I didn’t give a Chevy Nova SS a second glance back in ’73 because I felt that there was no more real Nova SS after 1972. Why? Because in ’73 the top available engine was no longer mandated, the SS became mostly an appearance package and could be had with a lowly six, if so desired, under its hood. And, I felt compared to the ’72, the ’73 was pretty well uglied up thanks to the 5 MPH bulkhead appended to the front end. Why then, write a review of a ’73 Nova SS today? Because of the condition; this featured Nova SS has an excellent presentation, a significant feat for a 48-year-old car that was considered, when new, to be a “use it and throw it away” appliance. This is a very sharp example and it was optioned properly right from the start! This ’73 Nova SS is located in Exeter, New Hampshire and is available, here on craigslist for $26,500. Thanks to Pat L. for this tip!
In ’73, a 175 net HP, 350 CI V8 with a four-speed manual transmission was available in the Nova, any Nova, not just a two-door SS. And that was as good as it got. The performance was fair, I drove plenty at the Chevy dealership where I worked but it was nothing to write home about. Still, it was an enjoyable experience. And it appears that’s how this Nova SS was optioned. I’m not sure how the seller got to 300 HP, the engine looks stock and he doesn’t elaborate, but it could have internal modifications or be another engine entirely. The four-speed was only available with the 175 HP engine, so assuming that the transmission is original, and there is no reason to think otherwise, it’s easy to believe that this Nova was optioned, originally as a proper SS should have been. It’s unfortunate that the seller doesn’t clue us in on how it runs.
The seller got it right on the exterior! The side stripe, if so ordered, as well as the “small” center wheel caps are correct for this vintage Nova. The wheels of a Nova, in particular, have usually been changed several times over with this passage of time. Nary a ding, much less a dent, fade, or rust, is visible anywhere on this Chevy’s exterior, and the ” GM Corporate Blue” finish, not one necessarily associated with a muscle car, is in spectacular shape. It’s unknown if it was this Nova’s born-with shade but it’s a perfect choice IMO. Actually, the cohesiveness of the entire exterior package, to my eyes, lessens the impact of the front bumper and makes it seem reasonable.
The interior is listed as original but what really makes it special are the console-mounted rally gauges and the speedometer incorporated tachometer – both optional equipment. Those items really help to pull this Nova’s performance aspirations together. The carpet, upholstery, instrument panel, with original Delco radio, and headliner look considerably better than I would expect a 48-year-old interior to look.
It’s a safe bet that this Nova SS needs nothing! That said, I took a double-take on the price, it seems a bit rich for this era SS anything, in spite of this car’s very noteworthy condition. But then again, when was the last time that you saw a ’73 Nova SS, optioned like this, that showed so well?
Nice, at about 15K
Never liked the “banana” stripe, doesn’t really go w/ the lines of the car.
Still a nice ’73 Nova SS AND a 4 speed!
I owned a 73 SS nova 4 speed car last year or 2 of high school graduating 81 on to 1983. It was purchased new for a GMC dealers daughter for college then sold on to me straight after trade in before detailing or even washing it.
I’ve never saw one with the appearance or the performance matching since or before owning it. Black with black vinyl top, bench blk n white checkered seats , posi traction 3.55 gear and yes factory 4 Saginaw trans. Only upgrades I done was adding headers an 750 spread bore gas saver Holley carb. From that point racing most weekends was never beaten by another small block anything also even taking down several big blocks or lower hp. My auto mechanics teacher was dumb founded being the owner of a 340 high perf. mopar that after several attempts wouldn’t shine a light to it. After his research being my SS was equiped with oil cooler was at the conclusion the dealer had ordered the car beefing up the factory L82 350 ci with additional internal components unknown to this dealer with exactly what but thatonly knew he had ordered adding available option of Calf. Highway patrol chase car to the SS package.
An L82 with headers would be about 310 grossHP so no wonder the little 340 couldn’t keep up… it should have come with a superior 750 Q-Jet carb….
Looks to be very nice, well optioned (Except no A/C). I’d happily drive this one! Maybe see if the bumpers could be “tucked” in closer to the body. GLWTS!! :-)
I’m so used to seeing these ’73-74s with the big bumpers that it’d look wrong to me if you tucked them in as some are suggesting, like it got truncated. Agreed they could have come up with a better design most likely but now it’s ingrained!
