With July 4th mere hours away, now is the perfect time for this 1974 Chevrolet Nova to appear on our desks at Barn Finds. It is a “Spirit of America” Edition that presents well. It features a few tasteful upgrades to unlock additional performance, but reversing them is possible if a new owner prefers originality. Its ownership history means it has avoided situations that would have promoted rust, making it a classic worthy of a closer look. The Nova is listed here on eBay in Caldwell, Idaho. Bidding sits below the reserve at $12,119, but it has reached that point off the back of some intense action.
With the country building momentum toward the Bicentennial celebrations in 1976, General Motors embraced the prevailing patriotic fervor by releasing several Special Edition models before and during 1976. I believe the Nova, Vega, and Impala were the first of these, with the “Spirit of America” package offered exclusively on the hatchback version in the Nova range. All cars featured Antique White paint with unique Red and Blue stripes and decals. The seller indicates this car has never undergone a full restoration, suggesting most of its paint and stripes are original. It presents well, with no significant issues or problems. The panels are as straight as an arrow, but the best news is that this Nova has avoided the salty and icy conditions that promote corrosion issues. The photos confirm it is completely rust-free, meaning the new owner doesn’t face the hassle or expense of steel replacement. The trim and glass look excellent, and the Nova rolls on a set of period-correct Cragar wheels.
The patriotic flavor continues inside the Spirit of America Nova, with the car featuring White upholstery and dazzling Red carpet and seatbelts. The vinyl in this classic shows some minor yellowing, but there are no signs of wear or physical damage. The carpet looks excellent, as do the dash and pad. Someone has added a console extension and a retro-style stereo, but I can’t spot any further changes. It isn’t loaded with factory options, but the non-original items should help make life enjoyable aboard this gem.
The “Spirit of America” Package brought purely cosmetic upgrades, but the seller addressed that to extract additional performance from this classic. It rolled off the line powered by a 350ci V8 that sent 145hp to the rear wheels via a three-speed Hydramatic transmission. That was hardly a recipe for excitement, but it was what buyers expected then. This small-block wears an upgraded Edelbrock intake and carburetor, with the dual exhaust supplemented by aftermarket headers. With improved breathing, it would be fair to expect a significant improvement in the power and torque figures. This V8 doesn’t disappoint, with the seller stating that it feels strong. There is no information about how nicely it drives, although the indications are positive for potential buyers. They emphasize this classic’s excellent ownership history but leave us hanging by not providing further information. The seller seems approachable, meaning asking a few questions before submitting a bid might be worthwhile.
Chevrolet sold 390,537 Novas in 1974, but only 14,463 buyers selected the Spirit of America Edition. The seller emphasizes that this car is the real deal and is not a tribute. It presents nicely and would suit an enthusiast seeking a turnkey classic. If you wish to indulge in a spot of patriotic flag-waving, bidding on this Nova could be a good place to start.
That front bumper is silly
Back bumper is sillier! I put 72 front bumper on mine, and fiberglass back bumper. Saved 300 lbs.
You can thank the government safety Nazis for those bumpers.
Gorgeous console shifter. 🇺🇸
The carpet looks brand new, and if it had factory A/C it would be more desirable, but it’s so rare to find one of these, let alone a hatchback, that isn’t badly rotted. It would be neat to see at a show. I hope it finds a good home.
My 73 had a rusted hatchback back in 83. Still wish I had that car though. Maroon, 350, auto on the floor with console, buckets, sport mirrors, and the flat black rear panel. Fold down rear seat for a 17-year-old, fun times.
Not a bad 74 nova. Car..it’s still a v8 nova car despite all the remarks..not a vega…
Super neat, never seen one before. Certainly, we didn’t get them in Canada!
bt
My aunt had a 74 hatchback bright yellow bought new,my cousin wiped it out less than a year.
A cam “might” help. 145 bhp out of 350 CID. Yeek.
But remember, that’s SAE net. Gross ratings would be roughly, say 225?
Brand new nova 👌
Very nice. Love the factory graphics. Check out the insert on the steering wheel. Try finding one of those. I’ve owned a bunch of Novas over the years. This is a good looking example. Cleanly modified. GLWTS
I BOUGHT ONE EXACTLY LIKE THIS HERE IN LAREDO, TX ON 4/1/1974. IT WAS: $5,999.99 DOLLARS. I WAS A PRIVATE IN THE U.S. ARMY.I WAS A MILITARY POLICEMAN. TOOK IT TO FT. McCLLEND ALABAMA VIA MPI- MP INVESTIGATOR TRAINING AND THEN TO HOMESTEAD A.F. BASE, FLORIDA WHERE I WAS A MP PLATOON SGT. IN CHARGE OF A HAWK MISSILE SITE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE EVERGLADES AT “TURKEY POINT”- B BATTERY, 3/68. I THEN SOLD IT IN APRIL 1979 UNDER ORDERS TO PIRMASENS, GERMANY- 2ND. MILITARY INTELLIGENCE BATTALION, WHERE I WAS ALSO A MP PLATOON SERGEANT IN CHARGE OF A “SCIF” SECRET CAMPARTMENT INFORMATION FACILITIES- TOP SECRET. I LEFT THIS CAR AND BOUGHT A NEW 1979 DATSUN 880 MAXIMA SEDAN FOR MY FAMILY. STAYED 24 YEARS AND RETIRED AND WENT HOME TO THE “GATEWAY TO MEXICO” HOMETOWN OF LAREDO, TEXAS. I ALSO RETIRED FROM THE WEBB COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT HERE ALSO.
Thank You for your service. God Bless America.
Happy Independance Day to all.
Very very nice! Would love to have just to drive to the 50th hs reunion next June. Admittedly a Ford man but the Novas back then were just downright sharp.
Super nice and super neat Nova. No powerhouse, but then what was in 1974. I’m not a buyer, but this car should bring at least 20 or 25 thou. Good luck with the sale.
Bought one of these in Junction City, KS. Just outside the gate of Ft. Riley. Came with a column shifter and 2bbl carb. Had trouble getting out of it’s own way. Looked good though. Got a wife to go with it at the same time. It and my then wife both went down the highway in ’75. I went back to Germany a better man for the experience.
The reserve had been lifted at $15,000 today. This would be a great affordable car to have fun with on cruze nights and rod runs. A woman in my town had one of these back in the day. I always thought it was a great looking car.
It would look better with a painted white roof.
Maybe so, but Chevy was putting vinyl roofs and half roofs on everything back then.
At first glance I was very interested in this Nova, but unfortunately, as I closely studied pictures, some areas of the body started to not look quite right. I did some checking and found the dealers website states that it has “fresh” paint. One other thing easily overlooked when you are blinded by shiny paint, new decals and new carpet is that the car has no exhaust system. It is only open headers that end right under your feet. If you plan on flying in and driving it home, make sure you bring your earmuffs.
For some reason I thought all the “Spirit of America” offerings were 76’s or was that just the Impala / Caprice?
Nope, they were either just in ’74, which may seem silly but it worked.
Seems like it is missing parts of the dual exhaust. Also looks like the possibility of a bit of body work on the drivers side rear quarter lower part where it rolls under at the seam. There is a lot of painted black items.
Although overall it looks very,very nice there might be some areas that might need a closer look.
Meant to say 74 and/or 75, no 1976 SOA Chevies.
My cousin had one just like this car I wander if it really was?
*wonder
I owned one just like this back in the day. Bought it brand new.
“…Nova, Vega, and Impala…” and El Camino. Super rare.