Nova SS Project: 1964 Chevrolet Chevy II
As of 1962, Chevrolet had not one but two offerings in the hot, new compact car market. The first (1960) was the Corvair with its rear-mounted, air-cooled engine. Two years later, Chevy would go the more traditional route and offer a smaller version of their larger cars with a water-cooled motor in the front (the Chevy II). This 1964 Chevy II is a Nova with the Super Sport option as verified by the cowl. It recently came out of long-term storage and needs both mechanical and cosmetic work. Located with a dealer in Sanford, Maine, this SS is available here on eBay where $6,200 is the current bid.
The Nova Super Sport was patterned after the same option on the full-size Impala. It came with bucket seats, SS badging, and special wheel covers. And any engine could go into the car, even the tiny 194 cubic inch inline-6 like in the seller’s auto. Chevy II production was off by 50% in 1964, perhaps because the mid-size Chevelle debuted that year. Fortunately, sales would pick up the next year and the Chevy II/Nova would last through the end of the 1970s. But the SS in the Nova hadn’t yet caught on like with the Impala as just 10,576 copies were produced in ’64.
This Nova has spent several years in storage, yet we don’t know for how long or why. Even though the 283 was available in the Chevy II for the first time that year, the original purchaser stuck with the economy motor paired with a 2-speed Powerglide automatic transmission with a floor shifter. The odometer reflects just 58,000 miles which seems highly plausible. With a new solenoid for the starter, the car starts up fine and the tranny goes into gear. But the brakes need to work, and the fuel system will likely need a flush.
Where the car was stored was not moisture-free, so some rust has managed to creep into the Chevy. Some of the metal is good, but exceptions are parts of the sub-frame rails, the trunk floor, front fenders, lower rear quarter panels, and the trunk lid. The seller found the paint (a respray) peeling in several places, so he/she stripped the car, did a light sanding, added some primer, and put a light coat of sealer over everything to protect it from further deterioration.
The interior is going to need a thorough rework, including upholstery, door panels, and carpeting. The keys are long gone, but the ignition was left in the unlocked position so you can start it (and thieves can, too!). This Chevrolet will need a complete restoration and buyers may be thinking of dropping in a small-block V8 rather than tinkering with the old 194. The process of getting the car titled in your state may require a few extra steps. As the seller says, “If you need a title in your state, we will register the car, and with that registration and our proper dealer transfer paperwork, you will receive a title”.
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Comments
Oh quick… Someone please take a great car that would be worth more restored to original and butcher it with a LS SWAP and paint that give you motion sickness. LoL
And tubbed wheels and skull shifter
You guys stole my thunder. I was thinking what Joe Martin of Iron Resurrection would do to this car….tub the rear, airbag the suspension, possibly replace the frame with an Art Morrison one, drop in an LS3, and drive without seat belts or shoulder harness. Always the same car, just different manufacturer names. Can you tell I’m tired of the schtick. Give me Derek Bieri or Ian Roussel over Martin, Kindig, or Texas Metal. I’ll even take that guy Chad who does crazy stuff too.
Don’t forget tub it out for bulldozer tires so they can do the 1/4 mile in one second, rather than enjoy an original, drivable car.
Last time I checked bulldozers had tracks..
I couldn’t think of “payloader”.
Snowmobile tracks for drag racing on pavement!
It for sure needs a V8,not necessarily a LS.
An early 302 from a Z 28 would be perfect! Restore to granny’s car?? What a waste!!
Unbolt and unhook O-E stuff, install 60 over 283 , can rebuild the 6 while having fun..
I Found one of these sitting in front of a local gas station for sale around 1980, white with blue interior no rust, perfect interior. Bought it for 100 bucks and drove it home. This car in it’s condition would have been sold for scrap back then.
I had a 1963 I wish I had again. Copper color with 6 under hood and auto trans. Got traded in on a new 1968 Road Runner!!!
My wife had a 63 SS, Beautiful Maroon with Black Interior, 6/Automatic…car was absolutely gorgeous. I traded it for a 66 Ford Fairlane GT 390….how stupid was I??? To this day, I wish I had kep that awesome little Nova SS.
The Chevy II would use a 283 with a re-located fuel pump to clear the front suspension, but usually cured with a 327 and electric fuel pump…and a close ratio four speed.
I know (a pal had one of these) that the 6 bangers came with 4 lug wheels. Did the 283s also or were they 5s?
1964 was first year for 5 lug, mine had 6 cyl., had 5 lugs w/ all drum brakes.
I was 17 and just out of high school working in a welding shop. A co-worker had a ’66 with 396, auto with a Hurst dual-gate quick shifter. At that point the fastest car I’d ever seen (this was 1979). He put it up for sale for $2500. I wanted it so bad but he couldn’t wait for me to raise the money. I still think of that car every time I see a Nova and wonder if I’d have lived to tell the tale had I been able to buy it.
The 283’s were 5 lug for sure. I had a yellow and black interior one of these with the exact shifter. Mine also had the bumper guards, a 283 and Powerglide. Loved it but had to sell when family came along in 1991.
It’s a nice price to start over again and would definitely try to find a correct 283. as I’m sure some of know, the oil pans were completely different to properly clear the front cross member.
Good luck to the purchaser…
I had a 64 2dr post w/a 194 ci. a great car still carry pics to this day. It was a 5 lug from the factory.
Nova’s are great little cars easy to work parts are available redo the seats and drive it.
Maine has the worst frame rot in the nation- looking at the lower quarter patch job and the trunk I am sure that under the carpet are some whopper holes.
Lots of welding needed before the LS Swap…
I had a 1963 that I put a 327 tunnel ram/4speed and a 12bolt rear in. Was stupid fast and uncontrollable but fun
I have a 63 hardtop that came to me in 1991 from the gentleman that bought it when it was 6 months old as a demonstrator. I ran a body shop and it came in for rear damage. I like weirdly optioned cars and was immediately drawn to it. I first noticed the grille guard and then I noticed the one sixties gizmo that always says cool and is NEVER in a car like this, an autronic eye. On further inspection the car was a 6 with a chrome rocker cover, power steering, factory ac, padded dash, tachometer, tissue box, rear guards, multi leaf springs with the pumpkin type rear end. The owner was 91 years old and I said this is a very cool car. His reply was forget it long hair, all you will do is soupe it up and ruin it. I let his comment pass. As I did the estimate he spied my 58 Buick wagon and commented that’s nice, I remember them when they were new. I said that is mine, it’s a great car. He replied YOURS. I said yup! I fixed the Nova, he thanked me and took my name and left. A year or so later I get a call from an attorney about a 63 Chevy. I asked for a invoice..blah, blah. The guy replied, are you such and such, I am handling an estate and Mr Horn left you his car and it needs to be removed. My family left me little but a total stranger left me his car. It is still with me and will never be ruined as he said all those years ago. These are great cars, very adequate with the 6, even with the ac on.
Great story. Your 58 Buick sold him. Thanks for sharing.
We had 62 Chevy II wagon with the 194 in the late 70’s. It cracked #1 piston skirt like a lot of those did. We swapped in a 250 out of a 70 Nova. 4 lug wheels. One of the sweetest cars I ever drove