There are numerous Novas out there that have already either been modified or cloned into a Super Sport, and while there’s nothing wrong with that, it’s still refreshing to run across one that remains mostly stock every now and then. This 1973 Chevrolet Nova here on Craigslist isn’t exactly how it rolled off the assembly line over half a century ago, but it’s close, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the next owner chooses to make some mods or go the SS route. However, just preserving this one is also a good option, and certainly worth considering. Whatever you’ve got in mind, this Nova is located in Hillsboro, Oregon, and seems reasonably priced at $7,000. Curvette, thanks for finding this cool Chevy and sending us the tip!
The seller reports that he bought this car from his father about five years ago, and that it had sat, covered, in Dad’s garage for decades before his purchase. There’s no word on how old the blue paint is, but it still looks quite decent overall, although the owner mentions it could use a fresh coat. However, the finish still looks good enough that I’d probably live with the exterior for a while and not get in too big a hurry to start making improvements outside. Very little rust is said to be present, so hopefully most of the sheet metal is solid and won’t require attention anytime soon. Interestingly, one cool highlight of this Nova that the seller never mentions is its convenient hatchback feature.
We don’t get a close-up photo of the engine bay, but we can still check it out from a distance. The base engine for ’73 was an inline-6, with this one having the next step up under the hood, which is a 307 V8. It’s said to have 140,000 miles, and although it would have originally been equipped with a 2-barrel carburetor, there’s now a Quadrajet on top. Several new parts are mentioned, including a gas tank and fuel pump, a radiator, a master cylinder, and more. The Turbo 350 automatic is said to have been rebuilt recently and to have received a shift kit, with just 1,000 miles since the overhaul was completed.
Most of the interior is still stock, and the condition looks above average for a 50-plus-year-old driver. Doing nothing inside is certainly an option, but I’m sort of envisioning removing the front bench seat and replacing it with some buckets, along with turning the inside areas all black. However, that can be down the road, and for now, I’d probably just enjoy driving this one as is and be thankful it looks as good as it does overall. What would you do with this 1973 Chevrolet Nova?
Gone. Compare this car with a $7,000 asking price, versus the 1969 Mustang coupe that looks like it has sat outside for years, featured last hour with a similar asking price. It’s not hard to realize why one sold and the other will likely be listed in perpetuity.
Steve R
Jiminy Christmas! I know it’s stock but, that first picture makes that rear bumper look huge! The front isn’t much better but, that rear one looks like it weighs 1000 pounds. I really love the wheels and that color together. Maybe you could refit the 68~72 bumpers.
Relatively easy to replace that front bumper with 68-72 and save about 80 lbs plus looking better. Rear bumper is another story. 73 rear is a one year deal, between 72 rear and 74 5 mph bumper. 74 has shock absorbers, 73 just has brackets. Have to change gas tank and trunk floor to put 68-72 rear bumper on 73/74. Can”tuck” the 73/74 rear bumper, moving it forward a couple of inches to make it look better. My solution was a fiberglass rear bumper wrapped with 3M chrome, home made brackets. Whole thing weighed about 18lbs. vs 120 lbs or so for the stock 74.
Wow! I haven’t seen a ’73 Nova hatchback in my neck of the woods since maybe Reagan’s last term. Most of these went back to nature, years ago.
Looking at the picture of the engine from a far, doesn’t look like a Q-Jet to me, looks more like a Holley 4 Barrel, judging from the center hung float fuel bowl you can barely see.
I bought a 74 hatchback SS in 2018 for $10K. V8, console, gauges, factory air, PS/PB, tilt, turbo 350. Lime Yellow. Love the car, hated the color. Took it completely apart, installed 396 (402)/ 375, shift kit in tranny, 3.73 posi rear. Took it to body shop for Marina Blue paint in 2022…it’s still there! They are making progress every time I go look at it, but DAMN it’s slow! Hope to get it back in a month or two so I can start putting it back together.
I’m with you on swapping out the front bench seat for bucket seats and a console, for two (2) very important reasons. First, at 59.5 inches tall, if I kept the bench seat, I’d have a flashback to when I was driving my Mom’s 1972 Maverick with pillows stolen from our living room rocking chair under my butt and behind my back, LOL! I wore my seatbelt just to keep the pillows from sliding out from behind me, LOL! Second, any normal sized adult human being would either be riding next to me in the front seat in the fetal position, or riding in the back seat, LOL! My younger brother comes to mind, as he’s 5′, 7″ (67 inches) tall.
I like the fact that it’s the rarely seen hatchback, with a flip down rear seat. I’d keep the original, numbers-matching 307 V8, but with the usual assortment of bolt-on upgrades (four-barrel intake, headers, dual exhaust and maybe new cylinder heads, if the budget could stand it). The chrome Cragar-style mag wheels are a nice touch! This is the first time I’ve ever said this, but I think that the $7k asking price might be a little low, LOL! The Craigslist posting is gone, so it’s likely sold already!
I had a 71 SS, 350 4b Nova this color when I was a senior in high school. 3.42 12 bolt, Rock Crusher 4 speed. Muncie Mystery shifter unfortunately…even worse it got totaled when I t- boned a guy who ran a stop sign on the way to school one morning. Bummer! Although I bought it from the insurance co. for $150 and parted it out. Kept the engine, built it into a killer for my next car. Those were the days…if I got this one, I think I’d just keep it shiny and drive it as is! maybe headers and duals