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Same Family for 38 Years: 1966 Chevrolet Nova

The Chevy II was the company’s second compact car of the 1960s, following in the heels of the somewhat unorthodox (for the times) Corvair. It was redesigned in 1966 to resemble the larger automobiles in the Chevrolet staple. This ’66 Nova 2-door hardtop has only been owned by two families and has never traveled more than 100 miles outside Tulsa, Oklahoma. Available here on eBay, the current bid is $25,400 with an unmet reserve and can be driven home from nearly Claremore.

With its new “sharp-edged” styling, sales of the Chevy II shot up nicely in 1966 over the year before. But that success was short-lived as sales took a nosedive in 1967 when the new Camaro stole some of the smaller car’s limelight. V8s were becoming a bigger part of the mix as more than 43,000 of them went into the 172,000 Chevy IIs built in 1966. Of those, 32,000 were the 195 hp version of the 283 cubic inch motor found in the seller’s car.

A vintage car purchase is more enjoyable when history and paperwork come with the deal. That’s the case with the seller’s Nova, which is sold new in Drumright, Oklahoma. The original owner sold it to the seller’s father in 1985 when he got too old to drive. After that gentleman’s passing a couple of years later, the Chevy has stayed with the seller ever since. After 57 years, the car’s window sticker, Protect-O-Plate, and other documentation are all still around to come along on the ride.

We’re told the 283 V8 was “refreshed” in 2010, but we don’t know what that means. That could be anything from a complete tune-up to a full rebuild or anywhere in between. With an odometer reading of 70,000 miles, the latter could be probable. It runs great today, paired with a Powerglide 2-speed automatic transmission. Cameo Beige is the original color, but not the original finish which was redone some time ago. The interior looks nice and dealer-installed air conditioning is present as there’s no indication of it on the window sticker. This looks like a nice car but is it worth $30,000 (if that’s where the seller has set the reserve)?

Comments

  1. Nevada1/2rack Nevadahalfrack Member

    Non-original paint?
    No big deal.
    Thirty thousand dollars?!?
    THAT’S a big deal.
    Very nice Chevy II.
    Not a great deal.

    Like 42
  2. Rbig18

    Nice car. I have always thought of the 66 and 67 Nova’s as I e of the top classic 60’s muscle cars. They just have great body lines. I don’t think the price is out of line for this day and age for one of the hot 60’s muscle cars.

    Like 15
    • KH

      Seems like a lot for a 283.

      Like 3
  3. Jim Sartor

    8 or 10K high but good luck anyhow

    Like 14
    • Steve R

      How so, it’s an auction, potential buyers determine the price.

      Steve R

      Like 11
    • Toe Cutter

      You are tripping? Yeah right. Its a high price, but not that high.

      Like 5
  4. Thirdrail

    I believe every 66 and 67 Chevy ll novas with air were dealer installed. I owned a 67 SS with dealer installed air.

    Like 8
    • Tom

      I believe ones that were factory installed had a different heater control panel with a vertical fan switch. I had a setup like that and foolishly sold it…

      Like 2
  5. Boatman Member

    The air conditioning is indeed on the window sticker, Russ.

    Like 8
    • moosie moosie

      @ Boatman,,,,,,,,, Yup it is but the V/8 isn’t ? Is it denoted in the VIN.# ? Nice Nova & I feel its worth as much as someone is willing to pay, otherwise silence.

      Like 4
      • Boatman Member

        It says “Nova 8 2dr. spt. coupe.”

        Like 1
  6. Dennis6605

    My guess it was a tune up and not a rebuild. I would think the cosmetics of the engine would look better if it was a rebuild.

    Like 6
  7. Matthew Dyer

    Very nice and unmolested. Great license plate too.

    Like 4
  8. Scott Member

    Cool plate.

    Like 3
  9. dogwater

    Sorry Sartor or is it Ripanwinkle 8 to 10 K would buy you a parts car for 66 -67 Nova’s the price is fair nice car

    Like 6
  10. Mr C.

    Nice car but a 383 crate motor would make it sweet!😍

    Like 3
  11. RH FACTOR

    When I see that 283 two barrel, I think aluminum dual plane intake w/ 600 holley, dual exhaust, small hydraulic cam w/new chain and gears and that car comes alive! Nice car. Love the A/C.

    Like 5
  12. Steve Mehl

    I think the early Novas had great style. But when they redesigned the body in 1968 it became one of Chevy’s worse looking cars, in my opinion. Downright ugly compared to other cars. The head of the Nova car club used to drive his Novas when he visited his parents who lived across the street from me in York, PA. Unfortunately, he was always driving the Novas from 1968 on. So I never could understand why anyone would want to collect cars that looked that bad, even if they were muscle cars.

    Like 1
  13. C Force

    I guy used to work for installing sprinklers had a black 65.he had put a 383 stroker motor w/TH350 trans.this body style was the best and it’s amazing if it’s as rust free as it looks.cars this old from here aren’t always what you would consider rust free or minimal rust.the 283 could be reworked to make serious power while retaining originality.

    Like 0
  14. Jon.in.Chico

    $32,100 and reserve not met ?? … one fool meets another …

    Like 2
  15. CCFisher

    The original owner sold it to the seller’s father in 1985 when *she* got too old to drive

    Like 0
  16. Peggy

    I had a ’66 Chevy 2 and it is the only Chevy I have ever been sorry to loose. My husband had a ’65 and it is the only Chevy he wishes he could have back. But $30,000 ? No. Good luck, may the new owner enjoy it.

    Like 0

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