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No Clone: 1970 Chevrolet Nova SS

Though not quite a survivor, this Nova is a real-deal Super Sport car with just two owners and 72,000 documented miles since new. The seller purchased it from the original owner in fairly rough condition and fixed it up to how it appears today. It has been repainted in its original color, but retains as many of its original components as could be salvaged by the seller. Though the ad is written in a personal tone, it appears that this car may be for sale by a small dealership. This car has received just the right amount of repairs and the paint really flatters the Nova body lines. There is a video of this car including “before” pictures that can be found at this link. You can find the ad here on eBay in Iowa with a $28,995 asking price. 

The most original part of this Nova is the interior. The seats are the original material, and so is everything else. Based on the pictures, it is clear that the interior is in very nice usable shape and could easily be preserved for a long time. The seller states that a small seam split and hole in the headliner are the only defects, but could still be repaired to preserve the original interior. Though this car is not a survivor, the interior definitely is and deserves to be kept alive!

Under the hood is the original 350 cubic inch V8 engine rated at 300 horsepower. Though it may not sound like much, 300 horsepower is plenty for a car this size. Originally a 3-speed manual, this car has been switched to a period-correct 4-speed. The rear end is the original 12-bolt posi-trac axle with 3:31 gears. Parked since the 1980s, the seller was able to get the car running with nothing more than a new carb, cleaning the gas tank, tune-up, and a battery! Since this is the original engine for this car, having it in place and running adds value to this vehicle.

Though it isn’t a survivor, at the end of the day this Nova has seen heavy use by only one person since it was brand-new. The seller has a large amount of documentation, dealer paperwork, manuals, and any other literature you would expect to get when buying a car that was new. Though a repaint and bodywork were warranted, this Nova hasn’t been restored and in my opinion doesn’t need to be. Would you preserve as much as possible, or restore it perfectly?

Comments

  1. Avatar Mike B

    Nice! (But fuzzy dice in a ’70? No, no, no!)

    Like 2
    • Avatar john dump

      $10,000 tops

      Like 0
  2. Avatar Phil

    I would NEVER change a thing !!

    Like 1
  3. Avatar Paul

    Great color combo on that car and love those wheels. Really nice!

    Like 0
  4. Avatar Rod444

    Gorgeous car! Looking for a deal, I always choke a bit when I see a price like 29k. But then I remember that’s not much more than a loaded Honda Civic and in 10 years the Civic will be worth 8k and this beauty will be worth 39k and suddenly it’s not such a bad price.*

    *This logic may or may not work on your wife.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Andrew Tanner Member

      I understand your logic, but its hit or miss with significant others!

      Like 1
  5. Avatar leiniedude Member

    Another one owner car for sale. Nice ride though.

    Like 0
    • Avatar CATHOUSE

      Yeah, a one owner car now being sold by the second owner who has owned it for 13 years. Makes sense since every car out there was at one time a one owner car.

      Like 0
  6. Avatar Steve R

    Someone cut a lot of corners detailing the engine compartment, for that price you should expect better. I hope it isn’t indicative of the quality of the paint and body work.

    Steve R

    Like 0
  7. Avatar jw454

    From the looks of the damage that hole in the headliner is the result of rodent damage. Those little guys like getting up in the roofs of our old buggies.
    Nice car.

    Like 0
  8. Avatar Tom Member

    Ok, let’s advertise a pretty cool car for sale. Do you NOT know what vacuum cleaner is?

    Steve R….totally agree. I am a professional master detailer and that engine compartment could have been dialed in for very little money and time.

    To jw454.. right on. Again, selling a car = eliminate as many of the price – reducing arguments as you can, right?

    Put a new headliner in it and ELMINIATE the idea in my head about MICE.

    Like 0
  9. Avatar Big Mike

    I think for 29K they could have at least cleaned up the interior. The floors need a good vacuuming at least, from the pictures and the video they look like they have tracked everything from the shop inside the car.
    Other than that it does look nice, would go along with my 71/72 Nova Rally.
    Long story on it!!!!! We grated the rear end of a 71 onto the front of the 72. The car had been rear ended when I bought it I got it for the motor and held on to it till I built the 71/72. That is how it shows on the title also!!!!

