Chevrolet’s third-generation Nova is unquestionably the most popular with most owners and/or fans. It’s hard to argue with their muscle car potential, and having both two-door and four-door body styles, they’re versatile with families, too. The seller has this 1969 Chevrolet Nova sedan posted here on craigslist in Long Beach, California, and they’re asking $6,200. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Pat L. for sending in this tip!
The third-gen Novas were made from late 1967 for the 1968 model year, until 1974. We don’t see many four-door sedans here on Barn Finds. This is a muscle car-heavy website, if you haven’t noticed, and four-door cars sometimes don’t go over too well. I would take a four-door Nova over a two-door any day, just to be different. In fact, make mine a straight-six with a three-on-the-tree and I’d be even happier.
A period 1969 Chevy Nova brochure says, “It makes you want to deport your import.” I lived through this era, but I must have been too young or too dumb to remember all of the hype about imports flooding the US at the time. Was the Chevrolet Nova really supposed to be an import fighter? It’s hard to believe now, but I guess it was. You can see that this example isn’t a trailer queen by any means, but it doesn’t appear to be a beat-up hulk either, it looks mostly nice to me, I would drive this car all day long. I mean, not literally, but figuratively.
The interior is hard to see, being black, and having maybe not the best photos on the planet showing it in shadow, so it’s hard to see the condition. I do see a dash crack and obviously, there’s an issue with the front seat, since it’s covered by a loose seat cover. The seller isn’t going all War and Peace on us over the description of the interior. Here is what they say about the interior: “int ok.”
Here is the engine photo, looking suspiciously like the back seat. Yes, sadly, they didn’t bother to pop the hood. I mean, why would you when you’re selling a car online and the only way to see it is in photos? It should be Chevy’s 307-cu.in. V8, which would have had a healthy 200 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque, and it’s been rebuilt. They say that it runs. That’s it – not exactly the most glowing rebuilt engine description that I’ve seen. Hagerty is at $6,300 for a #4 fair-condition car, so maybe their $6,200 asking price isn’t out of line, despite the lack of photos to really tell what condition it’s in. This one looks pretty good to me, but would any of you pay $6,200 for a four-door Nova?
Great sleeper material, set up properly could be so much fun!
I had a similar Nova sedan though mine hade a straight six with an auto trans. I traded with a friend for it who owned a body shop. My contribution to the trade was a’68 Mustang convertible that needed a complete restoration but was solid and complete. The Nova was a daily driver that was dependable and cheap on fuel, a plus for me as I made many 500-mile trips to Northern Maine for hunting and fishing. My buddy threw a quickie paint job on it before he gave it to me and added the one-of-a-kind go-faster paint design on the hood. It was a good car that I kept for a few years and got my money’s worth out of it. This one here needs a good bit of work and money thrown at it if you want it to look better but I’m sure it will appeal to somebody. I’m not sure if the price is fair considering all that it needs but as I’ve said before, what do I know.
The two or more Novi pictured remind me that every working-class neighborhood in California looks exactly the same. This has nothing to do with the cars but everything to do with the owners. If you go look, check for pitbulls before approaching the fence, and provide as little personal information as you can to make your purchase. Trust no one.
Ouch, it’s a 4 door, if I could only have one it would be a two. Novas always got it done. One could easily learn to love this car.
Just pretend you are in Australia and hot rod the thing!
Me, I love it! It would make a great car to run Door Dash in. Even with the
307, you could get at least 15-20 MPG in town and a bit more on the
highway. The ease of repair is what
appeals to me. I have a ’12 Hyundai
Accent that’s gonna cost me at least
$4K to replace a timing belt. But I
won’t know until I pay that same shop
$250 to diagnose the problem. That’s
why I’d want this car– very easy to fix
and that would mean more money in
our pockets.
BTW, I live in Central Florida where
auto repair rip offs are common. Our
Consumer Affairs department singled
out the auto repair industry here to be
as a racket, and they tell consumers
to look at all auto repair shops as the
enemy that’ll rip you off any chance
they get. I once saw two mechanic
friends of mine rip off an elderly couple for $500 after their ’85 Chevy
Citation just ran out of gas. That was
30 years ago and I haven’t spoken to
either one of them since.
I bought a 69 Nova brand new. It was a 2 door, dark green with black vinyl top and ralley sport wheels. Mine had the 396 with 4 speed. It was a ni9ce little car. $2700.00 from Brooks-Biddle Chevrolet, Bothel, Washington.
God Bless America
Amen! (what’s left of her, anyway)
Free speech is obviously barely breathing…
2 Nova’s side by side. Nova from Planet of the Apes….was far better looking.
lol Bonus was she couldn’t speak.
I’d leave it exactly as it sits. Externally. A LSbased 6.2 with a couple of Chinese winemakers under the hood, and off to hurt some feelings😉
Windmakers…. Damned auto correct
I used to work near Brooks Biddle at AA rental in the early 80’s, I heard it is still there, which is amazing considering what they have done to that town. I used to drive a 69 when I worked there, and I picked up another 69 Nova two door recently. I’ve had several.
Californians. Flippy Flipperson just put those “retro” black plates with the entirely not retro overpopulation evidencing new numbering scheme on it last Monday. The paint on them is still tacky. So authentic. So glad they do not reproduce the vintage blue plates and have therefore not bastardized those, too.
Tired, basic and 4-doors for 6K, woohoo! Pass.
Is there really a demand for a four door Nova?
Lovely looking car. If only more photos were taken of the car. I’ve always found the 1968 through 1972 Chevy Nova.
With a 302, my guess the default automatic would be a Powerglide, yes?
no the 302 V8 was only available in the Z28 Camaro. 302 6cyl was a GMC truck engine. In a nova the 307 was popular as a base v8 while the 6cly would be a 250 in 1969 models.
Two 4 door Nova’s back to back. The 2 door Nova was a family sedan as it was. The 4 door definitely was. These would be nice parts cars for 2 door cars in my opinion. I’ll let it go at that.