This slightly unusual 1969 Chevrolet Nova is listed for sale here on eBay. Located in Jeddo, Michigan, it comes with a clear title. The seller has set a BIN of $10,500 but there is the option to make an offer.
I really like the styling of these Novas. This is a nice looking car, but there are few things to consider. The seller is claiming a genuine of 23,800 miles on the clock. As always I would hope that they have some documentation to verify this. As you can see, the car has undergone some touch-up work as can be seen by the over-spray on the exhaust. The underside of the car does have surface rust on it but generally looks fairly solid. Looking at the two photos above I can also see some rust appearing behind both rear wheel arches, and some obvious repair work in front of both of those as well. I worry when that sort of work is so obvious in photos, as it doesn’t bode well for the quality of the repairs.
Things are also looking a bit crisp at the bottoms of the doors, although the passenger side door is worse than the driver’s. While this is not that nice to see, I think that the seller deserves credit for bringing the worst points to our attention and providing some nice clear pictures.
Under the hood is what makes this Nova that little bit unusual. This is the 153ci 4-cylinder engine that was only offered in the Nova between 1968 and 1970. It is backed by the 2-speed Torque-Drive transmission. The seller doesn’t give any indication about how well this Nova runs but suggests that it would be suitable as either a restoration project or as the basis for a big block clone. Backing his claim that the car has a low mileage is also the claim that the car is sitting on its original tires. He readily admits that they are cracking, but that the car is sitting on them regardless. Call me overly cautious, but I don’t think that I’d be driving very far on them myself.
The interior appears to be in generally good condition. This is the major problem that I’ve spotted. I’m not sure why the seat has split, but I think that I can see more problems beginning to appear on the passenger side. Apart from that the rest of the interior seems to be quite good. The rear seat needs a clean, but the door trims look really good along with the rest of the plastic trim. The headliner also appears to be in good condition. It’s a bit hard to tell much about the condition of the dash from the supplied photos, but the original radio does appear to be present so hopefully, there are no extra holes for an after-market stereo.
This Nova offers a couple of different possibilities for the new owner. It could be restored to original, and the 4-cylinder engine would be a point of difference over most Novas out and about at present. The other possibility is the seller’s idea of building a big block clone. My feeling is that the price would make it an expensive starting point for a project like that. The other thing that is playing on my mind is what lies under those repairs on the rear quarters. It’s a car to ponder.
Might want to count those plug wires.
We did and it’s a four-cylinder!
Well it is a 4 cylinder, maybe Cadmanls, is counting the coil wire also!!!!!!
I have actually owned one of these for about 6 months, bought it from a little of Man in Desloge, it had been his wife’s, and after she died he parked it in a warehouse on the back of his property, (former Beer A-B distributor in our area) I can’t remember how many years it had set, but it was up on wooden blocks. I did not know what it was at first, I just saw an offer for a low mileage 1970 Nova and went over and bought it. Never checked the engine until I got ready to work on it. I had to replace the fuel tank, and refresh the fluids, and work on the brakes, and got it running. Sold it at a car swap in SW Illinois for a nice profit! That little engine did not like trying to take off real fast it would go 0 -60 in about 2 days, but it was a nice little Nova.
The seats in this Nova show signed of age, for some reason, GM used the cheapest material for cloth seats in their low price cars. IMPO
Says 153 on the air cleaner. Not sure I’d be bragging on that, however. I, too, didn’t know a 4-banger was even offered. AC probably wasn’t even an option since the compressor would be larger than the engine
You can tell just from a glance that it’s a 4 banger. Look at how short it is compared to an inline 6.
Look real close, there’s only 4 (four). No doubt about it.
4 cylinder engine was available on Chevy11 and Nova from 1962 to 1970.
With that drivetrain it was a basic transportation car. Small V8 car would be a better starting point, but again would be asking more money.
Wow, the Nova that really doesn’t go! Low miles because it just couldn’t?
I have a spare 396 that could find a happy home here.
This one is a coin flip…with that engine and trans, it can barely get out of it’s own way now, so I guess I would pull the 4 banger and “turbo glide”, set it aside for the future, and drop in a 350/350 for now…a 396 would require a 12 bolt from my experience, so a big block would be a bit scary…
I have seen many 10 bolts live behind a BBC. I have also seen 12 bolts grenade behind small blocks. The determining factor was always whether a manual or auto trans was present, and whether stick street radials or slicks were present. (Slicks and a manual could send a 12 bolt to an early grave.)
The torque drive was a powerglide with a manual valve body.
