Chevrolet’s compact, the Nova, was going into its 10th year of production in 1971. It was virtually unchanged visually from the 1970 models, which might explain why sales were off by 37% (there also may have been a GM labor strike). The seller’s ’71 is a rather ordinary edition with four doors, so no Super Sport clone here waiting in the wings. It’s a project car that may not have run in years and the seller’s price of $500 suggests it’s now a parts car. Located in Pinehurst, Georgia, this vehicle formerly known as the Chevy II is available here on craigslist for $500. Our tip here is compliments of Tony Primo!
This Nova probably has too many doors for someone to want to undertake a major and expensive restoration. It has the 307 cubic inch V8 which was the middle-ground choice between the 250 inline-6 and the 350 V8. It also has an automatic transmission, which could be either the 2-speed Powerglide or the 3-speed Turbo-Hydramatic. Out of nearly 195,000 Nova sedans that year (no convertibles or wagons had been offered in ages), 41% came with four doors like this one. And 38% of the overall population had the 307 engine.
To me, the easiest way to tell a ’71 Nova apart from a ’70 was the steering wheel. And while this Chevy is described as having been built in 1971, it looks to have a 1970 wheel. We apologize for the dark and blurry photos, but better ones provided by the seller would still show a very rough car. The seller says the floorboards are shot and his/her original goal was to turn this car into a daily driver but has decided otherwise.
There’s no indication of when this Nova last ran or what the true mileage is. The paint was probably green in color at some point, though gold would come in a close second. From what we can see of the interior, you’re going to have to recover anything you salvage for another project (and that’s how the seller describes this car, as salvage). At least there’s no expectation of crazy money in the asking price and the $500 is OBO (plus bring your own trailer). Do you see any hope for this old Chevy?
Ad deleted
Sure, somebody scooped it up to use some parts for their Nova SS clone.
So they’re going to take 2 Novas and make one worthless one?
Just what the world needs, another ridiculous hotrod.
If you are in the market for an old beater or an old Nova and mechanically inclined and this pops up in you area, you go buy it, especially if you have access to a trailer. Once you get it home and inspect it, you decide whether to get it running and driving or part it out. Nobody is going to spend much money fixing up a rusty project, 4dr Nova, but a complete car yield a lot of usable parts for a Nova or Camaro restoration.
Steve R
A high school friend of mine had a two door one in the 80s he got it from the original owner and all he did was add daul exhaust and I remember when he Street raced a new Iroc Z28 on Airport road outside of Everett city limits at the time and he won, to bad it wasn’t for titles but I’m sure the Iroc was probably financed, anyway that guy was really mad that he lost to a old Nova and accused my friend of cheating.
Nice! Never under estimate an older stock looking car! Troy
I can’t believe the author asked “is it worth saving since it’s not SS clone material”!!! Of course it’s worth saving. Novas wete great cars. And clones are a joke. No one that is serious about collector cars wants a clone of anything. They want the real deal, be it a Nova SS or a Nova sedan.
Is this one too far gone? Maybe so. But that doesn’t make the author’s question any less ridiculous!
Reasonably priced car=gone!
Lovely looking car. This would make a great resto project. I think it has the perfect number of doors for the car. If you have family to drive around or friends, it’d be rather difficult to get into and out of the rear seat.