Moparman, Call Chip Foose, He can tell you how to tuck in them bumpers.
Or just buy a 68-72 Nova, when the factory did it for you. It’s nice, just not sure big bumper cars are bringing that sort of money.
Steve R
Yeah, l never paid too much attention to these cars growing up. This one looks pretty sweet. Throw on some Vortex heads, aftermarket camshaft, aluminum intake and long tube headers and you could have some fun.
Wheel trim rings were not available on SS wheels. Yes, I know some dealer advertising photos showed them, in reality, they were not available. The SS I bought new in the fall of 1972, had the 175 hp. 350, it also had a curious rev limiter, that none of the other 175 hp. 350 SS’s the dealership sold that year.
Not to argue with anyone, I bought a new SS in May of 73.Mine was gold, with side stripes and wheel trim rings. Only difference between mine & the blue car,I had rub strips on the bumpers & a turbo 350.
I don’t know man, I guess I’m still stuck back in the 70s. Kind of a neat car with a V-8 and a four-speed. But still about as exciting as a loaf of white bread compared to any Nova SS before it. Absolutely no chance it’s $26,000 exciting….,,
I always liked in 1974 stripes a bit better, though it had those humongous “Nova SS” stickers which was annoying. So it’s a wash between the ’73 v. “74. I think this would have looked better if they just went with the simple SS emblems and been done with it.
Still, I wouldn’t change a thing. This is just too original. Too bad I don’t have extra garage space and this isn’t about $10,000 cheaper!
My first new car bought in 1973.., mine is the copper colored hatchback flavor… then, as now, I love the big bumpers❤️ and hate the quarter’s early onset rusting… currently 88,856k miles…$26k is a pipe dream
The console gauges was a rare option and they look great. Nice car.
I had a ’72 Rally Nova with those gauges.
That’s more like the Rallye Nova, but very nice indeed.
I had one in college, it was a hatchback with air. Put a 70 LT1 in it, brought it to life. Ran about 3600 rpm at 70 mph. It had the Saginaw 4 speed.
If I’m going to spend that much on a Nova, rather be a ’66-’72.
My mother bought a new 74 Nova SS, with the giant 12” high SS letters on the side. It was a 350 2 barrel. I tried a cam in it but that made it a bigger dog so when she some engine trouble a year later ( probably self induced) I got a junkyard 396 375hp engine and put it in. Pretty much a bolt in swap and a good runner.
What a beautiful car. Like the wheels, the color, the console. If I were in the market for a Chevy, this would be a strong contender.
It’s a “bumper car”.
350 2 barrel carb slow gutless engine
$200 in new parts and $50 at swap meet would make this a stormer…
ANY 2-barrel carb engine is a slow, gutless engine.
The 5MPH bumpers kill the appearance for me. Compared to some of GM’s other efforts in the field, it’s like they phoned that one in.
I’m in the minority here , but I’ve always liked the 73-74 Novas ; I think the larger bumpers gave it a more aggressive look .I never really cared for the 68-72 models as much, especially the rear bumper which always looked to me like it was pushed up into the rear lights.larger rear qua Like a lot of people here I’m not crazy about the stripe, but if its original I could live with it
Reminds me of my Buccaneer red 74 GTO hatchback with the gauges and 4-speed.
I’ve always been fond of these Novas and GTOs, but man-o-man did they rust out, especially in the quarters.
I remember sneezing once causing a new rust bubble to form as a result….it was that bad! Had to put “no sneezing” and “no coughing” signs on each quarter panel from that experience.
Those government-mandated battering-ram bumpers totally ruined the looks of the Nova.
Air pump removed? I would like to see the exhaust manifolds.
Not sure if possible to convert to earlier bumpers w/o changin fenders & rear qtrs.
Fenders in 73 were the same part number as 72.
We put a 73 Nova front bumper on a 69 Nova we raced back in the 1980s ,it bolted right up to the mounting holes . I wouldn’t convert it on a car for the street ; any antique car should have the parts it started with .
Now that’s a sweet ride, worth the price!!!!!!! Like the gauges on the console!!!!
Most of the people that comment that it’s too much money couldn’t afford to buy steam off a hot dog.
