At first glance, this ’70 Nova has something of a Super Sport look to it, from the blacked-out grille and raised ornaments on the hood to the wood-grain steering wheel and 4-speed shifter. And, yet, when you open the hood, there lies a 250 cubic inch inline six-cylinder engine. We’re not sure how this Nova came to be, but it’s a beautiful car, restored or original. Located in Winchester, Tennessee, this Chevrolet is available here on eBay where the bidding rests at $17,555, but the reserve is $22,000.
The Nova started as the Chevy II in 1962 as a more conventional competitor in the burgeoning compact car field. Their first entry was the Corvair and conventional is not a word to describe that interesting car. Nova would be an upscale trim edition at first and became the name of the series later. The third generation (1968-74) would be the series’ most popular, accounting for more than 2 million units. During the 1970 model year, more than 307,000 Nova’s were built with 116,700 being the 2-door coupe with a six-banger like in the seller’s car.
A lot about this Chevy speaks to a cosmetic restoration, yet we’re told it’s not a show car, just a solid driver. The body panels look straight, and the blue paint is shiny with no stand-out flaws. These cars tend to rust in the bottom of the front fenders and the corners of the trunk lid, while those areas look clean on this car. The interior is equally nice and looks like the optional trim package you could order new. That was a step up from the basic vinyl seats and rubber floor mats that were standard.
The motor in this Nova also found its way into at least half the compacts Chevy built in 1970, so that’s not unusual. However, what is unusual is that the car has a 4-speed that the seller says came from the factory. I’m a Nova guy and I never knew that was an option with the six. Perhaps it was specially ordered this way. Whatever the circumstances, the seller says this is a great running automobile and it just completed a 1,800-mile trip with no issues.
Most of the Nova’s that hit the market these days are Super Sports, real or cloned. So, it’s pleasant to see one that isn’t in that category, even though it‘s slightly disguised as one. Hagerty suggests that $20-25,000 is top dollar for one of these cars not in SS trim, otherwise, the number would probably double. This would be a great car for the car show circuit, watching people’s jaws drop when you popped the hood after they looked in the window and saw the 4-speed.
The BS meter is really going off on this one. The 4 speed transmission was never offered with the 6 cylinder in 1970.
https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/docs/gm-heritage-archive/vehicle-information-kits/Nova/1970-Chevrolet-Nova.pdf
It has the wrong fake grills on the hood (look Camaro to me) and are missing the side grills behind the front wheels for 1970 (unless not available with the 6 cyl)
Phony muffler on 1 side?
You can just bet that motor’s gonna be pulled asap.
Interesting matching homemade driver’s door armrest cover.
Vin drcider, NM. It’s gone.
Id expect a 3 on the tree here , my 66 had that combo and same color ( where o where did she end up )
Name checks out – all show and No-va (No Go)
Regardless if this car came like this from the factory or not, I like this car, and would putter around in it just the way it is. Some dealers made changes or upgrades to base models such as the 69 I bought new from Brooks-Biddle Chevrolet in Bothel Washington which was a non S.S. With 396.
God bless America
Nice looking car but Tony Primo debunked the BS!! Good work Tony!! Normally I’d say keep all the original stuff so you could put it back to what it originally was but this isn’t original!!!!
Only two things bother me… the 68/69 Camaro hood louvers and the dealer tag on the leading edge of the hood, they are usually found on the deck lid. Other than that, nice appearing car!