Really great restorations are cool to find, but nothing beats an extremely original, low-mile car in excellent condition. You see them from time to time, these magnificent time capsules, unsullied by years gone by, kept in a garage or barn, safe from the elements, un-abused, cared for, even loved. These are a classic car fan’s treasure, trophy, a Holy Grail. With fewer than 22,000 miles on the clock, this 1970 Chevy Nova is one of those. It may be one of the best preserved ’70 Chevy Novas remaining.
By 1970, Chevy Novas no longer flew under the defunct “Chevy II” moniker which had debuted in 1962. Nova had been the top of the Chevy II line, but eventually become known as simply “Nova.”
The 1970 model year was the third for the larger Chevy Nova. The revamped body style bowed in 1968. The Nova had grown in size, morphing into a fastback design. It now looked somewhat like a smaller version of the Chevelle.
The Chevy Nova SS was available with a 300-horsepower 350 cubic-inch Small Block V8 in the 350 Super Sport iteration. While well over 250,000 Chevy Novas left the factory in 1970, only 12,346 were dressed as 350 Super Sport variants, turning a rather vanilla entry-level car in a well-muscled boulevard bruiser. The 350 Super Sport trim included fake hood intake vents, black grilled and black rear panel, faux front fender louvers, SS emblems, 14-inch wheels, and power disc brakes.
The example seen here, resplendent in its factory Forest Green metallic paint, was delivered new at Frank Diver Chevrolet of Wilmington, Delaware. It was equipped with the 300-horsepower, 350-cubic-inch “Turbo Fire” V8, four-speed Muncie manual trans, Positraction rear axle, AM radio (a separate period FM unit has been mounted under the dash), seat belts, console, special instrumentation, and dual side mirrors. The odometer displays just under 22,000 miles. It was recently acquired by the seller from its original owner.
The car is unrestored, highly original, and brilliant. It has been the recipient of obvious careful ownership. Few flaws are found in the paint, the chrome and other brightwork still sparkle in the sunlight. It retains its original black vinyl bucket seat interior. The undercarriage does not appear to have ever seen foul weather, and is virtually corrosion free. It is accompanied by POS paperwork, original manuals, window sticker, spare tire, and factory Chevrolet Rallye wheels shod in Firestone Wide Oval rubber.
This Chevy Nova will be on offer at the RM Sotheby’s Scottsdale auction January 22, 2021.
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Comments
Nice car! I live in The Netherlands and treasure a 1971 Nova with a similar story!
Those aren’t rallye wheels there stock steel wheels with dog dish hubcaps and trim rings
The car currently has the original delivery tires on the original rims and hubcaps. It also comes with the extra Rallye wheels and tires which the owner actually used on the car.
Take the time to read carefully! It’s reads “ It is accompanied by POS paperwork, original manuals, window sticker, spare tire, and factory Chevrolet Rallye wheels shod in Firestone Wide Oval rubber.” It did not state that the car in the picture had Rallye wheels on it.
I’m sorry it’s comments like yours get to me. Always trying to prove you know so much.
If that makes you happy go for it.
The car is Beautiful!
‘Mark
If it states factory rally wheels (rally in US rallye in Europe and Australia), and the vehicle pictured is the vehicle in the ad then why would you doubt? Perhaps YOU’RE the guy who thinks he’s always right.
Ya you are one of them . I only stated the facts. May someday you will pay attention to the details.
You mention that the car is headed to the Arizona auction. Which auction specifically? Thanks
Wow, what a blast from the past. I loved these back in high school. Lived in a small southern town. Was very few around. This ought to bring a pretty good sum. All original. Sweet!!
Wow! Very nice I had a 1973 .
Bet this auctions for 100k any takers?