That would be the fun of it all…!!!! LOL!!!
I can’t imagine a more anemic later model car than this. It was a half baked attempt for economy, almost as if, the carmakers knew this was the future. “Throw this at them, and see what happens”, a Detroit exclusive. Being an American in 1968, we LOAO, nothing will ever replace our beloved big V8’s. Why they didn’t use this motor, which is basically 2/3rd’s of a 230 6 cylinder, in the Vega is beyond me. Major blunder on GM’s part. Nice car, but like AZD sez, 396 bound. Now that I think of it, my old man had a inboard/outboard boat with this motor, a much better application.
Because when the Chevy II was released in 1962, it weighed all of 2500 lbs and this was a good base engine. By the end of the 60’s the weight had gone up another 600 lbs give a few hundred depending on options. Which the 6 was more often chosen and the 4 cylinder went away.
Thanks to Barnfinds — another car I never heard of!!
Jerry. I will finish your sentence for you….. “or want.”
P.S. That seat looks like it has been sat in for a lot more than 23,XXX miles.
My guess is that the odometer has rolled over. Good looking car, though.
Wow, a Torque-drive too. That was the very short lived manual shift only version of a power glide if I remember correctly
Now there’s an oddity for you! I never even knew these Novas were available with a 4-popper! I bet this thing couldn’t get out of its own way! Must’ve been a librarian that bought this new. Even the base six was as weak as a baby lamb, let alone a 4-cylinder. THE only thing going for this is the body’s condition. You can drop any V8 you want into it and make it your own.
This car sat somewhere pretty wet or that mileage claim is bogus. There is a lot of rust hidden under that Maaco touch up paint job. What is with the screws in the door cards. Very suspect, bring a magnet!
Not worth anywhere near what he is asking. The 4 cylinder rarity does nothing for the value of this. Needs a big block 4spd and a 12 bolt posi. Now it’s a fun car!!
Just like the early ’82 Camaros and Firebirds with the four cylinders, these were used as parts cars for better cars.
10K for a rusted 4 cylinder seems a little much to me.
I was buying cars at the Colorado Auto Auction back in the early 1990s and walked up on a “new”-body Camaro, I think an 82. It was cheap and I started bidding and eventually I got it bought. I was all proud of myself for stealing a cool car like that but as I walked to to block to pay I passed a couple guys talking and one was saying to the other “Can you believe it brought that much even with a 4-cylinder!”.
That’s the day I learned that they put 4 bangers in Camaros. Oops.
You have to know what you are buying before you raise you hands. I got screwed at a few auctions too for the same reason.
A lesson learned.
If a car is going cheap, there is always a reason.
Midget racers used this engine for many years. I think it was good for about 200HP in race trim.
I’ve thought of building up an Iron Duke Nove like this with a near race spec engine and stripped interior. Just a bare bones lightweight with good balance due to the lighter engine. But not from a 10.5K starting point on such an original car.
So is this the same motor used in Vega and Monza after the aluminum block failed?
No, that was the 2.5(151 ci) Iron Duke in 1977 which, I believe, was not the same motor.
It is he same for the most part. The article is wrong on the years it was offered however since it was first available in 1962
This engine was also used in boats for many years, usually in the form of the OMC or MerCruiser 120 I/O. It was very heavy for its power output, and most boats powered with it were pretty sluggish (kinda like this Nova).
Love the fact it has the Torque Drive tranny….back in the early 80’s my sister-in-law inherited her grandfather’s 68 Camaro with it mated to a 6 cyl.
Cars don’t always have to be fast to be always fun drive…….this Nova would be always blast as is. GLWTS.
Evidence of what happens when your connection slows to a crawl before your edit window passes…lol
tourque drive? isn’t that a power glide you have to manually go from low to high, or was that the turbo glide?
Yes manual shift and air cool trans no cooler lines to radiator
The Torque drive was a modified powerglide set up for manual shifting (no auto valve body in trans) from low to hi…….dumb idea, only lasted 3 years, 68-71.
Looks like nobody even wanted to
test-drive that lot-dog, lol!
Even less to go wrong in this glide, tho i seen plenty of original glides behind 6’s still kickin today with no repairs ever!! A floor shifter would be more convenient if u like to shift manually all the time.
You might have to change the front springs here switching to a v8, but maybe not switchin to a 250 6 cyl. Do not be fooled by the latter – with a taller air filter, pertronix & a straight to the back exhaust with turbo muffler, pulled out back seat, & even a 3:07 rear, these cars can be quite peppy.
