Let me be the first to say I understand and agree with the seller’s logic that this 1970 Chevrolet Nova seems like a prime candidate to be turned into something more special than how it was born.  Dropping a V8 into the bay would undoubtedly be an enjoyable upgrade, as has been done in numerous X-Body cars over the years.  On the other hand, keeping this one numbers-matching and restoring it to factory specs isn’t a bad idea either, so the next owner will have to ponder which direction to head in here.  Whatever you’ve got in mind, this ’70 Nova has been a California resident its entire life and is presently in Costa Mesa, and can be found here on eBay.  A buy-it-now price of $13,900 has been posted, with the option available to make an offer.

In 1970, the Nova offered a plethora of engines, from mild to wild.  Surprisingly, the inline-6 as can be found here wasn’t the smallest- that honor would go to the 90 HP four cylinder powerplant.  This was also the last year the mighty 396 could be had.  Dropping in one of these, or another small or big-block V8 of your choice under the hood, would certainly provide a rewarding experience.  However, with the present sixer said to be running strong, it isn’t exactly imperative.

Being in a favorable climate since new has helped preserve the sheet metal, and for an unrestored car, this one seems more solid than most.  To still be the original finish, the Gobi Beige paint doesn’t look all that bad, especially since it’s almost as old as I am.  The only area that’s obviously rusted through is a section on the passenger-side fender, and even this appears relatively minor.  A close encounter with some hard object has caused some damage up front, so repairs here will be required, but this Chevy seems to be at a decent starting point overall.

Although the interior is mostly complete, it’s pretty basic, and since most of the components in here need refreshing anyway, this might be a good opportunity to install some buckets and a sportier steering wheel.  I’m envisioning black everything inside, but, as with everything else, the buyer will have complete control over what happens next.  The seller sounds spot-on when he describes this car as a great blank slate for whatever build the next owner desires, and fortunately, all of the directions I can think of here seem good.  How would you move forward with this 1970 Chevrolet Nova?