This 1968 Chevrolet Chevy II Nova looks like the ultimate sleeper, doesn’t it? Most of us can picture some sort of big block hiding under that hood with the faded and sunburnt paint on it. This car can be found here on craigslist in Northwood, New Hampshire, about a half-hour northwest of Portsmouth. The seller is asking $4,995 for this faded Nova. Thanks to AMXBrian for sending in this great tip!
I love the look of this car, and being a first-year third-generation Chevy II Nova with a manual transmission and seemingly solid body, that’s a bonus. You can see a ding in the leading edge of the right-front fender and there are other dings and dents and some visible rust, other than the obvious surface rust. Call me weird, and I know that most of you do, I wouldn’t do too much to the outside of this car. Almost any part inside or outside of this car is available so it’s not like you’re trying to find parts for a Subaru 360 pickup or something.
The third-generation Nova was a blank slate redesign, for the most part. The Chevy II portion of the name would go away the following year in 1969. This is the generation of Nova that I remember growing up as a friend had a really nice red one with a 307. This example has 75,000 miles and it sounds like a lot of work has been done on it. It has had a new floor put in and an all-new brake system.
The interior looks like, well, a 52-year-old basic car. You can see the three-speed manual transmission with column-shift and overall the interior looks decent but it needs a lot of work to bring it back. They mention that the trunk floor could use some work, but I expected it to look worse than it does. It looks like it could be treated rather than replaced to me. Hagerty is at $8,400 for a #4 fair condition car with a six-cylinder and $12,160 for a #3 good condition car. This could be a very good buy.
There is no 307 here, or any other V8, this is a straight-six but we don’t know which one since the seller doesn’t give a VIN or engine size other than saying that it’s a six-cylinder. It could be 230 or 250 cubic-inch six, do any of you know by looking at it which one it is? They say that it runs and drives “new”, which I’m guessing means like new. That’s pretty high praise for a car this old that looks this… non-shiny. I absolutely love these cars and if $1,500 in shipping wasn’t involved this one would be on my radar. Have any of you owned a 1968 Chevy II Nova?
Don’t know about the Nova but there sure are a lot of machines surrounding it under cover! Very nice scenery.
Never owned one myself but almost got killed in one years ago that my buddy was using on loan.
Yes this car has a lot of good company around it..lots of desirable cars in background
And it’s already sold
Yep that was priced right for the condition in that area for sure.
I never owned that generation (68-72) Chevy II/Nova, but I always loved them. Half the guys I hung around with in my high school years drove them. Everything from a 68 153 4 cylinder 3 speed, to a 69 307 4 speed, a bunch of 69-72 regular 350’s and SS350’s, and all the way up to two 69 SS396/375’s. I think the Nova’s outnumbered the Camaro’s and Chevelle’s around here combined.
I don’t know of any outward way to tell a 230 six, from a 250, other than the block stamping, and the VIN will only identify the car as a 6 or 8 cylinder. 1972 was the first year VIN’s included an engine identifier.
I believe I’d pay the $4,995 price of admission just to get a bid on the whole lot of them, unless he’s setting the foreground for the next 10 barn finds listings. lol. Going to check into an 8 car transport from New Hampshire to Nebraska and I’ll be back…
Had one with exact same color, same interior, but ours was the Power Glide auto. Very basic transportation and reliable once sorted. The only real problem occurred when the lower distributor shaft bushing fell out of the distributor housing into the oil pan. After rebuilding the distributor with the new housing, I was able to finally set the timing and dwell. The Nova was a bit noisy as it only had rubber mat.
Another one gone before I get a chance at it!! Damn it frustrating!!!!
That pukey green color was pretty ubiquitous at the time.
I have a 68 with a 307 PG. Two weeks ago I started stripping it down to have the under carriage blasted then off to the body shop. I have been waiting about 20 years to restore it. This was my wife’s grandma’s car.
My first car in 1969 was a 64 Chevy II Nova 2-door hardtop with the 283/4bbl and (unfortunately) automatic. Wish I still had it; that thing could go!
I currently own a ’69 BB & have owned 4 & seen alot of 3rd gen’s in my life. Have never seen one with a column shifted manual.
Was that a rare configuration or was I not paying attention?
I had a four door with the 307 and 3 speed manual. Funny, I don’t remember if it was 3 on the floor or in the tree. Rotted out freeze plugs meant I had to stop frequently for water. Sold it for $50.00. Don’t have any real nostalgia for it, but it was fun to drive.
I think this car is cool. I had a 65 Impala handed down from my Gramps. He ordered it with the sweet fastback body…but 250 cu. in. 6 cyl….and 3 on the tree. White outside….and teal inside. No power anything….and am radio. It was a Michigan car and I brought it to Kentucky with me. I drove it to the scrapyard when the frame fell in half from rust…turning into a Hardees. LOL. Look up on youtube Drew from Chicago with similar car outside with a 1200hp motor under the hood. It is a hoot to watch. Happy Super Bowl Sunday to all.
Forgot to mention my Gramps replaced the Impala with this same green Nova but a 4 door…auto trans….with a 307 v8. All I remember is it was dependable for him but that motor LOVED gas!!! I dont know but It seemed like all my 350 v8s did much better on gas….but I could be mistaken?? Thanks Barn Finds for all you do….and for your terrific writers. That is a talent and not an easy job. I am grateful for yall and all the posts on here. I believe in praise ….not griping…..we need more praise of our fellow car guys in these times. Thanks.
I’ve had a few Novas and Chevy IIs, The 68 was last year for key in the dash, last year for Chevy II moniker, 69 went to the column, and they were all Nova, no more Chevy II, try to find an ashtray for this year is a little pricey. Original ash trays for this car demand 200 and up, a lot of parts are getting hard to find for the 68. This probably had a 250. The 70 Nova I bought in 79 had a 250CI and saginaw 3 on the tree, I put 150K miles on that motor, I replaced it with another and put 100K miles on that one, then put a 283 in it and drove another 15K, then took the 283 out and put in a 400 sml blk, let my son drive it, he put nitrous in it and blew it up. Then he sold it behind my back. Still looking for that car, blue and yellow CA plate 129ADZ, somewhere around Fresno Ca. Would love to find it, raised 5 kids in it. :)
A way on the outside to tell a 230 from a 250 was that since the 250 was optional in ’68 (and ’69), it had “250” in an emblem attached to the front fender side marker lights.
I’ll have to cruise the backroads of Northwood (it is ALL backroads) on my way home from work someday looking for this neat little stash of cars.
Damn this is EXACTLY what im looking for!!!
Owned a ‘68 Nova SS, Grotto Blue, 350 V8, Muncie 3-speed on the floor, full race cam and lifters. Was the 3rd fastest car at my HS of 2,500 10th thru 12th grade students behind a full race 1956 Chevy truck complete with wheelie bars, and a 440 Hemi ‘Cuda. Loved that Detroit Muscle!
Hey guys, I’m the one who bought this Chevy 2. Currently restoring it as the summer months come around. Started tearing it down and doing the metal work last year. It was a good car when I got it but as typical, it had rust. Started digging into it and found more so it became a thing of full restoration. Or best my skills as a welder by trade and amateur body guy can manage. Learning a lot, spending a bit and really looking forward to having it back together and rolling under it own power. It was cool to find this on barn finds after I had bought it. Not every day you see that.
Congrats Emmett!
Enjoy your project.