1974 Chevrolet Nova

Description

It's going to be hard to get a better-looking, cleaner car for less than $15,000 than this 1974 Chevy Nova. Showing what might very well be just 42,965 original miles, it's a beautifully preserved old car in great colors, and with a smooth 250 cubic inch six under the hood, it's an economical car to drive, too. If you're looking for your first collectable, it'll be hard to top this flashy Nova.

This has to be one of those little old lady specials, given the no-nonsense hardware and impressive state of preservation. The paint code is 64, which is regular old silver, but when this Nova was repainted a few years ago, they dipped into the GM color palette and pulled out something a little more sophisticated, yet still in the silver family. The current pewter finish looks fantastic on the chunky Nova bodywork, and combined with a black vinyl top (in excellent condition, by the way) and the black side stripe, it has a very upscale look that belies the car's modest price tag. Quite honestly, when I first saw this car, I figured it would carry a price tag $10,000 larger. It really does look that good. It doesn't look like it's ever been fully disassembled and serious bodywork has never been needed, so everything lines up the way it would have in 1974, and even things like the chrome bumpers, stainless window surrounds, and egg crate grille are impressively well-preserved.

The interior is basic, I'll give you that, but the basics are good and Novas like this are the perfect blend of sporty and practical because of it. The black upholstery is in good condition, with only the driver's side of the front bench showing wear. Things like the door panels and dash pad are quite good, and this one has a durable vinyl floor covering instead of carpet, so it's easy to maintain. Gauges cover the basics of speed and fuel level, but their bright markings and clear lenses are more evidence that this car has led an easy life. The original AM radio is still in the dash but the good news is that if you're a guy who likes to upgrade his hardware, this one hasn't been tampered with by unknown amateurs over the decades. The trunk sure looks original, too, with factory-applied spatter paint as well as a full-sized spare tire.

Lifting the hood, you'll find a 250 cubic inch inline-six, which was surely a common occurrence during the OPEC-strangled years of the mid-70s, and I bet it'll draw a crowd even today simply because anyone born after 1975 has probably never seen one like this before. It has obviously been freshly detailed and looks great in its Chevy Orange paint with big black air cleaner on the 2-barrel carburetor. Lots of recent maintenance items mean that it's a strong runner and although we don't have any documentation to prove the mileage, when you see this one in person it's quite easy to see why the 43,000 miles on the clock are believed to be actual. It's backed by a TH350 3-speed automatic and 10-bolt rear end and exhales through a single exhaust system with a recent muffler, and the rest of the chassis is amazingly tidy. While those flashy Torque Thrust wheels aren't stock, they sure look good wrapped in 225/55/16 blackwall radials out front and 225/50/16's out back.

You probably won't find a cleaner Nova than this at this price, and there's still a lot of fun to be had behind the wheel. Call today!