Following a complete redesign in 1968, the third-generation Chevrolet Nova became its most popular yet. Sales increased by an additional 37% in 1969 as the car underwent subtle annual changes through 1972. In 1969, the Super Sport’s top option was a 396 cubic-inch V8, so the seller’s Nova is more of a tribute than a clone, as a 454 engine was never offered from its 1970 birth. Looking rather stout, this Chevy is in Dover, New Jersey, and is available here on craigslist for a surprisingly low $19,000. Thumbs up to Rocco B. for the tip!
Most 1969 Nova Super Sports came with the 300 hp, 350 CI L48 V8 (60%). The rest were either the 350-hp L34 396 or the 375-hp L78 396. The latter two big blocks were scheduled again in 1970, but were gone after that, limiting the SS Nova to a 350 powerplant. The 1969 model year is noted for the absence of the Chevy II moniker on the cars, as it had appeared since the compact’s launch in 1962.
No history is provided on this ’69 Nova, but we’re told it has traveled 130,000 miles. Since no evidence of it ever being a Super Sport is provided, a guess is that this car was an ordinary Nova at birth. Maybe it had a V8 (307?) or possibly the base inline-6 (250), but a crate 454 from Summit Racing now resides under the hood. If you go to their website, you’ll see these motors go for a large portion of the asking price of this car.
This Chevy has the unusual combination of red paint and a red bucket seat interior. Both have probably changed over the years, and there are still air-conditioning vents in the dashboard, but there is no A/C in the car. A 4-speed manual transmission accompanies the 454, but of what variety? While this Nova looks great and runs well, it presents more questions than it does answers.
Wow 👌 I’m into it!! I love Novas. I had a 74 with a 350 automatic. Love everything about a Nova. The price is incredible as the motor is worth a large percentage of the asking price as you mentioned. Hmmm, wonder if he’s interested in a clean 83 K10 shortbed? I’d be happy if he was
Yeah, the ’69s are especially appealing to me. When I think “jacked-up muscle car”, the ’69 Nova usually comes to mind. Normally I’d be a manwell transmission proponent, but I think when racing in a straight line, I prefer a superior machine/computer do the shifting.
First car was a ’73 Hatchback, 350 auto on the floor. The price seems too low.
Not for everybody, if the ad is real, it’s not a rust bucket and it matches the pictures it’s a great deal. I’d want to see it in person, but wouldn’t wire money for a deposit to hold the car.
Steve R
That was my very first thought. Very likely a scam.
When Craigslist was created, it was only meant for selling locally. You have to be a chronic gambler to wire this guy money. Maybe it’s legit, and someone is going to score themselves a great deal.
The fact that the ad is still up is a little strange at that price would think someone would jump at that price. Agree i would not wire a deposit as the saying goes if its to good to be true.
Also remember that a 454 crate engine from Summit Racing has been available for a long time. I’m betting (if it isn’t a scam) the vending was purchased several years ago when the engine price was considerably lower. Like maybe $7,000.
To low likely a scam to bad looks good
I’m old enough to remember these when they were new. I had at least 6 or 8 friends who drove Nova’s, everything from 68 with the 153 4 cylinder and a stripper rubber mat 69 with a 307 with a 4 speed, to a 72 350 automatic “Sky Roof”, a few SS 350’s and two 4 speed backed 396/375 SS’s.
This quite possibly is a real SS. The hood, and grill are correct, but it also has the correct steering wheel SS emblem which often gets overlooked on SS conversions.
I think I’d add a reproduction full length console with the auxiliary gauges and paint the side louver trim body color (like they originally were). I’m not crazy about the wheel tire combo on this car, they look too big to me. I think some wheels with less offset and slightly smaller tires would fit the wheel openings better and eliminate the need to raise the rear. The rear wheel openings were the one weak spot to Nova’s, the shape prevented using wide rear tires without going to shackles or air shocks.
As too whether it’s a scam, the front tag does not look like one of our tags here in Jersey, for what that’s worth. And they couldn’t be recent pictures because we’ve had snow on the ground for about 3 weeks.
My 73 had air shocks and chrome traction bars.
I smell a rat in the rain barrel here. Caveat emptor!
If that’s a real ad, and the car looks good in person it could be flipped for a lot more that that. Just saying. Personally I would buy it to keep it.
I’m originally from NJ and that front license plate could be one of the older blue plates from the 80’s that were eventually phased out. Jersey plates were always yellow with black number/letters. That one brief period when they were changed to blue with white letters was because the incumbent governor’s wife did not like the yellow plate so they were changed to blue. Eventually, many police complained because the blue plates were not very readable so they went back to yellow. I got my license in a 70 Nova back in 1970. It was my moms car and it had a 307 with an automatic! It was plenty quick and you could break loose the tires with a 307 floored! The rear end was so light, we put sand bags in, in the winter! I can’t imagine this car with a giant motor like this!! Price seems too good to be true for what’s here!!
I expanded the picture and the tag looked green to me, but I couldn’t make out the state.
I have an 81 Corvette I bought new and it’s still wearing it’s original blue NJ tags. I transferred them from the 74 Corvette I traded in on the 81.
With the prices of “old school” muscle these days, this car would be a good deal at the price listed, even if it didn’t have a motor! BUYER BEWARE! lol
If the price is right, it’s a steal! But I’d need a lot more pictures and a lot more description before I’d get too excited. Except for the bucket seats I had this car back in the 80s. Red, 4 speed, 454. Think I gave $1800 for it.
I love 68-72 Novas!!!! I really want this car
The front fender parking lite is not correct It should be rectangle I owned a new 69 and 71 nova ss and they were great cars
Good looking Nova!! BB power too!!
The contact phone number is 812: Indiana. Hmmmmm……
the ad says it’s a tribute. front side lights look like they are not in the right spot. that front tag looks green/white so it’s not a NJ tag. i like the red interior and i draw the line there. the rest of the car is very impressive.as others have stated this looks hokey. i did a wire transfer once on a late model car because no time to do a visual inspection on it and when it arrived i was sorry. this car was a P O S. took 18 months to resell and lost 3k. never again. always do an in-person inspection.
Vermont plates. Looked on VT Craigslist and didn’t see a comparable listing so… Who knows? Seems too good to be true but if its real it could be a steal.
May or may not be a scam. But, wrt the price, I think it’s fair. Not a numbers matching car, a Nova and not a Camaro. Seriously lacking descriptive information, so there could be some needs here. A/C ripped out. Solid body is good, nonetheless I couldn’t see paying more for this.
I see a couple of issues. The price is really low. I say that because of the amount of suspension work one would have to do to accommodate that 454 engine & make it hook up right. I know because I have 396 engine bored to a 402 producing 475hp & 525 ft lbs torque in my 70 Monte Carlo. I’d bet she would be a handful to drive though…lol