This 1972 Chevy Nova has been in a barn for 25 years. It’s a two-owner vehicle that the seller got out of an estate sale along with several other vintage cars and trucks. The compact runs well off a can of gas, but more attention will be needed since stuff goes south after decades of inactivity. A nice plus is that a 350 cubic-inch V8 lies beneath the bonnet. Located now in Cypress, Texas, this original project is available here on eBay, where $8,900 is the latest ante with a reserve still in play.
For a car that had been little changed in three years, the Nova had a near-record sales period in 1972 at just under 350,000 units. About 80,000 of them had the solid 350 V8, 12,000 being the L48 version in the Super Sport (200 hp SAE net). The rest, including the seller’s car, had the L65, which put out 165 horses.
Someone wanted a little more spunk out of the 2-barrel 350, as we see dual exhaust with glass packs under the chassis. The seller thinks a crimped shifter cable may have sidelined the Chevy, and that’s been fixed. A new gas tank is likely needed along with everything associated with that.
Rust isn’t an issue, but a lot of small dents are, implying one or both of the car’s prior owners weren’t necessarily good drivers. The seller suggests the dents can be corrected without new paint, but I disagree. Other than a crack in the dash pad after 98,000 miles, the interior may be fine the way it is. As a fan of the 1968-72 Novas, I’m glad this one isn’t closer, or I might be tempted to take the plunge.
This is an interesting Nova, it’s not very rusty and factory A/C is a plus, but at $8950 with reserve unmet, I don’t think it’s going anywhere. The seller claims power steering and power brakes, but I don’t see a brake booster, just a master cylinder without the cap.
I see what looks like an A/C compressor under the hood
Yes, he’s crazy if he thinks a “paintless dent remover” can fix those dents and leave the paint! The paint is already gone in most of those spots and many others. I’ve had people stand right there and say ridiculous things like that but you usually could tell they were smoking something or even worse. I bought my wife one like this 40 years ago in nice shape for a few hundred dollars and it served us well. I bought one similar a few years ago for $2,200. I guess it was a good thing I got it when I did. They are one of the best little cars around.
another stolen nova looking to do a home run. i think where the price is at this point is a fair price. more than that is just too much for me
Sold on 5/19/2025 for a high bid of $10,000.
Steve R