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68-72 Novas

Discussion in 'Off Topic Hot Rods & Customs' started by Speed Gems, Mar 23, 2025.

  1. Speed Gems
    Joined: Jul 17, 2012
    Posts: 6,919

    Speed Gems
    Member

    Since I just looked through all 27 pages and didn't see one how about a thread for 3rd Gen Novas.
     
  2. chris bozic
    Joined: Oct 31, 2010
    Posts: 49

    chris bozic
    Member
    from Pittsburgh

    How about a '74 that looks like a '68-'72? We bought this, sorta rough at the time, street-strip car back around 2013. Spent a couple years rebuilding everything. Replaced the 383 with a 402 sbc after a lifter failure that wiped out the block and a couple pistons. Sold it a few years back to make room in the garage for a '39 ford coupe. Last I saw I think it ran 11.04 on gas, single carb, th350 trans. nova.jpg
     
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  3. Speed Gems
    Joined: Jul 17, 2012
    Posts: 6,919

    Speed Gems
    Member

  4. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 22,121

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

  5. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 22,121

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

  6. Deuces
    Joined: Nov 3, 2009
    Posts: 26,617

    Deuces

    6 cylinder front springs and shocks maybe???:confused:
     
  7. Deuces
    Joined: Nov 3, 2009
    Posts: 26,617

    Deuces

    I got some pictures I need to dig up out 52 thousand plus I have stashed in my cellphone.....:eek::rolleyes:
    I'll post those when I get a chance.....
     
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  8. Don West
    Joined: May 18, 2014
    Posts: 137

    Don West

    believe this example has been converted from a 73 or 74 judging by the rear qtr window and resultant beltline difference. good job though
     
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  9. mohr hp
    Joined: Nov 18, 2009
    Posts: 1,513

    mohr hp
    Member
    from Georgia

    My favorite muscle cars! They were everywhere when I was coming of age. (late 70's-early 80's). I would love a base Nova with a crate 502. The most motor in the least car. I could never understand the Camaro fixation, when the Nova was lighter, cheaper and more readily available. The only problem was the tire clearance.
     
  10. blue 49
    Joined: Dec 24, 2006
    Posts: 2,112

    blue 49
    Member
    from Iowa

    Scan_0003 (2).jpg
    My youngest brother sitting on the '70 Nova I bought when I got my 1st real job, after high school.

    Gary
     
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  11. SS327
    Joined: Sep 11, 2017
    Posts: 3,783

    SS327

    That looks like the one my neighbor painted with a brush. 6 cyl and pg.
     
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  12. Speed Gems
    Joined: Jul 17, 2012
    Posts: 6,919

    Speed Gems
    Member

    And IIRC they could be insured as a sedan, with the same drivetrain as a Camaro, so they were cheaper to insure.
     
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  13. blue 49
    Joined: Dec 24, 2006
    Posts: 2,112

    blue 49
    Member
    from Iowa

    It was a 6/glide and it looks like it does because this is a scan of a 50+ yr old Polaroid pic.
     
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  14. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 22,121

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

    Many have never heard of a Yenko Deuce, rare and collectible.
    1970 Nova LT-1 350/4speed/12 bolt posi.


    upload_2025-4-1_18-45-43.jpeg


     
  15. Deuces
    Joined: Nov 3, 2009
    Posts: 26,617

    Deuces

    It could use a stinger hood with the deleted hood tach..;)
     
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  16. Deuces
    Joined: Nov 3, 2009
    Posts: 26,617

    Deuces

  17. Deuces
    Joined: Nov 3, 2009
    Posts: 26,617

    Deuces

  18. Deuces
    Joined: Nov 3, 2009
    Posts: 26,617

    Deuces

  19. Deuces
    Joined: Nov 3, 2009
    Posts: 26,617

    Deuces

    1970-Chevrolet-Nova-SS-L78-2716-43.jpg 1970-Chevrolet-Nova-SS-L78-2716-41.jpg 1970-Chevrolet-Nova-SS-L78-2716-1.jpg 1970-Chevrolet-Nova-SS-L78-2716-34.jpg 1970-Chevrolet-Nova-SS-L78-2716-2.jpg 1970-Chevrolet-Nova-SS-L78-2716-44.jpg 1970-Chevrolet-Nova-SS-L78-2716-45.jpg origin-349.jpg origin-348.jpg origin-347.jpg origin-346.jpg origin-6620.jpg origin-6702.jpg origin-1735.jpg 001-daros-1969-chevrolet-nova.jpg 025-daros-1969-chevrolet-nova.jpg
     

