The 1970 Chevrolet Nova hiding under this cover is a vehicle that the owner has built as a total package. No corners have been cut, and it should provide all of the performance potential that most owners would want. With the hard work now completed, the owner has decided that he will part with the Nova. It is located in Miami, Florida, and the owner has listed it for sale here on eBay. Bidding has been pretty intense and has pushed the price along to $20,000. The reserve has been met, so someone is about to score themselves an exceptional car.
If you’re going to tread a project build path, there’s nothing quite like starting with the right candidate. That’s what this owner has done because the Misty Turquoise Nova has spent most of its life in California. This has allowed it to remain rust-free, which is a bonus. The paint is now showing the sort of deterioration that you would expect after years of UV exposure, but a repaint would take care of that. When the original owner ordered the Nova, he chose to specify a White vinyl top. While this doesn’t seem to have any tears, it is starting to look pretty old. If I were buying this classic, I would consider replacing this when I had the rest of the cosmetic issues addressed. The panels wear a few minor dings and marks, but there is nothing present that would demand panel replacement. The big news is the lack of rust problems. Looking through the decent selection of photos that the owner supplies, this car is about as clean as they come. The floors and frame are spotless, and all of the usually vulnerable lower body extremities appear to be sound. Some of the trim pieces will need to be replaced, but the glass looks good. The Nova rolls on a set of reproduction Corvette Rally wheels, and they provide only a slight hint of the transformation that has occurred with this car’s drivetrain.
If you walked into your local Chevrolet dealership in 1970 and slapped down the cash for a new Nova, you could order one with a 350ci V8. This motor delivered a respectable 250hp and would propel the car through the ¼ mile in 15.5 seconds. There was nothing wrong with those numbers, and most buyers found the performance to be satisfactory. However, that wasn’t the case with this owner because he wanted more. As it turned out, he wanted a lot more. The Nova still sports a 350, but this one is a Year One Crate Engine. It features a 4-bolt block, Edelbrock aluminum cylinder heads, stainless valves, a hydraulic roller cam, and a Holley Terminator Electronic Fuel Injection system. Hedman headers and a stainless steel exhaust system take care of the spent gases, allowing this monster to pump out more than 400hp. Since this photo was taken, the motor has been slotted into place. Bolted to the back of the monster motor is a freshly rebuilt M21 4-speed manual transmission. That mumbo needs to find its way to the pavement, so the owner has made sure that this happens effectively. The original rear end has made way for a Currie 9” Ford rear end. It has been fitted with a Detroit TrueTrac 3.50 gear ratio, which makes this a combination more suited for the street than the strip. It should also be pretty bulletproof, meaning that the next owner should be able to fully exploit all of that performance. Since the drivetrain has been installed, the owner has only clocked around 100 miles, so this is as fresh as they come.
When I said that the Nova was a total package, this was no idle boast. Some cars can feel like the driver is juggling open boxes of confetti when they get to a corner, but that shouldn’t be the case here. The Chevy’s ride height has been dropped by a couple of inches and features a Hotchkis Stage Two Suspension System. This includes tubular upper and lower control arms, adjustable front and rear sway bars, Hotchkis-tuned Bilstein shocks, and power steering with a quick-ratio steering box. The braking system has received a significant upgrade, and now features slotted and ventilated discs on all four corners. Stomp on the middle pedal and the Nova should stop yesterday! The more that I look at this Nova, the more I like it. It appears that this owner has put a lot of careful thought into the modifications, and the buyer is set to reap the benefits of this planning.
The Nova’s interior hasn’t escaped attention, and there are only a few details required to add the finishing touches. The car’s interior was stripped out, and the floors received Dynamat and Dynaliner. New carpet was then installed, along with a new A/C dash pad. The seats received new covers, and the owner chose to fit an SS-style tilt wheel. A huge Sun Super Tach and a cluster of Autometer gauges monitor the health of the V8, while a Hurst Competition Plus shifter helps to ensure that the gears are grabbed cleanly every time. The rest of the original trim is in good order, and there isn’t much that is needed here. A new rear parcel tray would be a good starting point, and finding something to fit in the hole where the original radio was would make a world of difference. With those issues addressed, this interior would look pretty nice.
