I’ve been eyeing this 1970 Chevrolet Nova for almost a week now, and so far, the seller is holding firm on his price. He’s hoping the positives here will justify the $27,000 asking price, and granted, there are several things here to be excited about. On the other hand, in the owner’s own words, this one’s described as a granny Nova, and I mean no offense to any Grandmothers who may be reading this by repeating his words. Let’s check this one out and see if twenty-seven grand is in the ballpark, but not before thanking barn finder T.J. for spotting this one here on Facebook Marketplace in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, and sending us the tip!
The seller suggests his Nova is the perfect candidate for an LS swap, and I get that the temptation might be too much for some folks to resist. However, this one came from the factory with an inline-6 and a whimsical three-on-the-tree column-shift manual transmission, and that’s pretty cool too. Not many buyers chose it, but a 4-cylinder engine was even available for the Nova in ’70, so with all the V8 cars running around, it’s sort of refreshing to find one that’s got something different. Despite the smaller block, this one probably gets plenty of attention when the hood is up at car gatherings, especially with things in the bay being in such good order and relatively clean.
It’s hard to find much fault anywhere on the exterior, as the panels all seem to remain straight with no signs of corrosion anywhere. There’s no word on whether this one’s ever received any bodywork or if it’s always looked this sweet, and also no information about how old the paint is. Regardless of the history, I’m seeing no reasons to do anything different outside, as the minimalist appearance is working well for me here, including the body-color wheels and steel hubcaps. Others may wish to clone this one into an SS, which is a perfectly acceptable direction, but I’d choose to leave this one just like it is!
This one’s fairly basic inside as well, with the upholstery on both the front bench and rear seat appearing to be in like-new condition, and the dash also scoring high marks for its condition. My conclusion is that this is likely a very solid Chevy all the way around, and I’m finding the beauty here in what this one is instead of what it isn’t. However, that’s just one opinion, and different perspectives are vital for keeping this a fun and interesting hobby. What would you do with this granny-style 1970 Chevrolet Nova?
Very, very clean Nova. If the block were cracked, or there was some other major mechanical issue, I can see an upgrade under the hood. But this one is just too nice. I’m thinking the steering wheel is not original, but it’s a nice upgrade. ( if they have the original I’d want it, if it needs a restoration it would be totally worth it). At first I thought the big tach should go, but on second thought, I like knowing what RPM my little mill is running under the hood. Growing up I had a friend whos Grandma had a Nova just like this same color, but full wheel covers and a Powerglide instead. And let me tell you what, back in 1975 it didn’t look as nice as this one. The 250 six and a 3 speed is a great combination. It’s interesting you mention the 4 cylinder. I’ve only heard of them and never seen one in person. I may not be remembering correctly, but didn’t Chevrolet have a simplified Powerglide for that 4 cylinder that you manually shifted?
I love this Nova Mike, great write up, and a huge thank you to eagle eyed T.J. for finding this very sweet Nova.
Ok. I looked it up. It was called Torque Drive. It was a Powerglide with the vacuum modulator and all other parts for self shifting removed. It was targeted for the low horsepower 4 and 6 cylinder Nova and Camaro. It wasn’t much cheaper, and apparently if you didn’t know what you were doing you could actually damage it. I’d love to experience one just for the fun of it. I believe it was made from ’68-’71.
Again, great write up Mike!!! Love this “Grandma” Nova. Got me thinking about people I haven’t seen in decades. Unfortunately my friend, both his parents, and of course his Grandma are sadly long gone. Seeing cars like this brings them back in the memory bank for me.
Thanks so much for your kind words and information on the Torque Drive transmission- no doubt, I’d also enjoy the experience of operating one for fun! I once owned a ’73 Nova that I cloned into an SS more than 40 years ago, and now that I’m older, this granny car is more appealing to me than the dolled-up hot rods Nevadahalfrack speaks of below. I totally agree with him that this one’s a score and well worth showing off!
Thank you Mike!! I appreciate you writing back. I can’t believe I even remembered the Torque Drive. I often tell people I only get one good idea per week. Today is Sunday, so, I guess you can tell how my weeks been going!! Thank you again for the write up and I’m enjoying all the comments too!!
-Dave
I agree about the steering wheel and would rather have the original one. I would leave this car just the way it is Original and no engine swaps. There are plenty of other cars to do that with!!
Reproduction steering wheel kits are around $400, then you have to get the color changed, so you are likely at $500+. You’ll never find a used one matching its original color, even if you could you’d be into it for close to the same money after having it restored. That’s why people go with aftermarket steering wheels.
Steve R
The steering wheel appears to be the optional NK1 wheel, which was available on all Chevrolet models in 1970. This is likely a reproduction, and thankfully not a cheap the tacky Grant Challenger!
You said what a lot of us are thinking all the way around, Dave.
When we go to a car show and see the collection of dolled up hot rods of the era, something like this is often more talked about more so than the SS Nova clone parked next to it. Why? Because this is where a great many of the clones started out-an obscure no frills economy car that got tired and was sold for cheap to later launch a hot rod project or sit for decades in a barn, garage or outside somewhere moldering away.
To find one of these this clean is a score and well worth showing off for what it is-a keystone.
Nevada, if this was sitting next to a pristine ’66 GTO a ’70 Chevelle SS, or a gorgeous ’70 Olds 442. I’d walk over to this one first. It’s just me. But don’t get me wrong, I’d be admiring the Goat and everything else too lol. But it’s just so nice as it sits, I’d be very happy to have this in my garage.
Totally agree with you there. Its nice to park this next to the clones, to kind of let people see what happened to so many of the original ” granny” 6 cylinders.
