Sometimes a classic car will appear on our desks here at Barn Finds, and it will have me shaking my head. This 1970 Chevrolet Nova SS 396 is one such car. The owner treated it to a comprehensive restoration 6-years-ago, and it has managed to accumulate a mere 10 miles since the work was completed. The owner must have greater self-control than me because I would’ve clocked plenty of miles behind the wheel by now. After all of that hard work, he has decided that the time is right to part with this beast, so he has listed it for sale here on craigslist. The Nova is located in McHenry, Illinois, and the owner has set the price at $42,000. I have to say a huge thank you to Barn Finder Pat L for spotting this muscular classic for us.
Some readers will look at this Nova and class it more as a refurbishment than a restoration, and I’m happy to accept that opinion. This is because while the owner chose to finish the car in Fathom Blue, the Tag indicates that it rolled off the line wearing Tuxedo Black. The shade change is an interesting one, and it is slightly unusual for an owner to choose this path when many would go the other way. Regardless of the reason behind the decision, I think that it was a wise one. The car looks stunning, with not a flaw or defect to be seen. The paint shines beautifully, while the panels are free from dings and dents. The Nova is also a rust-free classic, with floors and a frame that are rock solid. Regardless of the color change, the owner has been faithful with the rest of the restoration/refurbishment process. The car rolls on steel wheels with hubcaps, so no aftermarket alloy wheels for this baby. Most of the exterior trim was replaced or refurbished, while the glass appears to be flawless.
Lifting this Nova’s hood reveals a big-block V8, but it is here that the waters become a little muddy. The owner is advertising that the car is equipped with the L78 version of the Chevrolet 402ci V8, but he doesn’t appear to be 100% sure of this. He says that it wears the correct cylinder heads, some of the correct peripherals, and the right tach in the dash but doesn’t say categorically that it is an L78. I find this lack of conviction about the motor to be quite curious, considering the level of the restoration that he has performed. Assuming that this is what the owner claims, what the buyer will receive for their cash is the big-block V8, a 4-speed manual transmission, power steering, and power brakes. This package is a potent one, with 375hp at the driver’s disposal. A ¼-mile ET of 14.2 seconds and a top speed of 127mph are both impressive, and they still stand up well against many of today’s offerings. There are a few aftermarket additions to this engine bay, and potential buyers might want to reverse these to obtain a more factory-fresh appearance. Some of these include a Mallory ignition, aftermarket headers, and an aluminum radiator. However, if the buyer isn’t worried about such issues, they can slip behind the wheel and hit the road because this SS is said to run and drive perfectly.
One aspect of this SS that won’t require any work is the interior. As part of the restoration process, the owner treated this Nova to a complete retrim in Black vinyl, and it remains perfect. Nothing escaped his attention, with new covers on the seats, new carpet, new door trims, a new headliner, and a new dash pad. The car comes equipped with a console with a selection of factory gauges. While there are no other luxury extras, it does feature an AM radio if the next owner becomes bored with the music emanating from under the hood.
This photo shows one of the peripherals that has led the owner to believe that this Nova is a genuine L78. The factory tach is something buyers could receive with the L78, but I hardly see this as conclusive proof. Swapping the gauge cluster is a pretty easy task, and this could’ve occurred before the owner purchased the vehicle.
I like this 1970 Chevrolet Nova, and if I were to find it parked in my garage, I’d be a pretty happy man. Taken on face value, it is a desirable classic that should be worth every cent of the owner’s asking price. However, if it isn’t the real deal, that will profoundly impact its potential value. That is why it always pays to spend some time acting as an automotive detective before handing over hard-earned cash. I am not suggesting for one moment that there is anything underhanded going on with this car. I simply mean that potential buyers might need to talk to the owner first. He might be able to clarify some of the aspects of the listing that have raised the questions. If this is a genuine L78, that should be well worth the effort.
Beautiful Nova and if it is indeed an L78 396, that is indeed a potent package. It’s got some nice options with PS and PDB and I like the color, it really suits the Nova well. I don’t care for black cars, everybody and his mother has one and a black car is a pain to keep clean. This one is very similar to my old “70 Nova SS; same engine though mine had a Turbo 400 automatic and mine had PS and PDB, too. Love to have this one but I’m about $40,000 short so I’ll have to pass.
There are lots of small issues with this car you wouldn’t expect with a quality, faithful restoration. Rubber fuel line, missing head rests, generic ribbed lower radiator hose, exhaust system, color change, missing fan shroud and aluminum radiator, etc. Without the original engine there is no way to prove it’s a factory L78, let alone an SS, tachs are available through restoration suppliers, “correct” cylinder heads are easily found in eBay, air cleaner lids aren’t hard to find. Being from Wisconsin it screams for a thorough in person inspection. It may be a nice car, however, it’s wise to price it based on its condition, not what it is proported to be but can’t be proven.
Steve R
Yep. Well said and good eye.
