Some classics leave potential buyers with tough choices to make. This 1968 Chevrolet Nova is a prime example. It is an original and unmolested two-owner survivor with a claimed 35,435 miles on the clock. It represents a straightforward restoration, although it is a worthwhile candidate for preservation. However, some enthusiasts may look at it and have visions of a big-block under the hood swimming in their heads. Regardless of your dream, you will find it listed here on eBay in Chester, New York. Bidding sits below the reserve at $10,000.
The seller is a dealer who purchased this Nova from its original owner. The listing doesn’t explain its history, but it appears it never underwent any restoration work. Its Grotto Blue paint is past its best, with chips, scratches, and emerging surface corrosion. There is rust developing in the lower fenders and rear quarter panels, but the underside is rock-solid. I can’t spot any significant dings or dents, and the panel gaps are among the most consistent I’ve seen on a Nova of this vintage. The winning bidder might opt for a paint and panel restoration. However, addressing the penetrating rust, treating the corrosion to prevent deterioration, and preserving this car’s survivor status is a valid approach. The trim and glass look acceptable for a driver-grade vehicle, but the wheels are a recent addition. The original wheels and their factory hubcaps are included for those seeking authenticity.
This Nova’s interior provides equal helpings of good and bad news. The original owner fitted slipcovers when the car was new, with the seller recently removing them. The Blue cloth and vinyl upholstery beneath is remarkable, with only a couple of minor marks that a professional might be able to remove. However, it isn’t faultless. The dash and wheel are cracked, and the headliner requires replacement. A brief online search uncovered a new reproduction pad for $280, with a headliner adding $180 to the total. Throw in a wheel for $250, and this interior would shine like a new penny. It isn’t loaded with luxuries like air or power accessories, but the factory AM radio is intact.
Lifting the Nova’s hood reveals where the horizons might broaden for the right person. The engine bay houses a numbers-matching 230ci six producing 140hp. Shifting duties fall to a two-speed Powerglide transmission, while the basic nature of this classic means there is no power assistance for the steering or brakes. This is a pretty conservative package that allows this Chevy to cover the ¼-mile in 20.3 seconds. The seller recently fitted new tires, a fuel tank, and a sender unit. They say the car runs and drives well, making it a turnkey proposition for a new owner. However, the seller floats an option that some might find irresistible. They have a 396ci big-block and a four-speed manual transmission that they would negotiate on with the winning bidder. Slotting those under the car could transform this Nova from mild to wild. It is an option worth considering if originality isn’t a crucial consideration.
Over more than a decade, most examples of the Nova that have crossed our desks at Barn Finds featured a V8 under the hood. That makes this 1968 model stand out, but it will undoubtedly ignite healthy debate among our readers as you each provide a sound and well-reasoned argument for what path you would follow if you found it in your garage. That is one of the classic scene’s greatest attractions, and why there are no right or wrong answers in a case like this. Every option is valid, and it only needs the right person to hand over their cash for the dream to become a reality. Could that person be you?
I say fix the rust, paint it and enjoy it. So few are left with the original 6 still residing under the hood.
Simple perfection…
I had the twin to this car. I got it in 1974 for $1600.00 in perfect condition. It ran like a top and took me everywhere I wanted to go. Two years later I swapped it off for a 1970 Monte Carlo to get a car with A/C. The Monte was in excellent condition too but I still miss the little Nova.
What a neat car, I’d restore it to original and leave it alone. It’s probably the only original one left. Why does every single one of them have to be turned into a ridiculous, tubbed hotrod?
If I had this and want to really enjoy it. I would fix and clean up the interior. The body repaint the factory color. And sorry the six gotta go. Small block 383/450hp and turbo 350 trans also beef up the rear end make it a posi with 3;73 gears . Steel wheels with dog dish hub caps.i would leave the brakes and steering alone. It would be fun to drive.☺️
Install the 396/4-speed, but change abso-bleeping-loutely nothing about the exterior.
One Man’s Patina is another man’s EYESORE
$10,500 and still under reserve. 🙄. I’d leave everything as is. If the lack o’ power bothered me later……….turbo….hehhehheh 😎
400 sbc and a 700r4 would be nice
I think that it should be left as is. But buy the 396 engine and 4 speed. Have both of them gone over but save them for another car. This is a piece of history before your eyes. Fix the interior and the exterior. Paint it the original factory blue. It will be a lot of fun to drive. GLTB!
IMO…A nice/full paint job. Clean and paint engine and compartment and drive that little six can go no more.
A car this old and in this type of condition – the seller will have a reserve set too high that totally reworking the car won’t be worth it.
Better to buy it and keep it preserved and look for a less-than-original one to hot rod.
I love it. New headliner, dash and steering wheel. Spend the money from not buying the big block and add some AC, cruise control and a decent bluetooth stereo; switch it to electronic ignition, maybe upgrade the brakes a touch and you’ll have a cool and unique daily driver that no one will ever want to steal. V8 swaps are so common these days it’s frankly approaching being boring – and yes, i’ve had fast cars too. And oh, leave the paint just stop the rust so you’ll never worry about where you drive or park it.
The nova is a great car for someone on a budget
up to $11,100 and 4 days left on bidding. I’m in the keep it like it is catagory. to many have been modified, it is getting to the point that nobody will know what one originally looked like. About the only thing to make it like a “I bought a new Nova” would to be a 3 speed on the column and only the radio (AM of course) and heater/defroster. Blackwall tires, dog dish hub caps. What many people would buy back then as that was what they could afford.
That is begging to be made into a Yenko clone.