At first glance this is a pretty sad looking excuse for a Nova. Okay, maybe at second glance as well. However, the buy it now price is fairly low at $3,500 and the seller invites lower offers in the auction listed here on eBay, so who knows what it could actually be bought for! The car is located in Buffalo, New York, which pretty much explains the rust (can you say salt!)
That front edge of the hood gives me the shivers just looking at it. However, the seams are straight and that might even be the original paint and graphics. The seller says it was put in a barn in 1990 and only just removed.
As you can see from this picture, this is a late Nova with the hatchback option (and folding rear seat). Unfortunately it does have the larger “5 mph” bumpers. This is said to be a genuine SS model with its original engine and transmission as well. Not only that, but they were both rebuilt (presumably right before the car was put into storage).
Aside from the dirt and the obvious driver’s seat issues, the interior doesn’t look horrible. I was able to find an upholstery kit here for the seats, which interestingly differ from the non-hatchback models (I wonder why?)
This is said to be the original engine, and there are bills for $2,200 of work done to it. We’re told it runs well off a bottle and that the transmission shifts well also. However, there’s a catch — there’s no title currently with the car. Do you think the salt won and this is now a parts car, or would you fight back and refurbish the car (I’d have to call the car “Pepper” when it was finished)?
It’s too far gone to restore. Even though it has some good options, it’s not a desirable year and doesn’t hold much value. Someone would be better off holding out for a nicer version of this model.
The seller doesn’t seem interested in doing anything more than handing a buyer what little paper work he has and saying “good luck”. That alone would disqualify this as anything more than a parts car. It’s hard to see $3,000 worth of parts coming off of this rust bucket.
Steve R
I’d swear this is my old Hatchback from Puerto Rico. It even has the same striping
I was born and raised down the road from Buffalo, many folks had a “summer” car and a “winter” car, clearly this rust bucket was the “winter”
Me also. Judging by the Alfred State parking stickers so was this Nova and a commuter to boot. I recall 70’s cars not looking too good after two or three WNY winters let alone 16. Better bring the PB Blaster.
I wouldn’t try to restore it. Could be of value to the guy who needs a drivetrain though, if they truly have receipts for the rebuild.
I had the in-line 6 version of this right down to the color and hatchback. Same black steel wheels with whitewalls and snow tires on the rear. Thought is was mine. Needed the same amount of bondo as this one. Mine had a front bench seat and automatic. That was a fun car. I would clean it, patch it, and drive the hell out of it!
Just a heads up it has the wrong hood and grill. The grill should be black and the hood should be striped without the chrome Nova. And yeah it’s basicly scrap I’m sure by looking at it the body mounts are rusted away.
It came with the Nova emblem.
Original grill probably got broke , you just look at them and they crack!
Don’t know why people don’t like those bumpers they make good seats if you forget yours at the car show!
This was one of the years that GM used a lot of recycled steel. These rusted from the inside out, and on a quiet night……
Had to be something. It rotted even after I patched it to the point my mechanic wouldn’t inspect it because he was actually concerned for my safety.
A bunch of rust held together by a little bit of paint. There’s no more metal there.
SS defined in 1974: So Sad. For this car, more like Salt Saturated. Put a fork in this one, it is done. Yeek.