I’ve been good this yr think I’ll buy it for me for Christmas birthday wedding anniversary nice to see a nice nova ss that has not been hacked up $19700 id pay for it as it’s a 1970 I don’t know the market on 1970nova ss 350 4speed
It always makes my day to see someone took such good care of an old classic of any model or make. Novas have a sweet spot in my heart! I had a 66 and a 67 SS. Those body styles were only made for two years and I’d give my right arm to have one now all original. Beautiful body lines and always was a blast to drive. I wish I could bid on this beauty! I’d build a garage and do my best to keep it looking the same for another 50 years. Thanks for the article it brought back some pleasant memories. Much needed after this year! Merry Christmas everyone!
Beautiful. I had a 1970 396 with 350 hp. I bought new after high school. Drag raced it on famous woodward ave. Only beat once.
Diver Chevrolet in Wilmington has a history of connections with some special cars. A family run business over 100 yrs. Diver actually sold the very first Corvette available to the public in 1953, to the then Chairman of DuPont. The Pohl 427 Corvette in 1967 was delivered by Diver with special setup instructions from Duntov.
Ed Cole was on a first name basis throughout the 50s, 60s and 70s with the dealership owners.
This Nova is indeed an amazing preserved example, I love it!
love diver chevy…i bought my camaro there in 2017!
I bought a new 70 Nova when I got back from Vietnam in 1970 it was red with black vinyl top 350 300 hp 4 speed posi rear end power disc brakes wish i had not sold it . O well
Paint on car is not Forrest Green. Too bright,may be CPO color
The paint color is ( Spring Green ) …
I bought a new SS Nova 350 4 Speed in 1972 the same color as the one .
It came with a Saginaw 4 Speed Transmission and a low compression 350 engine that made a mear 200 hp tops.
But I loved that car
Sir, although Spring Green was a color in 1972, it was not in 1970. There were 4 greens for the Chevy cars: Citrus Green, Green Mist, Forest Green, and Donnybrook Green.
I was originally going to agree with you here, given all the paint splotches show a much, much darker green. The darker color would make you think of the British green, per my 1968 Camaro. However, when doing a search for cars painted in Forest green, they all look very close to this one.
Does anybody know how many 1970 Nova SS were painted Sunflower Yellow code 54?
This being a 70 SS 4 speed car should go $120k+ I would say. Rare in this condition. Steel wheels with the trim rings and center caps were known as rally wheels at the time. The 350 SS 4 speed is very desirable as most will be clones now, if it truly is a survivor car it will bring a lot of money. Question is whether the 22k miles are 22k or 122k+ as the odometer only went to 99999.9 on the old style rollover gauges.
Love this we have a 69 Nova SS original
The mileage on the car is absolutely documented correct. One owner car with no stories, just well preserved.
It is a rare find.
WOW!!!!!! Complete amazement reading this article.. I’m only 32 and my generation really doesn’t respect the cars of yesterday. But raised by a father and a team of local neighborhood friends in Adamsville, Alabama of his. I grew up with the smell of a mixture of fuel and melted rubber in my lungs. Even friends looked at me in highschool oddly when I drove a 87 camaro and a 1972 duster. Granted I’m a gm guy, that was my first build but I will never forget in my heart of the times my dad used to drive around the block in a 1969 Nova just to get me to go go to sleep. the vibrations in the sound of the car used to put me to sleep with ease he wouldn’t even have to make it down the street at quarter of a mile. And then go into the track to cheer him on as the front left wheel would leave the ground I will never forget those times in the back of a 69 Nova so I respect this article more than anyone could ever realize even at my age.
Back in mid 70s my dad bought a 1970 ss nova in a barn with a quilt over it , It had 24,000 original miles , maroon black vynal top ,bench seats rubber floor mat , not carpet colon shift automatic 350 engine ,I loved that car
I have a 1969 ss 396 car and I know 69s did not come with chrome around the side windows on the doors just the chrome drip edge above the doors.Did the factory start putting the chrome trim around the windows in 1970?I also had a 1972 ss 350 completely original blue without the chrome trim ,I love the novas I’ve had 12 or 13 since high school 1986
Bought a used ’70 Nova after my ’55 BelAir was stolen. Needed a car quick and Chev dealer had the Nova on the used lot. Only 6cyl auto. Great size and reliable and solid. I’d take it back again, though.