It seems that the owner of this 1970 Nova hasn’t missed a trick with this car. The drivetrain combination should not only be bulletproof but with the suspension and braking upgrades, it should be a rewarding driver when the going gets twisty. The engine and EFI system would have cost around $6,400, which means that this has been a no-expense-spared build. Someone is about to get their hands on a potent classic, and with the performance potential that is on offer, I have to say that I envy them for that. The question is, will it be you that I’m envying?
Well though out and executed. There is good reason this car has strong interest, the bidding likely isn’t close to being finished.
Steve R
Sold with a high bid of $21,100. Someone got a good deal.
Steve R
Yikes,talk about nice!!
I love the owner’s decisions regarding this build (paint/interior colors notwithstanding) — this car looks like it would be a blast to drive. But a “sleeper”? Not really!
Nice car, But not original and with that in mind, can’t see why the money. Just like the Gts You are paying a lot for a vehicle that still needs a bit of work.
Paint jobs are not cheap anymore, you are talking thousands if you farm it out.
The asking price of this is for a completed car not a fixer upper.
This opinion comes from an old fart who bought several cars (mainly GM) in the 60’s and 70’s for a couple of hundred dollars so not able to wrap my head around crazy money for cars that aren’t that rare. Am fortunate that Ohio has some good iron for sale reasonable around me. Still like fast cars, but not willing to spend a fortune on them.
Would buy a new Corvette if was too lazy to work on cars.
The seller is not asking $20,000. He put it up for auction, starting at $1.00, with no reserve. It’s the bidders that are determining the cars value.
Steve R
I really like these, and I think this is well thought out. I would only change *2* things, change the vinyl top to black, and put some Torque Thrust Wheels on it. +1 in fitment. I have NEVER like Rallye wheels. Additionally, maybe put a little money into a sound system so I could enjoy my Rush and the Who as I cruise it. Frank B., just compare the money you would spend on this compared to a used Camry. What would you rather have? The money for this car seems reasonable to me, regardless of what we could have had them for in the ’80s or whenever. Now, $38K for a rusty Charger is another matter…
Skorzeny, You are entitled to your opinion as I to mine. FYI, I have a ’81 Malibu, ’87 Gran National, ’85 S10 V8, 97 S10 V8, ’85 Turbo Riviera and ’65 Fiberfab Ford GT replica.
Yes I bought them right and did the work myself. They all run and Initial investment was under the price of this non original Nova. So for me, the Nova is overpriced. There are good buys our there if you look for them.
For someone who can’t work on them, I guess you would pay the price. I’m pushing 70, but still able to get under a car!
Frank, I can understand your opinion but the value of anything is determined by what it sells for. I have been puzzled by how much some rides go for when I wouldn’t give a nickel for it. That is the beauty of these cars, there is the right one for everybody.
*Grand
Good to hear you can still get under a car at 70 years young. I’m 68 and feel like I’ve been run over by a car. Oh the good young days!
When you’re on the sunny side of 70, it’s pure determination that gets it.
You cannot build this car for under $20,000. The parts alone would be pushing close to that price!
I’m not surprised that this car is above the $20K mark. Novas and their sister clones are hot these days so a solid body with some nice upgrades will attract a lot of interest. While the paint is worn, I actually like it as is. I’d get all the panels straight polish it up a bit and let the paint stay. The top and grille area needs redone though plus all the chrome. I agree with Skorzeny on the Rally wheels, they’re a little overused these day. While sure, she looks a little like a “sleeper”, that image won’t last long as soon as you pop the hood or turn the key. Overall a nice car.
Man, do I want this! My first car was a 70 Nova, same color minus the vinyl top. Memories…..