    Attached Files:

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  20. Deuces
    Joined: Nov 3, 2009
    Posts: 26,617

    Deuces

  21. Deuces
    Joined: Nov 3, 2009
    Posts: 26,617

    Deuces

  22. Deuces
    Joined: Nov 3, 2009
    Posts: 26,617

    Deuces

    30C485E9-66C5-437E-9DBC-01EA16D022F7.jpeg 017-biele-1969-chevrolet-nova-ss-427-interior-driver-side.jpg 019-biele-1969-chevrolet-nova-ss-427-side.jpg 018-biele-1969-chevrolet-nova-ss-427-rear-side.jpg 016-biele-1969-chevrolet-nova-ss-427-hoodscoop.jpg 015-biele-1969-chevrolet-nova-ss-427-rear-window-decal.jpg 014-biele-1969-chevrolet-nova-ss-427-anderson-trunk-emblem.jpg 013-biele-1969-chevrolet-nova-ss-427-engine-anderson-valve-cover.jpg 012-biele-1969-chevrolet-nova-ss-427-engine-driver-side.jpg 011-biele-1969-chevrolet-nova-ss-427-race-prep-super-car-reunion.jpg 010-biele-1969-chevrolet-nova-ss-427-racing-super-car-reunion.jpg 009-biele-1969-chevrolet-nova-ss-427-front-emblems.jpg 008-biele-1969-chevrolet-nova-ss-427-rear-emblems.jpg 007-biele-1969-chevrolet-nova-ss-427-front-tire-wheel.jpg 004-biele-1969-chevrolet-nova-ss-427-hood.jpg 002-biele-1969-chevrolet-nova-ss-427-rear-three-quarter.jpg 005-biele-1969-chevrolet-nova-ss-427-interior-overall.jpg 006-biele-1969-chevrolet-nova-ss-427-rear-tire-wheel.jpg 003-biele-1969-chevrolet-nova-ss-427-engine-overall.jpg 001-biele-1969-chevrolet-nova-ss-427-front-three-quarter (1).jpg
    I like this ^^^^^ last one...:cool:
     
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  23. malibumonte78
    Joined: Nov 17, 2011
    Posts: 302

    malibumonte78
    Member

    This was my Dad’s ‘69. These pics were taken when we sold it back in ‘21. We had owned it for over 25 years at that point. Restored over a four year period 2004-2008. It was hard to let this one go.
    IMG_0132.jpeg IMG_0140.jpeg
     
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  24. malibumonte78
    Joined: Nov 17, 2011
    Posts: 302

    malibumonte78
    Member

    This is my beater/ budget '69. I've had this car for 30 years, my Dad gave it to me when I was 6. It had been his daily driver and street racer in the mid 80's with a 454 and 400 switch pitch. He sold it to buy a boat and the guy that bought it pulled the drivetrain out and put the car in his junkyard. 10 years later I was at the junkyard with my Dad and pointed out the Nova and told him I liked it. So he bought it back for 50 bucks. It spent 25 years after that sitting around, a few parts got poached off of it for the other Nova in the previous post until I decided to forget a perfect restoration for it and just get it running! I did that in 2021 with a mild SBC and then in late 2023 I built a 396 for it. It gets driven pretty regularly. I do plan to put quarters and wheelhouse on it someday and have proper '69 style strato bucket seats to recover for it. For now I'm enjoying it as is while I work on other projects.
    20241025_172944.jpg 20240314_190033.jpg IMG_20231109_091310_129.jpg
     
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  25. malibumonte78
    Joined: Nov 17, 2011
    Posts: 302

    malibumonte78
    Member

    One more, for now. This is one I restored for someone else back around 2012. This one is also a '69, but it was pretty special. It is a real Deal 69 SS 396 L78 (375 horse), M22, 12 bolt bench seat car with a build sheet to prove it. A lot of parts off this car ended up on mine, like the 396 fender badges. I haven't seen it in 6-7 years but the guy still owns it.
    20160827_172459.jpg
     
