Sometimes you want the best of everything. With that in mind, someone built this 1972 Chevrolet Rally Nova into a “one of none” SS Rally Nova, or maybe it’s a Rally SS Nova, or a Rally Nova SS. OK; you get the idea. Regardless of its origin, the Marietta, Georgia Chevy can be yours for $6500 here on craigslist.org. Though far from perfect, this original 350 cid (5.7L) V8 Nova runs and drives. Thanks to reader Pat L. for putting this once-slick Chevy on our Christmas list.
The addition of SS trim reaches far and near down to the steering wheel horn cover. The body tag describes what you see here, a white Nova with black vinyl top, and black vinyl bench seat. The body tag decoder at novaresource.org also confirms the seller’s claim that the Nova came with the top engine available in a non-SS Nova, the 350 cid V8 with two-barrel carburetor. Only SS buyers could upgrade to the four-barrel 350.
Set against the Antique White background, rust weeps from crevices and seams of this classic like the discharge of a highly unenviable disease. I remember a certain “fresh water flood” car, a fine-looking muscle car with a few wisps of rust in places like the glove compartment door. I’m going out on a limb here to advise that, if a car’s glove box lid is rusting from the inside out, run away from that beauty as fast as you can. These days you can’t order a taxi cab or pickup truck with a single-piece front bench seat, but in the simpler times of the ’70s, that bench opened the door to an extra legal passenger or an extra-close ride with your favorite one. Some things are more important than lateral support bolsters.
There’s no time capsule of factory perfection under the hood, but any 350 Nova will set you back in the seat, and the numbers-matching original V8 appears to wear some aftermarket parts. The seller suggests that the automatic transmission may be less that perfect, and of course everything else is certainly in “as is” condition, which appears to be mostly original and in need of replacement. The mix of Rally and SS parts may alienate fans of both sub-models, but if you just want an original 350 Nova with its original 350, that might be a legitimate Rally Nova, here’s one for cheap. What would you give for it?
Ok, I’ll be the first to say it…anyone else notice that there appear to be more SSs on the road today then were originally built?
All you need to make a convincing looking Nova “SS” are the hood louvers and a handful of SS emblems. They are the easiest of all 60’s and early-70’s Chevrolet’s to make look like a real SS.
Steve R
Someplace there is a factory working overtime churning out all those SS badges.
You can clearly see it used to be lime green looking inside the doors, a common color for plain Jane Novas during this era. My guess is it was just a regular Nova that got the works during the first muscle car boom of the mid-1980s.
From lime green to rust brown…run people. This is a total rust bucket.
I had an actual Rally 1972 Nova back in 79- to 1991 Wish I had kept it, It came stock with 4 drum brakes and cant recall if 305 or 307 but 2 barrell and T350. I did the typical leaf spring shackle kit, Hi-Jacker Air shocks, and Cragar mags. Initially 70-14 front and 60-14 back, then later went crazy and mounted what was the widest-fattest tire in 1984 the Mickey Thompson M50s. Pioneer 6x9s in the back crappy tape deck and 200 watt power booster and Eq. All the typical accys, Was one obnoxious hot rodder with lots of local police attention. Over the years cycled a variety of motors thru it. 327, 350, and 454 and really could have used those Disc brakes! Great car. Think I paid $800.
This one, needs a FPI inspection, boots on the ground and a careful exam. Some people see weeping rust and freak out but might or might not be serious cancer. *IF* Not, thats not a bad price… of course I would offer $4500- or so, being a core. But a review of the current offerings on eBay for 68-72 Novas this price is not bad if not terminal cancer.
Of course if it were mine it would go for a swim in the local Chem dip tank. They strip it clean, then a acid bath that kills any corrosion. For a checkbook builder, Better off with a runner off eBay but a DIY,, not a bad deal for whats there. Probably see a shop that flips these have it on ebay next year.
SS everything these days!!