Chevrolet added a second compact to its line-up in 1962 and dubbed it the Chevy II. More conventional than the Corvair which preceded it by two years, the Chevy II was typical of full-size cars but in a smaller package. This second-year edition is the upscale Nova in station wagon garb. Said to run and drive well enough, its remaining issues are mostly cosmetic. Located in Welling, Oklahoma, this smaller people mover is available here on eBay where the last bid posted was for $5,100, not yet to the level of the reserve.
Like its main competitors, the Ford Falcon and Plymouth Valiant, the Chevy II had its water-cooled engine mounted over the front wheels. But unlike the others, the base engine in the Chevy II was a 153 cubic inch inline-4, which didn’t get a lot of takers. Most of the early Chevy IIs came with a 194 CI inline-6 that would grow over time to displacements of 230, then 250 cubic inches. The seller’s ’63 Nova has the latter six-banger, meaning the original motor was shed at some point in its 90,000 miles.
Chevrolet built more than 75,000 Chevy II wagons in ’63 (all with four doors), but there was no breakdown by trim level (base vs. Nova). The seller has owned this wagon for a year or so and has been doing a lot of work. A boatload of new parts has been installed, including a gas tank, complete new brakes, radiator, alternator, battery, and tires. In addition, the front bench seat has been reupholstered (which now doesn’t match the one in the back) and new floor mats and cargo area carpeting were dropped in.
The body and paint will need some attention. There are holes in the passenger side rear quarter panel and the right front fender doesn’t jive with the rest of the car since it was changed (and painted primer red which is similar in color). Two of the door panels are missing and will need sourcing in addition to the headliner. If you don’t like the chrome steering wheel, the seller has the original you can swap it back for. Given the effort put in so far and the else that is waiting, this is a station wagon that you could continue to drive while picking up whether the seller is leaving off.
Cool,practical car.If you took this to a local car show
you’d get a whole lot more attention than the row of ’55 –
’57 Chevies.
Hope the seller’s reserve isn’t too high. This needs more work (plus non-original engine) than a lofty price will allow. True; there are reproduction parts now, which will help but attention is needed for the problems we can’t see here. If this is over $7K, it’s way too much for what I see here.
In 1975 when in high school the local newspaper had one just like this for a delivery vehicle. I worked at the local ford dealership and they had a car crusher in to get rid of the old cars in town. The dealership didn’t charge to get rid of unwanted cars and the newspaper brought it out to crush. We put a brake drum on the gas pedal to see how long it would run and it did for quite sometime, a big puff of smoke and it died.
Anybody know what colour that is ?? I like it
Im gonna guess Riverside Red.
Riverside Red was a Corvette (ONLY) color. This is Ember Red, Chevy’s red for 63 & 64.
Red
When I was a kid, my mom’s car was a ’63 Chevy II wagon like this. What was left of the exterior (we lived in Minnesota) was white and I can’t remember for sure what the interior was (this was 50+ years ago) – I think it was black. My dad liked to tell the story of how he became concerned when I told him I could watch the road going by through the holes in the floor! Back in those days, it was common for my brother and me to stay in the car while my mom ran into the corner market, and we would have a good ol’ time turning on the wipers, turning up the radio, cranking up the heat, etc., to surprise my mom when she’d come back and turn on the car. I have plenty of other memories from that car of things that absolutely wouldn’t fly in today’s society!
Nice for once to see a Chevy II / Nova that hasn’t been made into something it never was . Most of these compacts all seem to have had a V8 transplant and look like pro street cars.
All Chevy II rebuilds should include full roll cage and at minimum of 300 hp small block GM engine. Six Bangers are for old ladies. All Chevy II restomods should be done correctly whereby a 12 bold Pozi and cast iron powerglide are used. The Aluminum Powerglide is not for racing application or high perf.
With 300hp in a Chevy II you need a roll cage just in case. Traction is ultra important so you’ll need Lakewood traction bars and coil-over shocks. The front clip needs strengthening if 300hp is installed and especially if one adds Nitrous Oxide for get-up-and-go at the push of a button.
These cars make great bracket racers.
Bob
Unlike you,most of don’t want a car like you describe,and
couldn’t afford to drive one like that either.
I’m (possibly) in the minority here,in that burnouts & extremely-
low gas mileage don’t make any sense,it’s just wasting money.
Or Demolition Derby cars ! lol
If I were to buy this car, I’d leave the 250 six since it’s there, build the rest of it back to stock and add disk brakes up front.
If I wanted something really unique, I’d keep a six in it but add a cam, triple Weber side drafts, 3.42 to 3.55 Positraction rear end, front disk brakes and either a 4 or 5-speed manual or a four-speed automatic with overdrive.
That unloved 153 4 banger also saw use in the Jeep DJ mail jeeps from 1968 to 70.
Robert, you are obviously a 6 cylinder hater, me too, this no one cares wagon needs some horse power love, so it can have a nice second chance at life.
Nice seeing a mostly original Chevy II. In 1962 my father ordered a new
Chevy II Nova 400 in Honduras Maroon Which was ordered with a 194 6cyl, 3 speed on the column a 3.50 posi rear end, seat belts, padded dash, push button am radio,Windsheld washer… the list goes on. Unfortunately, when I started driving in 1971, I beat the hell out of it. wish I had it today, it was a great car…
Now that’s a nice simple motor and carb you could fix/repair if need be.
Too bad the rest of the car is a heap.
Falcon little station wagons were very similar.
yes, thinkin of the ThriftPower (i6) and C4, but these are just as great. Can’t daily the mods of above, justa track toy. If thats what yer $ is for I say goferidid. Just stay away from me and the more useful. I dont gamble $ away either. Neither is what I call fun, pleasure, enjoyment.
On the other hand I built out a ’70 bronk that earns it’s value yearly in the woods and can sideline asa rec vehicle. But that’s a ‘truck’ nota car.
This 1? if changes – the 292, a weber 32/36 as the 2nd v only opens at 3/4 throttle, Accel 4 pin/DUI for better spark (not sure the botie way ) & may B discs up frnt. May B a 4L30 or 60 for an OD auto transmission, again not cheb wise. I love the econo box of the era. Plenty sz 4 me (the import waggys R a lill small). Just got a fox wagon to rehab/daily. Current price is right for additions mentioned (5K) altho 2 or 3 would be beddah ! A 6 mo ownership/drive about would tell.
8^ )