The Chevy II/Nova was a staple in the Chevrolet portfolio from 1962 through 1979. It was conceived as a more conventional competitor in the then-new compact car market space that Corvair entered first. This 1971 edition is a basic model, with an inline-6 engine and an automatic. It’s been sitting for several years and runs rough, but rust is a bigger issue. The car can be found in Conyers, Georgia, and is available here on eBay. The opening bidding of $5,500 has not been made on this tip from Barn Finder Larry D!
Chevrolet closed out the 1970 model year with the best Nova sales since 1963. But that success was short-lived as production dropped by more than a third in 1971. It was due in part to an extended labor strike late in 1970 and maybe because the 1971 Nova’s were virtually unchanged while the new Plymouth Duster was still picking up steam and Dodge now had the similar Demon. Upwards of half of Nova production in 1971 – 95,000 units – came with the 250 cubic inch inline-6 like in the seller’s car.
For more than 50 years, this Chevy Nova has been owned by the same family, passed on from one member to another. This car has been in hibernation for the past seven years. It will start and drive around the backyard, but that’s about it. The fuel system is going to need flushing and probably a lot more since the odometer reading is 52,000 miles (plus another 100,000 for turning over). As was often the case with the 6-banger, this car has Chevy’s venerable Powerglide 2-speed transmission.
While mechanical work is needed, the cosmetics of this car may be more. The interior is pretty well worn with sheets covering both the front and rear seats, and the dash pad has numerous cracks and crevasses. But rust is enemy #1 here, in both the front fenders, the rear quarter panels, the trunk lid, and there are even a few holes in parts of the undercarriage. Assuming the car is considered salvageable, many would-be buyers may be looking at this car as a candidate to become an SS 350 clone. But how cool would it be to pop open the hood after restoration and still find a six sitting there!
Wow, as me 8banger likes v8s, this one needs more than a wee bit to get it up to snuff. As it is, now for $500 maybe…
Either I’m out of touch or the seller is delusional. There is nothing desirable about this poor Nova that makes it worth the opening bid.
My fathers friend always bought and traded cars. He was always rolling in something. One day Gene pulls in in a No go like this. It too had the moon hubcaps. I remember my dad saying what a dull turd it was. Cheap and too bad it wasn’t a hardtop knowing GM didn’t offer it
Typical Gene he didn’t keep it long. Later on Gene retired and moved to Fla. He got a dealers license and would often buy cars and park them on the street for a side hustle. I miss his car stories.
It’s sad. My guess 10-15 years ago when the quarter panels were better. The seller was most likely offered possibly more then he is asking now.
Keep something too long it spoils as is the case here.
But how cool would it be to pop open the hood after restoration and still find a six sitting there!
Agreed. Power Glide is a trip as well.
But not in very good shape. Nothing lost if it got cloned into a V8 whatever.
Vega in ’71 likely cut into Nova sales as well: shiny new thing, on-trend, etc.
I used to own a 67 Nova hardtop (WHY DID I SELL IT!!) that I did a full restoration on but I’m a body man so I made the mistake of keeping it an original 6 cylinder. You should have heard the comments of disgust when people looked under the hood at car shows. Be prepared to be ridiculed when you keep it a 6 cylinder, especially if it is a pristine original restoration.