Excellent Paint/Straight Steel/Rotisserie Restoration/Overall Great Example

1970 Chevrolet Nova Coupe

The Chevy Nova was a compact competitor in the legendary American pony wars. While the 1960s and 1970s witnessed a fight between American automotive manufacturers to produce the fastest and most powerful muscle cars, the Chevy Nova was just right when it came to size, speed, and affordability. But it didn't start out as the Chevy Nova…not quite, anyway. Eager to produce a budget-friendly compact muscle car, Chevy introduced the Chevy II. As a model name, Nova was relegated to runner-up name because it didn't start with C. However, Nova was chosen as the name for the higher-end, sportier trim option, and did eventually replace Chevy II as the car's official name in 1969.

Minimalistic with maximum function, thrift, not revolutionary in concept or execution, a compact grocery getter, pick the kids up kind of car, here in our hallowed halls. It is so pedestrian you would walk by it and never notice it. However, this does not detract from its charm and important place in Chevrolet history fulfilling a need for the masses. Enjoy the 1970 Chevy Nova! Several years went by with this car being restored, starting with the metal in 2010, then finally finishing in 2016 and now sporting a mere 3500 miles since then with the motor having approximately 60K miles on it.

Exterior
This impressive looking stock configuration car has the benefit of undergoing a rotisserie restoration. This leaves us with a real beauty of a car with excellent chrome and trimmings, laser straight steel, well minded gaps, and snazzy rally wheels. All steel is bathed in Mulsanne Blue and it is hard to find a fault in the paint, let alone any rust. A long look at this fine job, and you will begin to see the inherent quality of the restoration, which was painstakingly performed to a high level of fit and finish throughout. All surfaces are finished to showroom quality and even the under the hood and undercarriage are excellent.

Interior
Consigner states all new NOS interior coverings correct for 1970 have the interior covered. Smooth near perfect blue vinyl is adorning the door panels along with some shiny perfect trimmings and a Nova badge. Inside a beautiful broadcloth multi shades of blue pattern covers the seats. The split back bench in front has shiny smooth blue vinyl bolsters and some smaller tight to the top of chairs headrests. The back seat is not outdone by the front and is in the same pattern and style only in solid bench form and it appears as though it's never been sat in! Pristine blue carpeting keeps all the seats afloat and on the hump is a recently installed 4-speed Hurst floor shifter. More perfection for the dash which now has an aftermarket tachometer on the column and a trio of extra blackface gauges hanging below the dash in the center. A wood rimmed drilled rally style steering wheel is fronting the dash and is also very clean and like new. The radio has been removed, but even the pedals show no wear! A tight blue headliner in vinyl is above all this nicety.

Drivetrain
A non-numbers matching engine sits comfortably within the completely restored engine bay, and it is just showroom. Even under the hood is like new with bold shiny paint and new insulation. This engine in 307ci V8 configuration, has a 4-barrel carburetor on top, and is painted a beautiful GM red/orange on the block and valve coverings. Like new hoses and bolt ons are throughout and all new wiring is noted. On the back is a Muncie M20 4-speed manual transmission from 1970, but not original to this car. It has a new clutch and pressure plate that was installed less than 100 miles ago. A 10-bolt 3.42 positraction rear axle completes the all buttoned up and looking snazzy drivetrain.

Undercarriage
If you purchase this car, you'll need to also purchase a mirror to show off the undercarriage. It is restored to better than showroom and is a sight to behold. Beautiful newly painted black and blue colorings cover all surfaces. Yellow traction bars have been added to the rear leaf springs and a shiny Flowmaster exhaust snakes its way rearward from the engine, which shows nary even a drip on the bottom end. Suspension parts are all neat and clean, and we can note 4-wheel power drum brakes. A plus for this underside which almost takes on an airbrushed fade from blue to black on the floor pans.

Drive-Ability
Of course, it fired right up all worked like it should with nice acceleration, bias free braking, and good handling. A very clean and good-looking car. The backup lights were inoperable when our test drive took place.

There are Novas, then there is THIS Nova which is a real looker that has been expertly restored to the nines and is a true shower that you can drive to work every day. Everything is beautiful!

VIN DECODE
113270W383645
1-Chevrolet
13-Nova 6 Cylinder
27-2 Door Sedan
0-1970
W-Willow Run, MI Assy Plant
383645-Sequential Unit Number

TRIM TAG
ST 70 11427-1970 Nova 2 Door Sedan
BDY WRN 352014-Willow Run Body #
TR 740-Medium Gold Standard Cloth Bench
PNT 50-Gobi Beige
06E-5th Week June Build