Still Does A Burnout: 1976 Chevrolet Nova SS
I found this 1976 Chevrolet Nova SS to be of interest because I didn’t know a Nova SS was still being made in 1976. The Nova SS, and pretty much anything pretending to be a performance car, was mostly in fuggedaboutit territory by the bicentennial year. Listed as a running garage find, this Nova, discovered by Larry D, is located in Bakersfield, California and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $1,225, reserve not yet met.
The Nova SS’ heyday was effectively over after 1972. It became an appearance package without the specificity of a “performance-oriented” engine starting in ’73 and powerplants of that nature were on the way out anyway – especially by 1976. So, what did RPO Z26 (the Nova Super Sport option) get a prospective buyer? Lower body dual stripes, Nova SS decals, black painted window frames, black-finished grille with a Nova SS badge, black headlight bezels, black “sport” mirrors, 14″x 6″ rally wheels, stainless roof drip moldings, F40 heavy-duty suspension, and a cheap-looking (author’s snide description) four-spoke steering wheel with an SS horn emblem.
The exterior of our subject car is rather rough appearing with the most obvious feature being the addition of that swell-looking “Cabriolet” padded landau top covering. I’d like to say that I didn’t know such an appearance effect even existed on a Nova SS but then again, I’m the guy that didn’t know a Nova SS was still available at this point. There is lots of faded paint and some burn-through but the body’s not in terrible shape – some small dents are visible but there are no signs of rot. The driver’s side door shows to be sagging a bit (the seller says that it’s stuck closed) but that’s a common problem with larger, heavier two-door coupe/hardtop doors when the bronze hinge pin bushings wear out. The starting-to-rust chrome-plated aftermarket wheels complete the exterior picture.
The seller states that the motivation for this SS is provided by a 165 net HP, 350 CI V8 engine – the top performer for a ’76 Nova. Other choices included a 140 net HP 305 CI V8 or a 105 net HP, inline, 250 CI six-cylinder lump. A Turbo-Hydramatic automatic transmission puts the go to the rear wheels. Interestingly, a four-speed manual gearbox was still available in ’76 but it was likely a rarely chosen option. The seller states that the engine starts easily and, “The tires hold air, but they are old and honestly I did a few burnouts in it today, but they’ll hold for transport“.
I don’t know what went on in that interior but it’s a greasy-looking mess. The typical GM red velour upholstery will probably need to be replaced and the carpet isn’t much better. While we’re at it, the dash pad is cracked, the gear selector knob is missing and the simple, horizontally oriented instrument panel, which consists of just a speedo and a fuel gauge, is dusty and clouded.
There you have it, this Chevy runs but will need quite a bit of help. From a collectability perspective, these aren’t particularly popular cars today, but they were when new. How popular you ask? According to Nova Resource, about 334K owners signed up for one. As for the SS option? Only 7,400 selected that option sheet box in what would be the Nova SS’ final year. This isn’t one that I would go for, but if you were interested, what would you do with it – hotrod, custom, restomod, or stock restore?
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Comments
Did He Say BURN OUT or BURN UP ?
A little of both.
Check out “Donuts until the tires pop on an otherwise boring Sunday afternoon” on YouTube for a video of this car.
That grille looks like something Billy Bob would make
to customize it – “I did it myself!”.
And yet it held on another two years as part of the “Rally Nova” package that replaced the SS. I don’t remember seeing many except in the brochure though.
The RPO Z26 became the Nova Rally package in 77 when it replaced the SS. So Nova Rallys are only 77, 78, and 79. Note that Rally comes after Nova for these years. RPO YF1 was the Rally Nova package available in 71 and 72 as an sporty alternative to the SS. For this one Rally is in front of Nova.
This has the Cabrolet roof, which I thought was only available on the Concours (and most commonly seen on the Buick Skylark). So the question is whether the SS package was available on the Concours, or if the Cabrolet roof was available with the SS package? I’m not sure about that one. I’ve never seen this combination before. But the Billy Bob front grille and SS decals are correct for a ’76 SS, and both the decals and roof look very old and worn. So if there was an addition of either, it was done many, many years ago. Anyone have any insight?
The sales brochure does not exclude the landau top option for a Nova with the SS option. I’ll admit, it’s odd.
JO
It was available across all divisions but not until ’76 making this a one-year-only combination at the very least.
A 1976 Nova could be ordered with both the cabriolet roof (RPO AB8) and SS (RPO Z26) options. The combination might seem odd today but it was a sharp looking ride in its day.
This does not appear to be the Concours submodel. The Interior Decor and Convience Group (RPO ZJ3) was included with the Concours. The package included a 10″ rearview mirror and brightwork around the instrument cluster. This car has neither one.
