Basic Wheels: 1978 Chevrolet Nova

The Chevy Nova enjoyed a long run on its rear-wheel-drive platform. From 1962 to 1979, it was probably the best-selling compact car of its era. This 1978 edition may have things that will turn off some buyers, such as four doors and brown paint. But it seems like a survivor-quality vehicle that, at a minimum, will need some brake work. Located in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, the potential daily driver is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $6,000.

The last generation of the RWD Chevy Nova was built from 1975 to 1979. The engineering and looks didn’t change a lot, and sales remained high. But the powers-that-be cancelled the car in favor of the 1980 Citation with FWD. That automobile turned out to be a disappointment and didn’t go past a single generation. Chevy was still using an inline-6 in the Nova by 1978, so when the seller says it has a 6-cylinder, he/she may have mistaken it for a small-block V8.

If you ask the seller, he/she will admit having no mechanical or car guy skills. So, the chances are this party won’t have any history with this Chevy. The car has 114,000 miles, which is more than reasonable for a 48-year-old automobile. Whatever engine lies beneath the hood is supported by an automatic transmission, probably a Turbo-Hydramatic because the Powerglide had become just a memory a few years earlier.

We’re told the condition of the vehicle is “fair” overall. Perhaps the body and UPS-like brown paint are okay, but the seats have some brown duct tape covering up some flaws. You won’t be able to drive this car home because the brakes are soft. Considering this is a basic old car, is the seller’s asking price in the appropriate territory? Head up to “Lothar… of the Hill People” for the tip.