Steve,,sigh, I like the variety of comments, but you rarely have anything good to say. I may pixx and moan about the prices, but I think this is the coolest Nova to come down the pike. I don’t know your age, but to someone that was 16 in 1970, this was the nicest car a pump jockey could have, without going the 454 Chevelle route. That usually came next with a better job. I’m pretty sure you are on the west coast, and to a Wis. native, I’m happy to see at least one of these came back to life. These unibodies, once rusted, they were toast. Remember, California perfection doesn’t mean the whole country needs to be perfect, and cars like this are not unusual out there, but for me, it’s great to actually see a nice one again.
Perfection has nothing to do with it. Its about obvious corner cutting while simultaneously claiming the restoration is top notch. Those two don’t square and are easily overlooked. The car had a big asking price, well into 5 figures, at $42,000. I’ve seen far too many friends get suckered by pretty paint and overlook obvious signs of suspect quality work. If you don’t like that I pointed that out on an expensive car, for which you never even saw the ad, that was being marketed as incredibly rare and the cream of the crop that’s your problem. If the seller hasn’t made claims about quality which were obviously untrue there would have been no reason to even respond to its write up.
By the way, I am somewhat familiar with these cars. I have an original paint butternut yellow 70 Nova with dog dish hub caps, rubber floor mats and radio delete. There was something off about this car and it’s story.
Steve R
Steve R – Many of us here appreciate your skilled and honest opinions and not look at them as negative.
Better to know about the things you point out if you are a serious buyer so you know what to ask the seller.
Howard,
I agree with You. I Posted a comment Yesterday almost identical to yours today. Not about one particular Individual but about Most who seem to have “Negativity Syndrome”.
Most of the Negative Commenters aren’t trying to help anyone. They’re just trying to Impress You with their Knowledge – which is most often “Lack Thereof”!
Thanks for being cordial, Steve, I do indeed think you know what you are talking about, however, in a site like this, where I doubt anyone is actually going to buy anything, it’s all about memories for most of us. While it may be important to some that it has the correct valve stem caps, to most here, it’s just a reminder of their youth, when a $500 Nova with a 6 and stick,,which most were, and a donor 396 from Auntie Alice’s Chevy wagon, a 4 speed that was holding a junkyards door open, and VOILA, you had this car for maybe a grand. I don’t remember many going to a dealer and driving home in one of these. That’s not what the hobby was about in the 70’s. Those are the memories I want to remember, not what has become of the hobby. Thanks for your input, and perhaps your knowledge would be better put to use on a site where people actually are looking to buy one, and might demand the scrutiny you provide. I know I’d like to know the stuff you mention if I was paying $50g’s FOR ANYTHING. Peace,,,
I’ve always wanted a big-block ’70 Nova (have had my small block ’70 since 1981). Here’s what’s odd for me – if you’re stripping out the interior, why not re-paint the dash? Chips around the glove box are original but take away from the overall restoration. Same goes with rusty headers – why put those back on? If you’re going through all the $’s to strip and re-paint the car, why put a dented, ill-fitting rear bumper back on? I don’t mean to nit-pick but I lost excitement for this car once I saw all of this.
The choice of exhaust system made me smile, exactly what every completely broke teenager did back in the day after they purchased the new headers…. :)
I like this Nova, and I sometimes understand the mentality of changing things around. By the time I was through with my ’73 there wasn’t much left that was original from how it came from the factory, but I didn’t care. I had it the way I wanted it, and this is it in 1987 shortly before I sold it. Nothing like DuPont 99A Pitch Black acrylic enamel!
Oh yeah, back to the other Nova. Nice looking car overall, but a few uncertainties that make me flinch at the price. And since it’s on Craigslist, we’ll probably never know what it actually sells for.
Nice car but could use cleaning up the double 360s in the brake lines. That said, wonder what the wiring looks like…. As usual, got no problem with a lot of power.
This is a great all around combo and looks wise is how I picture the perfect Nova.
The Craigslist ad has been deleted.
CL posting now deleted
Not an L78. Other than Tach. missing all the correct L78 parts, especially the $$$ radiator and air cleaner. Nice clean car that needs some attention to detail.
Big block Nova’s with 9″ rear tires. Rear wheel spin all the way down to the end of the track.
Steve is right, no way of telling if it is real or not, to many hokey things about it to warrant that much cash. Should be perfect with the correct color and it falls short. Back in 79 my next door neighbor bought a real 10,000ish mile 375 hp Nova from a guy a couple of doors down from him. I was a car crazy 15 year old and didn’t know he had it in his garage along with a E type Jag with a custom hood and a 12 cylinder. When he took me for a ride I was impressed, it was a real beast. Maroon, black interior, console, gauge cluster, 4sp, and I believe it had a fold down rear seat also. He went into the Navy and took the car back with him once he was able. One day he was at a light and a semi came around the corner and ran over him. Tore the car up and it was scrapped. Less than 30k on the odometer. It was probably repairable but back then it was an old used car that wasn’t worth fixing.
I feel sorry for a guy buying this car for what it’s being presented as…nice car but a factory orange-peeled-black L78 Nova SS it ain’t…close but no cigar. Close-ish. Wish I had the bread to buy it and turn it in to a 600 HP fat-tired modern suspension beast(my class of ‘76 dream car).