nova 327 with a close ratio 4-speed. We bought the 4-speed off the boneyard and installed it in the Camino. First gear was much taller than the 3-speed, so it was necessary to kind of rev and slip the clutch to get it going (Not a problem if you have 325hp), then 2nd gear was just a tic different from first gear. The car did not perform as well with the close ratio trans as with the 3-speed. There was no fun factor in driving this car. I don’t think that the very slight advantage of GM’s close ratio transmission on a drag strip was worth trading the feeling of control and pleasure of a standard 4-speed manual or even a 3-speed. This may be the reason that GM cars began to have fewer manuals than Ford products.
My wife had a nice one of these when the Kids were being born. Sadly I let it go and moved her up to a G-10 shorty van. Years later I picked up a few neglected ones and have about 5 I hope to live long enough to play with. One is a 3 speed, hoping to put in an S-10 5 speed if it will work.
Needs a fuel pump?!! Oh the horror! Whatever shall we do?! Shall we deal with the super complicated task of trying to fit a factory one? Or attempt the laboriously installation of an electric one?! No, let’s take more time and eventual fail of trying to place a can under the hood, tie it down and try to shut the hood for the benefit of being able to start it. People…sheesh!
Did my mom take these pictures? Decades of family photos and never seeing the top of a single person’s head. Another gem from Scotty. Just a nice, cheap used car. What a nice find.
Ha! My gut, that was a great ab workout, laughing at that one, FasterAsteroid! That’s excellent. I shouldn’t be too harsh on sellers who can’t seem to figure out how to get the whole vehicle in the frame, I’m sure they’re all super nice people. And, the photos were good enough to entice someone to look at and buy this car, as the listing has been deleted.
Had a ‘77 Concours Edition, triple black with the landau top. Buckets, L48 small block, F41 suspension and posi rear, custom center console with gauges, Saginaw 4 speed…and power windows! Rebuilt the 350 (.030), swapped in Super T10, added 15×7 Corvette Rally’s and switched to 3:55’s. Car was a blast and never saw another one like it. Buuuut, new 5.0 Mustangs (‘88 and up) walked away on me. Oh well. Still was a cool ride
https://youtu.be/hvUtqm2P9oQ?si=josXo-B1ZRIaM90n
Here’s a peek at my 79 Nova…..her name is Shasta – she has ta have gas, tags, title, insurance……Ive had her since I was 14. Could still be used as a daily driver but now a lady of leisure.
Another great write-up Scotty! I appreciate the extra touch of having a link to the original post in this case, as I’m a few days behind on BF, and this car is long gone.
I’ve been busy getting my house ready for EAA guests here in Oshkosh Wisconsin: https://www.eaa.org/airventure
If you haven’t been to EAA AirVenture, try it. It’s just PLANE fun.
Good find, Rocco.
I had a 1977 Nova- 4 speed / V8. Should have kept it.
Peace!