The Chevy Nova began life as the Chevy II for the 1962 model year, a small, basic economy car competitor for the Ford Falcon. The Nova moniker was among the finalists for the car’s name, but lost out as it did not start with the letter “C.” The Nova name was applied to top of the line Chevy IIs.
For the 1969 model year, the Chevy II name was ushered out, and the car became simply the Chevy Nova. The previous year, the Nova had received a clean-sheet redesign with a longer 111-inch wheelbase, just an inch shorter than the midsize Chevelle two-door hardtop. Power brakes and steering were available options, as well as air conditioning, rear shoulder belts, and headrests.
There were a number of Small Blocks available, including the 300-horsepower 350 cubic-inch V8 that came standard in the Nova SS, but nothing else came close to the car Hot Rod magazine called “The Ultimate Street Sleeper,” the 375-horsepower 396 cubic-inch L-78 Big Block-equipped Chevy Nova.
Our feature 1969 Chevy Nova L-78 396 is a documented survivor car with only 21,100 miles from new. It is a matching-numbers car, with original engine, transmission, and rear differential. It still wears its original factory finish in Burnished Brown Poly. It was delivered new to Chase Chevrolet in Stockton, California, as confirmed by National Corvette Restorers Society shipping report, and it still wears California black license plates. It is accompanied by an original build sheet, vintage pictures, and full ownership history.
The exterior of the Chevy Nova is as it left the factory, never having been altered. The body panels fit flush, with consistent panel gaps. Only small sections of the body have been repainted, with most of the original paint intact. Chrome and stainless trim is bright, well polished. The weatherstrip is original, glass is clear, and the headlights are all the correct T-3s. Painted steel wheels wear dog dish caps and are wrapped in Firestone Wide Oval redline reproduction tires.
Inside the Chevy Nova is as it left the dealership. The front bucket seats, back seat, and interior panels are covered in black vinyl that shows no appreciable wear. Original black rubber mats protect the carpets which retain their color, with no fading noted. There are no cracks in the dash pad, and the gauges are all clear. The lighter shows no signs of use. There are auxiliary Stewart Warner gauges mounted beneath the dash.
In the detailed engine compartment is the legendary L-78 396 cubic-inch Big Block V8, with rectangle port heads, aluminum intake, Holley four-barrel carb, solid lifters, and high-compression pistons, producing 375 angry horsepower. The engine is verified matching numbers, and the only things that have been replaced are the water pump and one motor mount. Backing the 396 is the three-speed Turbo-Hydramatic automatic transmission moving power to the twelve-bolt Positraction rear end with 3.55 gears. Cooling the Big Block is the original ZE-code radiator. The Nova is equipped with power steering and brakes.
This Chevy Nova has been featured in several publications including the Nova Times, Muscle Car Classics, Muscle Car Review, and Super Chevy. It is being offered by Volo Auto Sales for $81,998.
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Comments
Nice!!!!!!
Back in the 60’s & 70’s, .99oI remember these cars on the GM car lots when they were new….Right next to the Hugger orange Z-28’s & 427 SS Impala’s I had a 6 cyl 4 dr version lfor a short time….Traded it for a 650 Yamaha Never had a chance to drive one of these monsters but later owned a Stage 1 GS 455 Auto….What a car!!Have now been working at A GM service dept for close to 40 years,Currently 27 of them for the same Caddy store….Ah , the good old days!
A friend had a new 69, 396, 4 spd. Nova & one night after a high school basketball game we rode over to the next town which was just across the state line. On the return trip we met a Ga. state trooper while running about 75-80mph. He gave chase for about ten miles & never let up at the N.C. line. Little Nova stayed ahead far enough ahead to turn off & hide behind an old barn.
My friend leased one summer 1969.It was beautiful with 396,4 speed and 12 bolt positraction.
I remember back in very late 90’s or early 2000’s when Barrett Jackson was just showing on old speed channel. The commentator, while an old beautiful 30’s Mercedes was being auctioned said ” you’ll never see a Chevy Nova up on this stage”.
Well, nearly 30 yrs later even prostreet novas bring big money on Barrett Jackson.
You don’t see many pre war cars any more. Novas were some of the last muscle cars to get respect.
At 16 I was fortunate to have a new 1970 Nova with a 350ci engine. I almost bit the dust in that car several times. I shudder when I think about all the risk I used to take just for kicks.
Creeping up on 70 yrs still got my dad’s 68 Chevy caprice all!! Original 327 ci 4 barrel coupe with landow roof vinyl turbo hydromatic buckets floor shift 70 k miles purrs like a kitten but can roar like a lion when you squeeze her tilt steering p steering p brakes original bill of sale $ 4480.00 appraised at $23400.00 hoping to pass it down to keep it in the fam
Back in the late 70’s early 80’s I ran across a ’62 Chevy II with the 327-365hp fuelie. 4 speed, bucket seats. I bought it for a ridiculously low price even for back then. I still own the car. Resto in process. I’ve owned quite a few great cars including a ’68 Chevelle SS, a Buick GSX with a 455 and a few other notable muscle cars…One of my buddies had one of these big block Novas. If we could only roll back the calendar. I’ve still got a list of cars I’d like to own….
I have had a few myself including a 1968 Chevy II that was a California car. Sold it a few years back and a day doesn’t go by that I don’t regret it.
The good old days, when everything was made in America!
I had a 72 with 220 Muncie and 350 small block with all the goodies including 512 lift crowler, Nova were terrible for wheel hop, a well known fact at the time that this article ignores.
If it’s exposed to the right crowd at auction that’s going to fetch big bucks, cars gorgeous and rare. That’s when cars had personality, and I’ll sound like an old fart but that’s when cars were really built to please a hot rod in you.
Right after high school I asked my dad if I could buy a car and he said that I would have to pay for and I agreed bc I found a silver 1969 Nova SS 396 / 375. I bought it. My dad went for a ride and spent the next year and a half trying to de-tune it. It had an auto, with a column shifter, bench seat. It was my first ride that I owned personally. Since that car I’ve drag raced all my driving years, Hot Rod / Formula 4, then to Pro Stock in the 80’s but that car was an absolute blast to drive. In fact I’m trying to
find at present to see if it is still out there. GOOD LUCK TO ME!!!!