You look to the sky, and there’s a hole there. You look at the fenders, and there are holes there, too. Is this 1972 Chevrolet Nova with the “Sky Roof” option one that you’d be interesting in patching up to new? If so, you’ve got a few days to snag it here on ebay. At present, the bid is stalled at around $3K, with the reserve not met. Should you test the number and find the sweet spot, you’ll be putting this on the hook in Weatherford, Texas.
The Nova was ubiquitous back in the early 1970s. For whatever reason—probably because their numbers made them cheap—this was the car hopped up by so many high school speed demons. Compact by the standards of the day but often equipped with a 350-CID engine, as is this one, the car would scoot while providing some style, if not the luxury appointments of nearby Grand Prix models, or Chevelles with the SS package. Does that mean that this chance is one you should not pass up? The first picture in the ad, of the front end, looks promising, as does the spotlessly clean garage the car rests in. Keep looking. The photos tell a story of labor and parts needed.
This Nova has already had the floor “professionally replaced,” per the ad, and yet it needs work on the rear quarters, wheel wells, and sail panel. You’re also going to be working over someone else’s old repairs, including filler, by the looks of things. Perhaps you’ll find other areas of corrosion (the doors? Front fenders?) while you’re torching. Once you get that buttoned up, you’ll need to turn your attention to the engine, which turns over but doesn’t start. It has been sitting for three decades and has 104K miles on it in any case. So you’ll be inside there, even if the seller is right that the car just needs rings as a result of being in the garage for so long.
The Sky Roof option was rare, and the seller here cites 432 made with this color combination, if that excites you. The option was available in 1972 and 1973 only, and of the approximately 350,000 Novas sold in the former year, just under 7,000 had the feature. The 1973 models were more rare, with about 3,500 cars so equipped. This Sky Roof has the parts necessary to restore it, though they need attention. Is this a reasonable project? Well, this option makes the car slightly more desirable and puts it on the rare side. It’s a good conversation piece for the show field. But the Sky Roof aside, this is just a rather rusty 1972 Nova, and there are lots of cleaner ones out there to start on if this body style is your cup of tea.
Im not sure what to day here. My eyeballs need a tetanus shot from looking at all the rust.
But then again. Chevy smallblocks can surprisingly come back to life with a good soaking of Marvel Mystery oil down the cylinders if you soak them in for a bit. And it is rare. But its a lot of work, and would be a labor of love for sure.
I do know a few people who have tried meth( bad idea, ruined thier life) , but I do not know this owner. However, at this price for a tetanus trap, pretty sure they’ve tried it too.
I’ve never heard of a Nova with a skyroof option. I’m not saying it didn’t exist, I’m just saying I’ve never heard of it. Buick had a sun coupe option for the Skylark in that year, so why not Chevy also? I’d like to know where the cleaner Novas are for people to work on. By now, and for a long time, most of these rotted away and got junked, or were tubbed and turned into ridiculous hotrods (I’m a stickler for original cars). To see this one restored to original would be very nice, indeed.
Me, neither.
Out of a total of 349,733 Novas built in 1972, only 6,822 units received the sky roof option, so it’s not too surprising that we’ve never heard of it.
I had a 72rally nova with the sky roof black vinyl top sunfire yellow body 350 3 speed
My mom & dad’s first new car was a ’73 Nova with the sky roof. It was the Custom trim level with a ‘350’ badge above the front side marker and a ‘Custom’ badge on the trunk lid. Red with a black vinyl top. The sky roof was of the same vinyl and slid back manually bunching up like an accordian, approx. 2′ x 3′ in size. Had the rally wheels, column shift TH, bench seat, front discs and A/C. Really a nice car I was proud to roll in it as a kid. Dad traded it in on a new Volare in 1980 ! I love the old man but still haven’t fully gotten over him trading it away, especially seeing it’s potential today. Dad feels the same now too…
Ever notice how cars that are desirable rust out the floor pans and quarter panels and the big luxury cars that don’t sell remain pristine? This looks like another one of those “gonna fix it up some day” cars that went beyond that some day.
Ah yeah,I am lost for words on this thing,if someone offered you 3 grand I’d run with it.What a mess more work than what it’s ever worth not a desirable car to begin with!I love Nova’s just not this one.
3k tops imo.Needs a lot o’work and $.Bet the chain skipped with the garbage nylon coated aluminum cam gear that disintegrated and is now clogged in the oil pump sump .
It’s a $1000.00 to free as far as I’m concerned. You can put a canvas skyroof in anything you want. They’re inexpensive, and yes I’ve seen a couple over the years. May be worth it to some who wheel and deal or have a sentimental itch to scratch. I love Novas, always have. When they have bigs and littles with their silhouette.. They look like mean rats on wheels rolling down the street! Nah, I’m not spending an absurd amount of dough on a rusty deuce. I’d just assume work with my minty ’95 S10 shell sitting in the garage….and have just as much fun for a fraction of the hassle. They seem to be the last of a breed for easy, lightweight speed. Make memories with my three sons. It’s my turn now. Just like the great times I shared with my father God rest his soul. Then wait for the value to climb. Cause all Chevys that swallow a small block ALWAYS take off. Happy Hot Rodding guys!
My cousin has a 72 rally nova with the sky roof option come with a 307 and a 3 speed manual trans in the floor.
Always knew of these but never saw one IRL. Classmate in HS had a yellow Buick Sun Coupe. Was a sweet car. This probably was too, fifty years ago.
J my y first car was a 72 Blue SkyRoof Nova…I was 16 and didn’t know what I had…
We have a Skylark Sun Coupe near us. Poor thing has been left to the elements for years. Sitting in a drive way, once tarped , but tarp is in tatters.
Anyway , looking at pictures of the Skyroof it looks identical to the Sun Coupe’s.
A canvas type cover that pulls back in folds.
I have always liked the Nova’s but this one is to far gone with todays cost to restore sorry
Paul….I have owned several BUICK SUN Coupes…. PLEASE reach out to your neighbor and ask if he will part with his.
Depending on OA condition, location and price, would determine what I may offer.
The car is in North Vancouver, BC.
I don’t know the owner , just pass the car when walking the dog.
Interior is bad, car has been sitting a long time. If I happen to see the owner I’ll ask.
too far gone
Crusher bait end of story. There’s no fixing it for profit or to keep. You’ll have 70k + into a car that’s maybe worth 35k .
Only profit here is whatever can be had for scrap.
Looks like my brown 72 307 automatic. I flogged that thing in 86 and 87. The last good looking year for the nova.
Spend 50g do first big burnout whole body cave in on itself lol
Problem with the low price everyone wants to pay is all the extra stuff that has already been done like floors and interior and chrome. You know. Expensive stuff like that. Not saying the rest will be cheap but hopefully someone will end up buying this with that in mind. Would be cool if redone all stock.
Bewitching car. Looks like a car you would see on a Bewitched rerun.
There is one in my area that has been hot rodded very tastfully. The roof puts me in mind of the VW roof of the early sixties. unlatch it and slide it back. My dad had one and my brother and I would stand up and put our heads out and suck up air and bugs. Great fun for 6 and 4 year old boys