The 153 4 cylinder and a larger version, 181 ci (IIRC), lived a long and happy life via Mercury marine engines as well.
Is it believable this car has its original tires and they are whitewalls?
Somebody buys a strip model and splurges for white walls.
That doesn’t make sense.
Look like radials to me. Not in ’69!
Absolutely no doubts, leave that 4 right where it belongs. I know some people can’t get past the fat tire and noise stuff but that’s not interesting any more. Odd and still alive is far more enjoyable.
I was just old enough, somewhere in my memory taking place in the era of the moon landing, a friend of the family bought a new, dark green nova with a four-cylinder engine…I remember looking at the engine…it was a 4-cylinder.
As already mentioned, a bit steep price wise for a car that already speaks of having existing problems. Then again, by Michigan standards this is about as good as it gets for a survivor. SBC for me, I don’t need to pass everything on the road except the gas station.
I had a friend who’s Dad had a 69 Impala company car with the same 4 cyl / Powerglide drivetrain. If you think this Nova would be slow, the Impala needed a calendar to time the 1/4 mile.
Impossible! Car is too heavy! lol More likely a strait 6 & glide.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Impala_%28fourth_generation%29#1969
I wonder if Chevy experimented with a 1st gen Camaro with that 4 cylinder motor – nah – imagine the fan shroud! It’s big enuf on the shorter hood nova. Imagine tryin to find that part today. lol
I’ve always read about a 4 cyl available but have never seen one. We are Iron Duke nuts w our 88 Fiero, you would be surprised how well that 2.5 can go !!
Zero to five mph in 60 seconds down hill 👀
Classic steel. I will finish your sentence with “the cliff.”
A 4 in an Impala: Has GM no dignity, Sir?
I don’t know about this one. If it were in great shape, it should be in a museum because of it’s rarity. It’s not worth much, being such a dog with that tiny 4 cyl. Still, if it could be gotten for a reasonable price, it would be fun to show up at car shows and freak out the Nova fans when they see what’s under the hood. I never heard of this drive train, either. My Aunt had a 71 Nova in white with a 307 2bbl and powerglide. It went pretty well. A friend had a 71 Malibu with the 250 straight 6 w/ powerglide and it was ok. The 4 cyl, though, you could probably pass it with a tricycle. By the way, in the engine picture, there’s something under the top radiator hose in what looks like an aluminum color. It kinda looks like an air pump, which of course they didn’t have in those days. I wonder what it is.
The GM 153 is not the Iron Duke. As stated it came in late 60’s Nova’s. A popular conversion for the old flat fender Willys Jeep was to find a 120 HP marine engine and put the Nova’s intake and exhaust on it for street use. I have one of these conversions in a 1952 Willys M38, with the overdrive. Double the HP and fits in there like a glove. It’s a nice smooth running mill that scoots the 2500 lb Jeep pretty well. Keeping my eyes open for a 140 HP verson.
I sure hope no one takes the four cylinder out. It’s way cooler and too different to ruin making it like everyone else’s (yawn) Nova.
I am from opinion that a classic Original should Not be molested or hot rodded Must remain Original regardless of engine size and power ! to new buyer please Dont molest this car already 1000s of restored and hot roded classic cars around Keep it Original just servicing .
Mileage is suspect. Drove one three times the miles stated here and the front seat was no where as worn. White paint also hides more than most. I would have to look it over very closely. To drop a high performance sb or bb would be pricey as everything chassis wise would have to be updated.
I believe the 153 is half of a 307 Chevy small-block, much the same way Pontiac made the Trophy 4 in the early 60s.
Actually, I think the 153 was a 230 straight six with two cylinders lopped off.
This motor was available from the start in 1962 Nova or Chevy II and was still rare to find but there was a little old lady 1965 post car around the hood that was finally sold after she passed. It was around stock for awhile but disappeared years ago from the area.
False. All Novas were big-block 4-speeds from the factory. Craig Jackson told me so.
My dad bought a 62 Chevy II with the 4 cyl and 3 spd manual new when I was 15, I got my license and drove the heck out of it when dad would let me, surprisingly a fun little car that not only could chirp the tires but also started my “hobby” of collecting tickets. lol. After almost 200,000 miles he finally traded it in on a new 65 Plymouth Valiant Signet with a special ordered 273 (Barracuda) Formula S package, to help with my collecting, lol.
My 66 Chevy II that I bought in 1971 was offered with a 4cyl. 4 bolt 13in. rims. 194 six and up came with 5 bolt rims. Car is a 1 family car since new.