    Like 0
  10. Avatar Bill

    When I was young, if you couldn’t afford a Corvette, you bought a Camaro. If you couldn’t afford a Camaro, you bought a Nova. Unfortunately, this thinking still jades my ability to appreciate this really nice Nova.

    Like 0
  11. Avatar Neal

    Why oh why would you not clean up the interior and replace the headliner after doing what appears to be a very nice exterior restoration??????? I love the car, it just needs to be finished to garner that kind of money.

    Like 1
  12. Avatar Steve

    I still kick myself over the 70 Nova 2 dr. I bought from the original owner back in the early 90’s here in Austin Tx. Still had the dealer tag palte from Henna Chevrolet (still in business). It was a cream color, 6 cyl, 3 ott, manual brakes and steering. I thing I gave $1k-$1200 for it (!) Original paint had rust streaks from never being waxed. I compounded and waxed it. Trim/ chrome was near perfect. No rust, one ent from where the neighbor kids shot the 1/4 panel with a pellet gun. It needed a tune up, carb kit, shocks, tires shift linkage bushings and a throw out bearing. I sold it to an acquaintance for $3,500 about six months after I bought it. Seemed like I made a killing at the time…

    Like 0
  13. Avatar James

    Had one almost identical in 1973, paid $1900 for it, but had a 396 in it and no vinyl top. Should have kept it, like all the rest of them…..

    Like 1
  14. Avatar Richard

    Good looking car. I like my Nova’s . They are a little get up and go car. I’ve got a 69 SS 396 4- speed . Now it gets up and gone.

    Like 0
  15. Avatar Peter k

    Nova in Spanish means No go

    Like 0
  16. Avatar Rock On Member

    Twenty-nine grand! You are getting very close to big block territory at that price. Save your pennies up for a bit longer and pull the trigger on a real muscle car.

    Like 0
  17. Avatar Chevelle SS

    Meh then, meh now.

    Like 0
  18. Avatar z28th1s

    I like these year Novas but this one like many others that I see at shows and cruise-ins has me asking where the lockout hubs are. The stance makes the car look like a 4 wheel drive.

    Like 0
  19. Avatar '69 Nova Dude

    Nope. If it’s a genuine SS (and I believe it is), clean it up and present it. This is an $18000 car.

    Like 0
  20. Avatar lawrence

    What’s that big plastic container on the right side fender wheel ?

    Like 0
    • Avatar Rod444

      Coolant tank.

      Like 0
  21. Avatar craig m bryda

    I had this exact car , same color combo, only mine was a ’69. Narrower taillights and smaller front parking lamps. It had a 350/255 horsepower & a THM 350. Cragar SS wheels. I loved it but when an even up swap for a ’66 Marina Blue 327/300 4 spd.with A/C Corvette Coupe came along I couldnt resist , so bye-bye Nova SS.

    Like 1
  22. Avatar James

    Love these Nova’s but unless I am wrong 28000 just seems way high for a 350 ss if it were a yenko I could see but just an ss maybe 18 still a nice car and maybe I am wrong on coming off the price ten grand let me know if any one agrees with me or not

    Like 0
  23. Avatar PAW

    Likely many corners cut when painting the car. At least gives this impression that paint prep was done with bumpers on car, a lot of trim also – just check the video.

    Just makes me wonder whether the seller thought that this would improve sales price?

    Like 0
  24. Avatar Rob

    My very first car was a 70 Nova. Paid $1000 for it in 1977, It was perfect except for a small seam separation on the front seat, had 20k miles on her. Put my heart and soul into making it mine (paint, wheels and tires, minor drivetrain mods) and had it just where I wanted it and some old bag pulled out in front of me and I t-boned her. This is my dream car but, alas, my wallet won’t allow it. :(

    Like 0

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