Dealer order form option list item ( exterior deluxe trim ) included anodized aluminum window trim from 1968 through 1972. Rocker panel trim, rear panel between tail lights bright trim, fender louver trim also came included with deluxe exterior trim on non SS models.
The chrome around the windows came with an exterior package upgrade. It was available as an option on 68-72 I believe
Wish I still had my one o many. 1969 Nova SS 427 4 speed! Wa told after I woke, there were only like 10 made. Sounds fast doesn’t it? No! Hard to drive. Very easy to lift front end which you could loe control!
It was white in color. Kind of boring.
I am 69. I had my first car at 14. A 60 Comet and 41 ford supper deluxe 85 h.p.
Have had so many car. 71 road runner 440 six pack with air grabber. 68 ford Torino GT convertible 390. 67 mustang fb 289. Can be seen on fb searching for “how to seal a car,”
When I was like 8 or 9 (’74?) fell for the styling putting together a cheap AMT kit of this same car. You could choose making it stock or built, and I chose bone stock of course, black on red interior (I don’t even know if they came in red for real, Chevelles did tho). Always had an eye for them since.
As muscle cars have just been getting $tupid, lately been thinking maybe I could afford a Nova. A year ago I might have thought I could get a car like this +/-$30k – bet it maybe doubles that now. Nice!
Had 2 Nova’s back in the day. (Late 70’s early 80’s)
A ’71 & a ’72 The 71 was my then Hubby’s & the 72 was mine I bought from my Grandpa.
Both with a 307 that for some reason people hated.
I never had any issue with them.
A very strong SB.
Both were 3 speed.
We swapped em out for a 4 speed .
Changed MANY clutches, pressure plates & throw out bearings.😁
Vegas had a really good cheap 4 speed back in the day & that’s what we’d use .
The ’72 had belonged to my grandparents & my Aunt painted it with Imron.
Medium olive metallic green.
Yes, My aunt.
At the time of her death last year she had a ’65 & a ’66 Mustang.
The ’66 was bought by her brand new
Always garage kept
She was a helluva mechanic, body person & painter & was my Favorite Aunt.
I miss her everyday
I had a 72 midnight bronze metallic, tan vinyl top, tan interior, bucket seats all the exterior trim,rally wheels,307 3 speed on the floor, It was a looker
Nice car!! I still have the ’69 Nova SS I bought in ’69 when I got out of the Army. It still has the original paint, original interior and the numbers matching drivetrain, although I modified the engine a little bit and the rear-end has 4.88’s now instead of the stock 3.55’s!!
Had a new, loaded 1971 Mulsanne Blue SS 350 that I custom ordered in Dec 1970 during the big GM strike. Never abused it and loved everything about it. Then a year later, I decided to hang a set of Crager SS on her and bam, within a week, it was stolen. They caught two city scum bums racing it up and down the streets of decrepit Newark, NJ which was 15 miles away from the “safe” parking lot of the grammar school I taught at. They blew the trans and till this day, I believe the police impound yard stripped the wheels and tires. When I went to recover it, it was on the front disc hubs and rear drums. The creep running the yard showed me a bunch of beat tire/rim combos, asking were they mine. Sure, right. Went to court, the two dogs had to appear and they LITERALLY GOT AWAY WITH IT ! The car was never the same, so I bought a new 73 Vette and down the road, a new 76 Vette. I had some other nice cars, an 82 Mustang GT and a 2008 Mustang Bullitt. The Bullitt was the fastest, had it nine years and sold it hoping to find another NovaSS. The cars I’ve seen on eBay and at Carlisle are below my standards. This 70 SS is exceptional, to say the least. Not nit picking, but the description is a bit off and the valve covers are LT-1 or L-82, but otherwise all else is terrific. Hope the guy or gal who bought it enjoys it. There are nice Camaros and Chevelles galore, but very, very few authentic and original Nova SS from 1968-72