Sleeper? To Who?
Anyone who sees this on the street it will stick out like a sore thumb.
That may have been true 30 years ago, but now?
Nice find.. the seller has done the hard work and in my opinion, he has done it right! Leave the “patina” and enjoy driving this or do a paint when you have the chance. These Nova’s are definitely going for some money now and this one , I repeat , is built nicely.
I wouldn’t change a thing except for a good set of tunes. Well thought out and nicely executed build.
Love these Novas had a ’70 back in the day! Great car for the right price.
Love Gen 3 Novas. Have owned 4 & still own a 69.
I would clearcoat the patina & swap out the wheels & tires for blackwalls, steel wheels & dogdish caps & raise the eyebrows on some folks.
It would be a tire spinner with that much HP going to a 9″ street tire, or even with street slicks. Hee Ya!
That’ll buff right out.
I like this and owned a ’72 Rally Nova and loved it. It had a factory 350 2V motor and 3-speed manual transmission. The only thing I question on this is the shifter install. I know some Novas (my ’66 SS L-79) had a separate floorpan tunnel hump welded in by the factory because the shifter exited through the floor offset to the driver’s side. I never had the carpet out of my ’72, but I think the shifter location might have been similar.
In January, a guy near me sold his 70 Nova for $14K. The steel body and paint were in mint condition, but was a former race car – 2 race seats, roll cage, tubbed, aluminum dash. It had a nitrous-fed 383 and a Turbo400 that ran in the mid-10s at 130 mph.
That car was a bargain (someone bought it before I got there), but reading about this car, the one that got away was a real steal.
That’s pricing is about right for the average race car, even if it has plates and can be registered, which is often the case, even in California on pre-75 cars. Street cars are priced differently, they typically start at a factor of 2 and can go significantly higher.
Steve R
Knew a gal back in the day whose Dad bought her a brand new ’69 Nova. Base model, 6 cyl 3 speed on the tree. Chevy was running a campaign : $1995. :-) Terry J
The builder of this car understands his trade. Some of the cars we see here have hopelessly optimistic prices. This one will be worth every penny of whatever it goes for. It does not need a radio/sound system. It has one under the hood. Congrats to the lucky bidder. Please keep it looking like this for years to come.
What a coincidence …. I am picking up a 1970 tomorrow and it was a bear to find one that had a title and a VIN. These little gems are bringing good money, starting at $5k for one that needs floors and trunk, right up to the $70k mark for a nice restomod. That $20K price tag is very well priced, and I say that after weeding thru quite a few rusty Novas, some without a Title and one that had its VIN smoothed over by weather exposure. This person has done what I am about to try to do and I hope I can do it as well as he has. Nice to see a car that is being sold with fair in its price. Good luck to the new owner with this sweet little car.
Beautiful. With upgraded suspension, brakes and drivetrain and a straight body, it seems like a good buy at $20k…and a lot of fun to drive. I think it would be hard to duplicate for less than 20.
I’m 79 and I still get under my ’35 Ford P/U street rod, but I will admit that it is getting harder.
I feel the pain, I am a few months shy of my 73rd and I still can get under one of my 5 classic’s when I need to. Not always easy but I still make it happen. Hope I can say that when/if I make 79!
On the Nova I had a ’71 SS I bought in 1976 for $1400 and she was a 350 4spd bench seat car, PS and radio heater only, a lime green color on black. Was a nice driver at the time, my lead foot got me in trouble a few times so I sold after 1 year for $1450.
I bought a new Nova brand new in 69. I always liked the look of these cars. Mine was dark forest green black vinyl top rallye wheels 396 with 4 speed. It was fast but not really a good daily driver, getting poor fuel mileage and high insurance premiums. I didn’t keep it long before I traded for a 69 Firebird 400. The Firebird with the 400 ci engine and turbo 400 trans got way better fuel economy.
Still I really do like what has been done to this one. I’m sure the next owner will be a very happy camper.
God bless America