    Last edited: Apr 3, 2025
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  26. mohr hp
    Joined: Nov 18, 2009
    Posts: 1,513

    mohr hp
    Member
    from Georgia

  27. mohr hp
    Joined: Nov 18, 2009
    Posts: 1,513

    mohr hp
    Member
    from Georgia

    I grew up with these things, common as sweater lint. Everyone had one. They were just solid good all around cars for anyone. If you needed to buy anything parts wise back then the lowest price part in a store for any part in any parts catalog would be for a Nova! I put 50,000 miles on a 1973 base level 6/PG. That thing was so budget/price beater, it was built with no switch in the passenger side door jamb for the dome light! They only put the switch on the driver's door! The factory jamb paint was inside the threaded hole, but no switch or wire. How cheap is that? I was at my bottom in life financially and bought this really rusty 15 year old Nova for $200 in the 80's. I put nothing into it for 5 years and it transported me everywhere dead nuts reliably. I literally drove it to the scrapper and walked away from it. (The rust had gotten epic structurally and I finally got a good high pay job and needed a truck daily driver more). I always thought I'd love to have a 454 in one, but my welfare poverty roots says It'd have to be a non SS el cheapo!
     
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2025
  28. Deuces
    Joined: Nov 3, 2009
    Posts: 26,617

    Deuces

    I don't think so.... ...
     
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2025
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  29. mohr hp
    Joined: Nov 18, 2009
    Posts: 1,513

    mohr hp
    Member
    from Georgia

    IMG_4338.jpeg IMG_4339.jpeg IMG_4341.jpeg IMG_4340.jpeg I saved this old Road & Track test of an L78 Nova. The writers thought it was going to be a sleeper, but the kids all knew about it! They liked the car overall, but the skinny little tires really limited the Quarter mile times.
     
  30. jnaki
    Joined: Jan 1, 2015
    Posts: 11,245

    jnaki

    upload_2025-4-14_6-38-5.png

    Hello,


    After learning to drive in the 58 Impala, this Nova was a snap for my mom. She liked the size of the Impala and for her, it was not as large as our dad’s Buick sedans. When I tried to teach her to drive the stick shift 58 Impala, it was ok after we got moving, but the initial start from a stop sign or stop light was hectic to say the least. A bucking bronco was the image I can think of for any first time stick shift drivers. Despite me telling her to let the clutch out slightly until the car creeps forward a little, then once rolling across the intersection, she can move to the next gear selection.

    It was a bronco situation at almost every light. In less traffic was good, since no one else would be harmed. Ha! But, she opted to get an “automatic transmission” for the Impala and then she could drive it anywhere. Sure, mom, an automatic transmission is fine… so, a C&O stick hydro was installed converting the stick shift Impala into a faster terror “automatic transmission” family car… yes!

    Jnaki

    That lasted for many miles of an old lady driving the now, C&O stick hydro Impala all over Long Beach, Gardena, Lakewood, and Bixby Knolls. Many times my friends would report to me as to a black 58 Impala sighting with an older lady driving it down the street. One of her favorite places was a super market in Bixby Knolls, right in the heart of teenage cruising area and hang out locations. Ha!

    But, the one thing she did not like was the Impala did not have A/C. 15 hp loss from all of the belts was too much to over come at the dragstrip and so, no A/C. Now, the complaints started during the hot summer months. Then, one year, she told us that she wanted her own car and we took her to see several Chevrolet models with A/C. She selected a Chevy Nova Sedan with nice wheels and no white racing stripes. A/C, auto transmission, custom wheels, SBC motor… etc… just made for her.
    upload_2025-4-14_6-39-0.png Westside of Long Beach

    She drove it for for 14 years and then decided to get a smaller sedan that would fit better in her garage. So, she got a new small 4 door sedan to take all of her friends shopping and visiting each other. Then it was up to us to sell her Chevy Nova sedan. But, before we sold it, my own family drove it 1000s of miles up the coast and across the S.F. Bay area to the back side of the mountain range to eventually stop in the Yosemite Valley and through the final valley road, down hill to the Crowley Lake campgrounds on the 395 Highway. We probably put on more miles than our mom put on during the whole time she owned it.

    So, when it was time to sell it, it had about 12k miles. 3000 was about what we put on during our extended road trip throughout California coastal, valleys and deserts for a two week trek. So, if you subtract 3000 from 12k miles at the sale day, our mom only drove 9000 miles from 1972 to 86. Which ended up a whopping 600+ miles a year. Talk about a little old lady from the Westside of Long Beach… yikes..

    But, it was a fast sell to a young couple looking for their first car. One call and they came over with the cash to buy it on the spot. $16 K IN 1986 is equivalent to $46K TODAY it only had about 12k miles since new in 1972. It was owned and driven daily by a “little old lady from the Westside of Long Beach…” YRMV

     
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