The Chevy Nova got a serious facelift for 1973-74, but still retained the overall look and style of the 1968-72 editions. The rear windows were enlarged, and the bumpers were bigger, but the resemblance was familiar. In the 2-door models, a hatchback was available for the first time, which would have included the seller’s car. This one has been parked in a carport for a while and its powerplant set up to run on nitrous. This racecar-in-the-making is in Dallas, Texas, and is available here on craigslist for $6,000.
The changes to the third generation Nova must have resonated well with buyers as sales for 1973 reached the car’s second-highest level ever. And that’s without the impact of the OPEC oil embargo that didn’t happen until the last couple of months of the year, boosting ’74 sales even higher. Out of 369,500 Nova’s in ’73, 91,000 were the new hatchback edition.
The Chevy pictured here probably has an interesting story, but we don’t know what it is. Under the hood was a 350 cubic inch V8 that the seller says is a “nitrous” motor, but we’re told it’s been pulled for a paint job. The car has an automatic transmission which we assume is still in the vehicle. The wheels featured in the photos have since been sold, so the seller will substitute others so it will roll.
Under the car’s worn and scratched green finish is white paint which may or may not have been the Chevrolet’s original color. The floors were rusty and had been patched, so you must wonder what else about this old automobile has corrosion. Inside the passenger compartment, newer racing-style bucket seats and steering wheel are in place, but the dash pad is cracked in several places. Though there are potential issues with the body, the engine is the real wild card here.
I’m probably the one one, but I personally like the looks of the 73-74 Nova better than the 68-72 versions. Something about it makes it look more tough and aggressive . This one seems to be selling for more than its worth , but Nova prices are seem to be selling in the Chevelle range now.
I wish more folks agreed with you on the 73-74 cars. I hate it when I see folks who’ve take a great car and grafted a 68-72 nose onto it. The 68-72 cars are great and I love them the best, but I wish people wouldn’t butcher the 73-74 cars to kill their value and make them look like something they were never intended to be. A perfect vortex of this would be a 73-74 with a 68-72 front clip, SS badges, and Yenko badging! With Nova prices climbing, especially for the 68-72 segment and at the rate I see the conversions in groups and on YouTube, we’ll be lucky if there’s any unmolested 73-74s once everyone is done.
Those filler pieces on the fenders break the car for me. I wonder why they put as much money in the re-profiled rear doors of the 4-door which was *not* an improvement rather than front fenders for the whole line – I almost wonder if it wasn’t corporate politics, the intended Nova front being stolen for the Buick Apollo and Chevy having to scramble to come up with this. Pure speculation on my part.
Don’t worry, there are at least two of us!
I always preferred the 73-74 Novas, as well.
Making my taste even less common, my preferred configuration for a 73 or 74 would be “bone stock”, with a six-cylinder, stick shift, vinyl top, white-wall tires, and “dog dish” hubcaps.
Also, Samuel Jackson drove a 1974 Nova in “Pulp Fiction”, which makes them even cooler.
Funny you say that ; in 1984 we bought a 74 Nova from a local junkyard as we needed something for the Enduro race that was being held at our local track. it was a honey gold 2 door , with absolutely no options ! I dont think I’ve ever seen one this stripped. No trim on the outside including the door posts , 3 speed on the tree standard trans , no power steering , rubber floor pad and chrome half moon poverty caps . It must have been the cheapest Nova on the lot when it was purchased.
Don:
That’s pretty cool.
If only I could be so lucky!
Though I am always a fan of chrome trim!
The rear bumper is hideously large.
This looks like the front bumper is from a 74. The 73 didn’t have the vertical rubber pieces.