The seller says that this 1971 Chevrolet Nova was discovered under a carport on a farm and it was grandma’s “pride and joy that she enjoyed driving to and from her sisters house and church.” It’s listed on eBay with bids of $8,000 and the reserve isn’t even met yet! There is a $13,500 buy it now price. It’s located in Eads, Tennessee and the seller will deliver it for a buck a mile. Thanks to Arthur B. for sending in this tip!
I’m surprised at the heavy bidding here, but Hagerty lists this car in #3 good condition as being worth $14,800! This car is probably break even at that value now if the bodywork and all of the other work is completed. A #2 excellent car is supposedly worth $18,600 or in that ballpark so maybe there is hope. I’m 99.999% positive that this car won’t be restored back to original spec, though, the next owner will undoubtedly drop-an-SBC-in-it. This car has one one repaint many years ago according to the seller.
The seller must have taken a while to take these photos as the say that two of the hub caps are missing yet both sides of the car show both of them in place. “Grandpaw purchased this car brand new from Carl Cannon Chevrolet Olds Inc. in Jasper Alabama on January 12, 1971 and it has remained in the area ever since”. It looks pretty good, no? The underside looks pretty solid but some rust is visible and the off-color area above the right quarter panel is hopefully just a ding touch-up or something other than rust work. They say that it’s a “Straight solid southern body, floors, rockerpanels, door bottoms, trunk, and where the windshield meets the dash, Never subjected to salty roads or climates, Some minor rust at the bottoms of the front fenders and a small spot on the drivers side rear quarter panel wheel opening otherwise the body is rock solid,”
I’m assuming that “grandma” and “grandpaw” were in their 30s when they got this Nova? 1971 was a full 47 years ago now. Although I went to college with someone who was a grandma at the age of 30 so who knows. The interior looks great, they must have had a reflective sun shade in the windshield. No, I think I’m the only person who uses one of those. (or am I?) The back seat looks like new, it sure wouldn’t take much to detail the interior of this hidden gem.
Here’s where a lot of time will be spent. The seller says: “numbers matching 307ci/2bbl/200hp engine, Turbo 350 Hydromatic transmission, and 10 bolt rearend, Cranks and runs but does not have any brakes.” There sure are a lot of wires at the back of the engine, I don’t remember that from this era of cars. I thought that it was a recent phenomenon to have hoses and wires criss-crossing all over the engine compartment. This engine will come out anyway, there is no way that too many people would leave a 307 in a 1971 two-door Nova, no way. What are your thoughts on Grandma’s Nova?
Nova. No va. No value. No value in this car going at $13.5 with that crusty underhood shot. But at least it doesn’t have vinyl, or bits of vinyl, on the roof, as all it would have created is a lot more rust.
Nice car. It wasn’t long ago these were $1,500-$2,000 cars. I’d want an up close inspection to confirm it’s condition.
A look at the sellers completed listings shows he has a knack for finding desirable cars, especially short bed fleetside Chevy pick ups.
I’m not a huge fan of the repeated references to grandma and grandpa when that aren’t his grandparents. It seems like a somewhat deceptive way to drive the price higher.
Steve R
I’d suggest that there’s more structural rust than is what’s being portrayed in the ad. Caveat emptor.
I bored my 307 060.over,installed a set of 10-1 pistons,heads off of a 360hp LT1 350,ran a 4-speed with 456 gears and would run in the low 12’s in the quarter mile.Id take that 307 any day.
These were cheap cars…well they used to be.. I always liked to camero and chevelles a lot more. Where’s the prices on those cars are absolutely ridiculous anymore. I had a 68 Camaro and it was nice sold it for $1800 and a 70 Chevelle with cowel induction hood .. Sold it for 800.. That was a long time ago but I sure wish I had them back
I just hope someone doesn’t make yet another silly, tubbed hot-rod out of it, instead of fixing it up, getting the rare AC working, and enjoying it for what it is.
In 1971, yep, these were boring ho-hum cars. Today, I see this as a cheap to buy, cheap to keep, and a piece of cake to work on. A.C. power steering etc, I see tons of smiles every mile put on this car. Run that 307, until the rods come out of it. Then do something else. Rims, tires, brakes at first, put 2 grand on this car tomorrow, and you have a fun reliable comfy car for 15k
I think it’s a bargain. Wish I needed one more car.
Not sure Haggerty would insure that car for $15K once they saw it.
Sorry, if it were rust free by in large, 13.5K is right for an unmolested rust free car with zero options and a small block automatic. Nice that the interior is in good condition. BUT, too bad it is a bench NO Bucket/Console car. If it were a rare option SS car with Bench Seat on the column that would be another consideration.
If the car was a real SS with a documented special order Bench Seat with on the column shift it would make the car more “rare” not more desirable.
And some boulder surfing rash on the rear passenger side floor. Technically speaking, doesn’t it already have an SBC installed? I can never remember if the 307 is a stroked 283 or de-stroked 327.
Stroked 283. I had one I built 30 years ago. Bore of 283 stroke of 327 if I remember correctly. Put cam.some heads and intake on it and I fooled a lot of guys.
I don’t think the one family owner status is worth as much as this seller and others thinks it is.
I can’t see coming anywhere near 5 digits for a car like this. It has not been well cared for and likely needs everything redone. That would be big money.
Looks like Eddie Murphys “crappy blue nova” from Beverly Hills Cop
If it were, then the price makes sense, $10K for being used by Eddie Murphy in a well-known movie and $3,500 for the car.
I like the look of these, and would leave it stock. If someone wants to modify a car, don’t use a car that is this original.
Speaking of that 307, I’d say it would last a very long time, if my Aunt’s experience is anything to go by. She had a 71 Nova 2 door, 307 with a powerglide, no AC. She seldom did anything to it. It ran low on oil and seldom got an oil change throughout most of it’s life. A few times my father removed the valve covers to find hard sludge in the shape of the valve covers, and he had to chip it all away and poke out the drain holes. If it started and stopped, she thought everything was just dandy. It sounded like a bunch of typewriters. She neglectfully drove it until the final t-bone and you couldn’t open the passenger door, then it got junked. I felt sorry for it.
Great in a straight line. Don’t ask them to turn or handle. Had the Poncho version. Take it to the track & enjoy. No disrespect -a beast of its time.
Keep the 307. Then again, those A/C hoses are long enough for a big block……..
Just kidding.
Just add tune up, brakes, AC work, tires,
service as needed, drive and enjoy.
I like this Car looks in fair condition the body. Interior and dash. It would take another 13,500 at least to get it on the road.
Trailer Queen.
As soon as I saw it Beverly hills cop. Now I have that damm song in my head