Chevrolet introduced the Chevy II/Nova in 1962 to do battle with the Ford Falcon and the growing crop of compact cars. Through 1979, GM would spin the car off to other divisions and sell millions of the popular automobiles. This 1970 edition is a Plain Jane one-owner auto that looks rough but runs and drives. It’s going to need a lot of cosmetic work, but would you restore it as a six-cylinder car or turn it into an SS 396 clone? Located in its home state and in Greenwood, Arkansas, this old Chevy is available here on eBay for $7,000 (Buy It Now) or let the auction play out where the bidding stands at $4,850.
Originally called the Chevy II with the Nova as its upscale model, the car lost that designation after 1969 and would simply be “Nova” going forward. In 1970, Chevy built more than 307,000 of the cars – with 117,000 being 2-door coupes with an inline-six engine (250 cubic inches). This car would have been one of them, complete with a “three-on-the-tree” manual transmission. The combination here is said to be original to the Nova which reportedly only has 60,000 miles, although it has the appearance of a more well-worn automobile.
It’s been sitting for several years in a shed with a dirt floor which probably contributed significantly to its physical demise. The seller, a dealer, managed to get it running after cleaning out the gas tank, replacing the brakes, and putting on a new set of tires. Although the passenger compartment is far from appealing, you could hop in the Chevy and easily drive it around. Its time in captivity has led to a lot of rust in the exterior sheet metal, floor pans, and trunk, but the seller says the rocker panels and one of the quarter panels are solid.
The interior appears to have taken the brunt of what time and Mother Nature have had to offer and will need to be gutted and started over. The seller’s original plan was to turn it into a 396 clone or a restomod, but too many other muscle cars projects await his attention, and he says he’ll just never get around to it. $7,000 sounds like a lot of money to spend to buy the car to restore it as it left the factory, so is a V8 conversion the only viable alternative?
What about keeping it a 6cyl. Drop in the camaro 3.6L w the sweet exhaust.
Not worth 7 grand, but the six with stick doesn’t sound like a bad combo. It could also be a 230 six in its last year, since the car is pretty basic.
350 w/ 8bbl. 4 speed (350 hp) new paint and interior, same outside and inside.the little hub caps remain….
..
Memories 4 Dr
St six. Same Color
Sold it back fourth between Buddy’s.
Rusted out so bad lag-bolteld Van window cut outs to floor.
Slip over Railroad tracks it was a Jewel.
Loudest tunes on Main St.
Lol
‘Shed Find’? This is BARN Finds! (wink)
Rough for 7k. I’ve owned numerous 3rd gens(still own a 69 SS)including a 72 with a 250 CI.
Those motors have the ability to embarrass a lot of small blocks with the right internals & carburetion or better yet, F.I.
They probably didn’t realize you were racing them …
Obviously you’ve never had the experience. You can double the HP pretty easy on them.
Best comment of the day!!
Not likely. I had one with a 250 I rebuilt myself, a claim of doubling the power is absurd.
Wrong combo. Flat top pistons, aggressive cam, good intake, 4 barrel, minor head work, 2.5″ dual exhaust 300 HP easy.
Please stop, you already broke my first BS meter
Tell that to everyone that ran in the 6 cylinder sportsman classes at local dirt tracks well into the 1990s. Basically a late model chassis/sheet metal body with a buzzin’ half dozen under the hood. 9 out of 10 were built up 250s producing well over 300 horsepower.
Rough for 7k. I’ve owned numerous 3rd gens over the years. Including a 72 with a 250 six. Those motors are quite capable of embarrassing a lot of small blocks with the right build. Relatively inexpensive too.
You can put a header and glass pack exhaust on it and it will still sound better than the fart can imports
That interior screams 160,000 miles …. at the least
I like the six with manual transmission. Love the body style of these cars. Hate the color. Interior needs everything replaced. To me it’s already topped out on price. I’ll pass.
God bless America
I know that a lot of guys here , talk about passion in building cars
So, if one rebuilds this car with a 6 cyl for the same amount that it costs to do it with a v8
Wich version of the car be easier to sell?
I am betting on the v8
Not that i dislike a new injected, turbo v6 but one has to think of the future
Hands down the V8. But sadly, they aren’t talking about a V6, but a straight 6.
6 in a row, good to tow, lol!
Put in a Atlas series straight 6 out of a trailblazer.
That would probably be a 1 of 1.
Yup. Stellar engine!
The year was 1991. I bought a 1970 Nova 250 at a farm near the parents place. We had to run a hose through a hole in the floor to the fuel pump to get it fired up. When I drove it out of the hole it had sunk into, the fuel tank remained there. This turd had no brakes and there was no chance the parking brake was going to be of use. So off we go down the road thinking I could slow this down by using the THM 350. When coming to a stop sign the transmission decided to loose line pressure and there was no slowing down. My friend opens the door to bail and I convinced him to stay as we were above 30 MPH. We took the car around the hard left turn with the passenger door still wide open and then the line pressure returned and we were good to go. Last time he helped me with any field car finds… When I dragged this to the wreckers an hour from my parents, the only thing keeping the rear of the car from dragging down the road was the trunk lid restraining the leaf springs from going any higher. Gotta love Ontario!
The old leaf spring through the floor trick , also a classic in montreal, quebec
Truck fudeau
too much money
Love the novas. My neighbor had a very low mile 375hp 4 speed he bought off the original owner three doors down. This was back in 77 or 78. BigBlocksRock is right about sixes. My dad’s buddy built alot of hotrods, several were in Street Rodder and such. He built a 38 Chevy coupe with a GMC six, big cam, ported and polished head, six into two header, three Weber carbs, 4speed. It kicked the crap out of alot of muscle cars in the day. I saw a 426 Hemi powered 62? Fury with four turbos. Why not build up a hot six with three turbos? It would be different and haul ass to boot.
Imagine the power a V8 would spit out with the same mods, it would kick the crap out of any straight 6
$2500 at most.
Have you all lost your minds???
The paint is shot.
The body is shot.
The interior is shot.
The tires are shot.
It is only a 6.
This is a $700 car……tops!
I agree with Mike on this one. Very toasty Nova! Might have some salvageable parts but it will take more time and money than it could ever be worth with the serious rust issues, especially the floor pans. They would need replaced before it would be safe to drive on the streets for sure.
I’ve had my share of straight 6s! But the one that was a head turner was 80 over with a shaved head and matched intake with a jetted carb, back when seat belts was not required friends and family put them on anyway,! Haha
I leave the body as is, just fix any type rust. Do a mini tub, New int., then drop my 427-1550hp Pro Charger in it. Be a great sleeper but, that motor going into a 66 Chevy Chevelle SS.
I love the body style (grandma had one), love the straight six with the straight shift, not lovin’ this example. Decades parked on dirt (what underbody?), nothing left of the interior. But it does run & drive! I guess that is a plus!
Still not worth $7,000 to me. Maybe $3,500 & bidding was already past that when this was written.