The Chevrolet Nova was not only popular with buyers, but also with other General Motors divisions. When it came time for Pontiac, Buick, and Oldsmobile to all field a compact car in the 1970s, they all chose to clone the Chevy Nova. The front clips were different, and they had divisional engines, but the Ventura, Apollo, and Omega were all Nova under the skin. The seller has a nice 1973 Buick Apollo with the hatchback body style. Needing nothing more than a new home, it can be found near Portland, Oregon, and is available here on craigslist for $19,500.
Cloning of the Nova started with the Pontiac Ventura II in 1971, then both Buick and Oldsmobile got on board in 1973. None of the three copycats had sales that came close to mirroring the success of the Nova. The Buick used a Chevy 250 cubic inch inline-6 as the standard engine, but a lot of folks opted for the 350 CI Buick V8 (that was before engine sharing between divisions started). Because it was a Buick, the Apollo was a bit fancier than the Nova.
This car has the hatchback body style, which was new in ’73 to the Nova family. The same X-body platform was used, but the Nova looked beefier than before, and those traits carried over to the others, including the Apollo. We’re told this Buick has 86,000 miles, and it appears to have been well-cared for in its 53 years.
Besides the 350 motor, this car has a TH-350 automatic transmission and front brakes that were converted after-the-fact from drums to discs. The automobile has air shocks and a dual exhaust, likely additions by the seller or a prior owner. The body, orange paint, and white/black bench seat interior all look solid. We’re told the Buick is a great runner and should appeal to Nova fans in search of one. Rocco B. comes through again with great tips like this!
Had an Apollo like this one through high school, except mine was piss yellow/puke green. Horrible color, not sure what it was called but it was ugly. The back hatch was nice but very heavy. Bench seat was nice because the girl friend could sit nice and close to you as you drove. Lol. Had a V8, nothing special but ran well and had no problems with the car. Traded it in on a new 1980 Pontiac Sunbird with aV6 and 4 speed.
My grandparents originally had a NOVA and then an Apollo in light blue – it was the same as this car which is what I took my drivers test on. They were solid cars and being RWD I learned to “drift” properly in the snow covered parking lots of New England in it as the V-8 would get away from you very quickly.
This seems like a nice ride for someone looking to relive their childhood memories.