I ordered one brand new. Was beautiful car with no performance. Medium red metallic with white side stripes, white half vinyl roof, hatchback, bumper guards, parchment interior, Airconditioning, automatic with console and guages, power windows, tilt wheel, pretty well loaded. Would love to have it today.
Had a new dark blue 73 Nova hatchback with a 350 and a stick. Redid a few things after the warranty was up including quadrajet carb and true duals. It ran really well. Sold it with just under 100,000 to a neighbor who gave it to her 18 year old son. Piled it into a tree a couple months later. Wish I still had it. It was about 3 grand brand new.
Had 2 of these, an automatic that I bought in 77 & a 4 speed about a year later. Built mild engines for both, 4 speed car made 380 HP and went like a scared rabbit. Hard on rear tires but a riot to cruise in.
I ordered mine with a radio and bench seats. It did have power steering and brakes. Rally wheels looked sharp. I liked the hatchback.
Nice car, but way overpriced. You can buy a lot more muscle car for $26,500. And for all those commentators, yes I can afford it. The car just isn’t worth much more than $15,000 being a 73.
Hate to tell you but I got almost 30 in my 73 and it’s sharp as a knife
Couple hundred dollars in parts can make that Nova a mover… domed pistons plus cam… dual exhausts…
This high priced bubble for”ordinary”post 72 classics will burst pretty soon,it will take people refusing to pay these prices for 1,for 2,when gas sky-rockets again, and it will,that will also level out the ridiculous prices.
Had a ‘74 Spirit of America hatchback with the 350 as my first car. I may be biased since it was my first car, but I absolutely loved it, looks, performance,(such as it was), everything. Wish I never would have sold it.
A couple minor authenticity things have me scratching my head.
The SS package was available on the base and Nova Custom models.
This one has the roof drip moldings, which were standard on the Custom and N/A on the base model.
But the Custom came standard with bumper strips and this one doesn’t have them. Hmmm.
My Dad bought a new ’73 Custom with 350 two bbl and Turbo-Hydromatic 350. I think the sticker said $2700. It was a nice car and it became mine a few years later. For a two bbl car with single exhaust it was (in the words Dad’s mechanic) “a right peppy little Nova”. But it paled in comparison to my buddies’ 396 Chevelle’s and Z28s and GTOs. 73 was supposed to be the first year with multi leaf rear spring Camaro suspension. Given the size and weight it was a very good handling car. The 300 HP claim is very high for a stock 73. I think Jim’s assessment of 175 net is correct. My car was rated about 120 (+/-).
I aspired to a car very similar to this one, it had all the sporty stuff mine was missing; 4 speed, bucket seats, 4 bbl and dual exhaust. As JoeNYWF64 mentioned the air pump appears to be missing as are the bumper rubber strips. Look closely between the bumpers and grill and rear panel. The soft flexible body color plastic (or is it rubber?)used to fill the gap is still there. Is that stuff still available? I think probably not, maybe from Steele rubber products.
The asking price seems a little high.
Obviously it has been garaged, this appears to be a remarkably original and intact car. As more mundane less expensive cars are less likely to survive it would be interesting to hear the history.
I have a 73 SS Nova that I purchased in November 1972. It’s a 350 4 barrel, 175 hp, with floor-mounted gauges, and a four-speed sag. Like the SS pictured here, it has all the correct badging down to the tech mounted in the dash. I’ve read a lot of the sort of negative comments but will tell you that I get offers to buy my 73 every day but since I’ve had it this long, it’s not for sale. Getting ready to do a fram-off resto next week. Really glad I kept it.
Was there a shortage of 245hp z28 motors? Or did Chevy not want the Nova SS to be faster than the heavier z28?!
My 1973 SS did not have the shock absorber on the bumper mounts, but did have the rubber strip on the bumpers and I bought it new. It had power brakes w/disk brakes up front and drums on the back, no rally wheels. It had 350, two barrel carb, and 3 speed saginaw. The tachometer was up where the gas gauge is (on nova customs) and it’s gas gauge was on the console. In 1974, I bought another new nova ss, automatic,350 two barrel, manual drum brakes around and rally wheels w/ small center caps and trim rings. The 73 had metal ss insignias and the 74 was just tape.Each one of them cost was just over $3,000.00. I totaled the 74 on 11/6 /1976 and sold the 73 for $17.500.00 in 2008. The 73 got stroked to a 383 with 548 HP.