Thanks Jim and A.G. I can easily believe it is factory because both the top and decals are so clearly ancient. And who would have added the top or decals and grill? This has to be Very rare.
A quick look at the brochure database shows that this top was available on all of the NOVA variants. I remember seeing it most often on the Skylarks, but you could also get it on a Nova, Omega, or Ventura too. And as this car apparently proves the Nova did not have to be a Concours. You learn something new every day lol!
The concourse had three tail lights middle one being backup lights I worked for Chevrolet when these were new
Since we’re rapidly becoming malaise-era Nova experts, the ’75 LN and the renamed ’76 Concours had two taillights like regular Novas, but with chrome trim. The 3 taillights did not appear until ’77.
http://oldcarbrochures.org/United%20States/Chevrolet/1975-Chevrolet/1975-Chevrolet-Nova-Brochure/index.html
http://oldcarbrochures.org/United%20States/Chevrolet/1976-Chevrolet/1976-Chevrolet-Concours–Nova-Brochure/slides/1976_Chevrolet_Concours_and_Nova-03.html
Its laughable but I owned a 78 nova SS for a short while it was bright yellow with some black stripes and the SS in a couple spots like the sellers car .the funny thing being it had the.250 6cyl auto with a bench and Column shifter on yeah and dual exhaust that made that 6 cyl even more of an embarrassment. I didn’t keep it more than a few months and only Paid 6 or 8 hundred dollars for it . The chevy 250 is actually good little workhorse and it would even spin a back tire if you got rough with it but my idea of an SS Nova it was not . I was never actually convinced it was a factory model or something someone decorated up but now that I see this 76 with very similar lettering it probably was factory and didn’t look half bad if you like the bumblebee look with a dash of rust hole here and there
Unfortunately it was an SS clone. 76 was the last year for the SS, even as an appearance package. For 77 and 78 the top trim was the Nova Rally for a sporty look or the Concours for the luxury look.
Looks like a Concours Nova with SS badging stuck on it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcQgqmCWQME&t=12s This was us playing in the mud this last weekend, and yes it will be sprayed off and have another tire on it before it is picked up.
Yea, that should help the sale…(SMH)…
If it was me and I was buying a $2500 project I wouldn’t mind knowing it does in fact run. Have some fun.
I think it’s awesome it’s being put through the paces! Why not? This is how we drove ’em back in the day.
Muscle cars are just getting too snotty, not that this is a muscle car of course. Just clean up the undercarriage and all will be well
Junk it
Why?
My wife raced one of these late Nova SSs on the street from a roll years ago in our 69 camaro. The Nova rolled up next to her at about 25 mph, pulled his automatic down a cog and started kicking his horses around with his right foot. She was putzing along in third gear and asked me what to do.
I told her to pull it down to second, hit the gas, and bust his ‘chops’. Like the amateur she was, she pulled it to HIGH gear and hit the gas. It was a dead even race until we got up on the cam.
I had a 76 Nova that was IDENTICAL to this one! It was my folks, they bought it new in 76 and sold it to me in 78 when they bought a new Malibu. It was a Concourse, so I painted the lower stripes and added Talley wheels to make it look like a SS. At 18 you did what you could afford! It was a great car.
I have a 1975 nova custom with a landau for the last 25 years . My first car was a 76 nova with a landau roof . Very popular in the 70’s on a lot of GM’s . As everyone knows 75-79 are not very popular . That car is a mess . I wouldn’t give more then 1000 for it . With the money u need to restore it you can get a really nice already done car
I have had more ’75-’79 Novas than I can count starting with a ’77 Concours hatchback I bought new. I worked for a Chevy dealer between 1975 to ’78 and these Novas were the bread and butter of the place, as fast as they came in, out they went! I know this Nova series is not for everyone but is for me and always will be! Sad thing is every year that goes by fewer and fewer primo ones come up for sale. This Nova is not a high quality specimen and not sure anyone will do something with it, but hopefully so. By the way I have had several factory 1976 cabriolet top SS Nova’s. This vinyl top option was way more common on the ’77, ’78 and ’79 models with the Rally option that replaced the SS.
This is the perfect car for a young person that wants to get into the hobby to acquire. Lots of stuff to tinker with and learn on. And, it’s cool looking to boot.
The “cheap looking” steering wheel was the same one they used in Vegas, Camaros and Monzas ; just different horn buttons.
It was also used in mid-70’s Corvettes. I had one on my ’77 Camaro Z28 and remember it well, that’s why I think it’s cheap.
JO