I don’t fall in the camp of very old original car is worth preserving. The fact this Nova survived is amazing! Still, I would build it the way I want. Stock appearing with a modern drivetrain is what I would do!
Rare combo
Keep original 🤗
Here’s a crappy copy of a test in the June 1968 issue of Motor Trend between the then new Nova 4 cly (with a 3 speed manual) and the Volkswagen Fastback. I’ve been a Type 3 Volkswagen since buying my first one in 1984, but I would take this body style Nova, especially with the 4 cylinder, over any VW any day.
http://www.ostronic.org/VW/vw-nova.pdf
Notchback – cool article!! I love reading old car tests! Thanks – Jerry Kenney
It is what it is and it’s very rare too. Leave it as it is and drive it leisurely.
This car has more than 23K on it that’s for certain–more like 123K to me. Read an article about a 4 cylinder Nova in the mid ’70’s or thereabouts. The writer stated that the 4 cylinder models were
being sold in Europe to beat the high government taxes levied
against 6 or 8 cylinder models of the same car, much like Ford
d8d in the ’30’s with the V-8 60 engines they used in their export
models. Maybe this was an export car that missed the boat.
At first I think of trowing the I4 in the bin at once, but after thinking of it – how many are there even left of these? We’ve all seen brute V8 Novas of this generation for decades by now, it might be cool to keep that fourbanger just for the heck of it. Bet there are companies like Clifford or other inline experts that carry hop-up goodies even for this mill…!
Even if the best body shop in the country did the rust repair on this car, the rust would still come back when the owner continued to drive the car in the salt and snow. Replacement body panels and rustproofing technology is far better today than in the 70’s. I’ve seen it happen plenty of times in Ontario 🇨🇦.
I’ve seen a had ful of other GM X bodies with a 4 cyl……From Wikipedia’s entry for Pontiac Ventura: (For 1977, the Chevy 250 six was replaced by Buick’s 231 cu in V6 as the base powerplant and the Chevrolet 305 cubic-inch V8 was introduced as an option; the 2.5 liter “Iron Duke” 4-cylinder was also (and unusually) optional along with the 301 cu in V8. )
I’ve seen a handful of other GM X bodies with a 4 cyl……From Wikipedia’s entry for Pontiac Ventura: (For 1977, the Chevy 250 six was replaced by Buick’s 231 cu in V6 as the base powerplant and the Chevrolet 305 cubic-inch V8 was introduced as an option; the 2.5 liter “Iron Duke” 4-cylinder was also (and unusually) optional along with the 301 cu in V8. )
Wow……somehow lack of historical perspective is rearing an ugly head here.
First there’s a bit of unintended misinfo in the write up. This same engine was first introduced in ’62 for the then new market entry called Chevy II, and was available in succeeding years. The name Nova in that first generation “compact” car was used for the high end equipped model of Chevy II. Moving forward (skipping a bunch of geeky detail) the second generation had a short two year run in ’66/7. The third generation was introduced in ’68, the Chevy II name was no longer used, thus the statement “first year for 4 cyl in Nova”.
The Chevy II was rushed to market in ’62 because, for all it’s engineering uniqueness, and styling “success”, the Corvair was not market competitive with the Ford Falcon. Chevrolet brought out a more conventional car to compete, the Chevy II, and were rewarded with immediate sales competitiveness. This whole segment grew out of the recession and excesses of the late ’50s that prompted the marketplace to embrace a host of more fuel efficient cars such as Rambler, VW, and various other European models (though in limited quantities compared to the better know models). The so called “Big Three” needed to get into that emerging market so developed Falcon, Corvair (first), and Valiant/Lancer. Whether or not a 4 cylinder choice makes sense to you, it did to GM at the time…………..until it outlived it’s usefulness, and then cycled around to reappear a few years later.
Thank you for stating the historical facts. In my younger days, I definitely would have done a motor swap, but back then, the car wasn’t a near double antique as it is now, and being such a rare and unusually optioned car, it would be a shame to turn it into just another “me too” restomod. Besides, REAL cruisin’ is relaxed and slow!