This is very similar to the used Nova my MIL bought my then-wife in ’77 or ’78. It had just received a quickie paint job in bright yellow, so it looked okay. I lifted up the floormats to discover rust through, not unexpected for a New York State car, but all it took to resolve was a rivet gun, sheet metal and a little roofing tar.
Todd, you struck a nerve there with me. Been there, done that, got the T shirt. I still remember my father cutting up tin cans in the 70’s to patch the lower sections of front fenders that were starting to rot through. It was normal if you lived in NY or NJ or anywhere else 3.6 metric tons of salt is spread for every snow flurry lol. Good memories there too, thanks!!!
I am from NJ and remember my grandpa patching up his old Hornet’s exhaust with can backin the late 1970’s and early 1980’s and patching the fenders in the 1980’s and you are right it was normal to do those kind of things back then.
But is it worth 27K?
And THAT is the, err, million dollar question.
What price would one pay for being unique? It doesn’t get as good a mileage as, say, the daughters ‘23 WRX 6spd stick but it does better than the neighbors Grand LuxoBarge 12 seat SUV-and the Nova wouldn’t be out of place with a JC Whitney 8;track playing The Diobie Brothers Greatest Hits.
To each their own😊
They’d the big question. Do you remember the loaded 1972 Chevelle 4 door featured on this site last week with the $9,800 asking price? Everyone gushed over it and how it was such a great deal and they would buy it, well, it’s still for sale. There might be a buyer out there, but they won’t leave it stock, more clone it into an SS, if someone buys it, it will likely be turned into a restomod.
Steve R
I think that Chevelle may be a different case. It’s unique, but 4 door and Chevelle just don’t do it for a lot of people. You have to almost already have a collection of Chevelles just to justify it.
This in the other hand, is a bread and butter Nova that used to be ubiquitous, but now is a rare sight. Many of us (including me), owned a 6 cylinder Nova at one time or another and this one is as nice as they come. The ask is high, but it’s worth a solid offer. I think it will find the right buyer that appreciates it.
Standard transmission 👍 love the stance, color and wheels. 😎
Considering what this represents, a super clean, very economical form of transportation from back in the day, I find it very appealing as it is. With that in mind I think the tach, [and maybe even the trio of gauges ] would have to go. To me they just look out of place and are they really necessary? It just interrupts the vibe. Now $27K? That’s a tough call. Unless your grandma had one identical to it..
I had a 69 Nova 6 cyl. with a torque drive trans. I liked it, it drove fine, and I’ve never seen another one…
As much as I love 6 cyl 3 on the tree and this generation of Nova, this would be over 37000 Canadian dollars plus import fees etc. Unfortunately it’s just too much.
I’m pretty sure that’s a steering wheel of a Vette. Yes, he is asking good money. What would you ask if it was your ? Perfect just as it is.
An elderly neighbor bought a ’70 Nova like this except the color was brown. When he died in 1979, the car had 9000 original miles on it. It was only driven to the grocery and drug stores. His widow didn’t drive and she sold it to my dad for $900. The only thing my dad changed was to add power steering. It was a fun little driver. I liked taking it for a spin. Straight six and a three-on-the-tree was a great combination.
So, are the extra gages under the dash there because the original “idiot lights” don’t work? Also the addition of the tach and custom steering wheel lead me to believe some tinkering was done so that “Granny” got to the store and church on sunday faster. $18K, maybe; but who knows? I’m sure some someone will buy it on impulse.
bit pricey. the world does not need another SS clone. this car does not need to have an LS motor jammed down its throat either. leave it be and enjoy it. most likely though it will be hacked apart and all that care it was given over the years gone
Agreed leave it Alone!! No driveline swaps or anything else! I do like that it has the passenger mirror on it.
I’d leave it 100% alone..otherwise..no more LS swap hints..today..we go SBF swap!!! Because…REASONS!!!
Very nice original and rare find. $27k, not in my world!
Like most have said, please leave it alone. Hopefully at 27k it will discourage the (big) block heads from buying it just to cut it up.
I have 4 words about this car: LEAVE IT THE EFF ALONE!!!!!!!
A nice car you don’t see much of anymore but that price is off the charts… Hagerty values has a V-6 valued at 24720 for #1 and 18960 for #2 and 15600 for #3… its definitely not #1 so I’d put it somewhere between 15600 and 18960 in realistic value… Of course it only takes one person, so who knows.
With money inherited from my Mom’s Aunt Marie, Dad bought a 70 Nova 230-6 with 3-on-the-tree, no power or fancy anything. Only a radio and Heater. Looked ALOT like this, only dark blue metallic. Think he paid around $1900 right off the dealer’s lot for it. Drove its wheels off to-fro work only. Finally allowed me to drive when of age to learn a stick, remember dislodging its bound-up column linkage more than a few times as it approached 100k miles. Dad finally sold her in the mid 80s for $400 with 135k on its Odo (reading 35XXX of
course), still with the original 230 six (1 head overhaul) and 3-speed drivetrain.
Fond mems since that’s a car I learned to wrench on with Dad. He even bought me a Floorjack in 1979 so that I could wrench it, which I still use today in his honor!!
Chevrolet column shifters would always lock up. Standard operating procedure was to lift the hood and free up the mechanism.
Just one of the things expected in the 50s and 60s, like loose steering on Chevrolets and rust on Fords.
Three on a tree good luck figuring that out!
Ad says automatic transmission, yet pictures show 3 pedals.
Is this car one of your Torque Drives?
It’s a manual if you look just below the cluster is blank where it would say PRNDL if it were an automatic.
Good point, the markings don’t know why they say its a three on a tree?
Had a 72 Nova in this light yellow color. Great car, although the 350 sure used gas.