The Ford Falcon and Plymouth ( Chrysler to us ) Valiant were sold, largely unchanged ( although in basic varieties ) as mainstream family cars in Australia. Our ” own ” Holden ( GM of course ) was the sales benchmark that they were trying to match. One of your early 60’s ” compact ” Buicks looks a lot like our ‘ 62 ” EJ ” Holden. I’d almost swear the doors are the same ! Not much else though, I’m guessing. As for that Nova, it needs to be restored to absolute as possible original.
saw a few in the junkyard back in the 80s, big giveaway is really deep fan shroud made of metal, the first gen nova was a light car, around 2500-2800 lbs, 100 hp was sufficient and practical, just not much fun :) put a bbc and t400 4:10 gears and u can get sideways real quick, add some caltracs and subframe connectors = 9 secs qtr mile time :) :)
Chevy ll name was still used in ‘68. It was dropped for the ‘69 model year.
Michigan means rust,rust rust. Check this one out good. A Michigander.
I had A 69 3 in the tree the four was aside ways v8 with one head, an intake pan that did not cover the head ports,just the open areas the 8 cylinder intake would cover ,..with a intake/exhaust manifold bolted to that head!
I had a 62 ss power glide Nova about 1973. Great little car. Surprisingly peppy and got 26-28 mpg on trips. Unheard of in that era!
Yep, great mileage, dad routinely traveled 100+ miles on the job and 30 mpg frequently.
Didn’t know you could get a 4 cylinder in a Nova. Looks like the 6 with two less cylinders. I am willing to bet with some tweaking and mods, you could have a peppy car here that would still give you decent mileage. Price seems way high to be though.
Bondo buggie, note lack of sharp edges at wheel well lines.
I’ve heard a four cylinder engine being available with the Chevy II/Nova from 1962 to 70, but never actually saw one in person. I know they used this engine in the old Postal Jeeps back in the day.
Nice easy to work on basic transportation car. No sensors, no emission test, no check engine light, After my 2002 Toyota dies I’m going back in time to something like this, I’m thru “moving up” in years of cars! Too complex.
Yeah, I’m looking for something practical, nowadays. But, I’m afraid I would not buy this car, as nice looking as it is from far away. And at least a 250 CID in-line 6. IMHO.
69 Nova brochure
http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Chevrolet/1969_Chevrolet/1969_Chevrolet_Nova_Brochure/1969%20Chevrolet%20Nova-14.jpg
Can you say “Power teams….” Huh huh huh huh. It wouldn’t take a team a mules to pull better horsepower and torque.
I think it’s cool and I’d leave the 4 cylinder and just cruise around town. It’s got to be rare. Everyone is obsessed with power but I’d leave it as is. Just fix it up a bit.
Anything bigger than a 350cid in a Nova was not factory original unless it was COPO. The weight of a rat motor would overwhelm the suspension on this car. It would be too much power for street use.
I had a 67 nova post car with a 4 cylinder engine and an automatic trans. ran great.I think these were known as Iron duke 4 cylinders and was also used in single seat airplanes. my little nova just hummed at high rpm. I think a version of this engine was also used in the vega and pontiac compact cars in the 70’s.
Several have beat me to the punch, re: this four banger started out with the first Chevy IIs. The fact its drivetrain survived this long without another owner thrashing it or throwing in a different engine speaks to its uniqueness and rarity. Value? Not sure. Nobody wants a pig in a poke — something that can’t keep up with 2018 traffic on the highways. I know, I drive a 1275 MG Midget with a four speed.
I’ve always wanted to see a 4-cylnder Nova, as I knew they were available. I don’t think I’d want to do more than look at it, unless it was absolutely mint. And even then, what do you do with it.
25 years ago, a security guard at my college had a very basic blue ’68 with no badges that I suspected was a 4-cylinder. He was a very plain, mild-mannered white-haired man, and that car looked like his personality.
Back in 1976 I was considering buying one like this,even with the 4 cylinder/Torquedrive combo but it had been as they say “ridden hard and put up wet” on another note my dad owned a first year ’62 Nova with the 194/ three speed combo, great engine but crappy front suspension that drove him to put recaps on it always.
Crappy front suspension? Maybe it was the recapped tires! Back in the bias-ply days my parents would put new tires on the front and recapped ones in the back. Our second car may have had all recapped tires! It didn’t take long for us to realize that all recaps were not constructed the same. Separation was the norm not to mention they were butt-ugly profiles. Guess only OTR truckers use ’em now? Not sure where I could even find some if I wanted to.
It is a known fact that the front suspension design on the 62 – 67 nova was a crappy design. So was the flimsy unibody, the entire front section bolted to the firewall with just a few bolts, and the cars handled poorly for their size, even by the standards of the day. Chrysler’s A body cars had both a superior suspension design and a superior unibody. For 68 GM’s X cars got a better unibody design than the earlier models, with a bolt on subframe. The suspension was also improved, although it had horrendous geometry like the rest of GM’s cars at that time.
One of the statements I read said something about survivor cars.i have one myself that is almost identical to this one.white,blue interior,250 6 cyl.still has the original plastic on the rear seats..I bought my car from the original owner 20 yrs.ago.it is currently going through a restoration..it is extremely solid with no rust holes anywhere..it will be 100% stock and grandma car again.. I am changing the color though..
Chevrolet nova offered a 4 banger from 1962-1969. I had a 1963 4 banger 3 speed on the tree. Performed quite well, but run hard on interstate . Turned about 4 1000 rpms at 55 mph!
I have spent 20 years combing over the history of the 4 cylinder Chevy II/Nova.
Having purchased a 1969 Nova as my first car, with the 4 cyl. 153 cu in, torque drive trans, at the age of 15, from a local used car dealer, acquired it from, you guessed it, a one owner old lady two doors down from his car lot. She purchased it from the local Chevrolet dealer.The dealer had been in business for 22 years at the time. This was amazingly, and only the second 4 cylinder model to come through his lot.
Some prior comments are factual, while other comments were simply assumptions –
Between ’62 – ’70, produced up to 2500 of these units
With the torque drive, from a dead stop in drive was very comparable to taking off in a stick shift, in 3rd gear at best. However, shifting to low, would allow much better acceleration, then manually shifting to drive at about 45 mph, if in a hurry.
Not all 4 cyl. had the fan shroud. Mine did not. GM simply shoved the rad toward the engine by about 8 inches, by way of 4 stout steel tubes, between the radiator support wall and the radiator, connected with 4 very long studs.
As for the carb, nothing but the best…, ok, that was a joke. Fuel was fed through the original single barrel Rochester Mono-Jet.
Just for fun, I but a 3″ riser adapter, and bolted a 2-barrel Rochester on, and a very minor adjustment, surprisingly the old 153 ran like a factory install.
With the 10 bolt rear, .373 gear, as was mine, this was a very good combination for the old iron duke. Unfortunately, it’s unknown how many 4 bangers came with the .373 gear. I suspect, they were more common in the ’68-’70 models. So, anyone looking to salvage a set of .373 gears from a rust bucket in a bone yard, don’t pass up something just because its not a V8 body.
As for the suspension, and going to a V8/SB conversion, yes, the front springs will handle the V8. During my senior year in high school, I pulled the 4cyl., dropped in a ’70 350sb from a buddy’s totaled Nova SS, with just under 50K miles, along with a 350 turbo.
(No, I didn’t trash the 4-banger or the torque drive) In fact, I rebuilt it, sat it in the corner of the garage, along with the trans.
As for the marine use side of the business, the 153 and the 181 was used quite extensively in 14′ – 16′ runabouts for a span of years, and in greater quantity than ever found in GM’s arsenal of quirky applications.
In fact, another buddy of mine, purchased a 16′ runabout, with the marine 153, and we many hours on the lake after high school years.
As for the disposition of my ’69 4 banger, post high school and tech school, I purchased a ’70, dropped a 471 blower on built 327 in it, and shortly after, decided I didn’t need two Nova’s.
Had a buddy that was bugging the jeepers out of me to buy my ’69, but I refused to let the SS 350 set up go with it. Didn’t bother him, all he wanted was the roller, AND, the 4 banger and torque drive. That was in 1983. He still has it to this day. (still kicking my rear bumper for getting rid of it)
Which brings me to my final thoughts. Is the 4 banger worth much? No, probably not. But I have to agree with several of you guys who commented about leaving it original. You are absolutely correct. If its a survivor leave it that way/restore it as is. There are plenty of the fire breathing dragons out there running now, or waiting to be repowered. Go get one of those.
To all who shared comments, thanks. I enjoyed the reading. Never costs anything to ponder others thoughts.
I recall my buddy’s father had one of these while i was in high school, about 1972. It was pretty unusual at that time. My buddy’s father bought it new in 1970, and we rode to school in it. The power wasn’t that poor, compared to other cars on the road then. Obviously it was not a 13 second ET car, but it was decent compared to a falcon, or a comet. He sold it in the early 80’s for practically nothing..
Rich…
My Dad had a 69 with the 4 cylinder and torque drive. It was ok as long as you weren’t trying to win a race lol. No A/C for sure. We were coming back from Morganton,N.C. to southeast of Charlotte late night and I fell asleep with the floor vent. He said he froze his butt off all the way home. I was only 12 and sound asleep. I just remember his grumbling.