Real Deal? 1969 Chevrolet Nova SS
The third generation of the Chevy Nova (1967-74) would prove the most popular. That includes the SS or Super Sport models which would be a part of the muscle car movement of the era. This 1969 Nova with SS badging was parked for 40 years beginning in 1977 and was revived through a rebuilding of its drivetrain. The interior is nice, but the body and paint are showing their age. We’re not sure if this Nova SS is authentic because the VIN on the cowl tag does not jive with what sources constitute being an SS. At any rate, the Nova is in New Ipswich, New Hampshire, and is available here on eBay where the bidding has reached $20,199, but the reserve has not been met.
Chevrolet would build 251,849 Nova’s in 1969, including multiple door, engine, and transmission combinations. The standard SS motor was a 350 cubic inch engine that was rated at 300 hp which found its way into 10,356 copies that year. You could also get a 396 V8, but those production numbers were much smaller. This car appears to have that motor (no engine compartment photos provided) along with a 4-speed manual transmission. Sources indicate that the second and third numbers in the VIN should be 17 but – in this car – it reads 14. That suggests a standard Nova when it left the factory.
As the story goes, this Chevy originated in San Diego, California, and ran until 1977 when the owner blew the head gasket. From there, it sat 40 years until a restoration company in Texas bought the machine and went through it mechanically. The engine was rebuilt to factory specs along with the starter, alternator, and distributor. But they didn’t stop there, and also refurbished the suspension, brake system, M20 transmission, and the 12-bolt rear-end with 3.73 posi-traction.
Fast forward to 2020 and the seller bought the car, replaced the dash pad, front seat covers, tires, exhaust, and installed some aftermarket gauges. The body remains untouched with original Burnished Brown paint, but there is rust brewing in the front fenders and the quarter panels may have been tinkered with. The seller has a ton of documentation, some of which go back to 1969 and other stuff is reflective of the mechanical restoration work.
Certainly, this car could be shown as-is since its exterior appearance may never have been tampered with. But fixing the rust and slapping on a new coat of paint would make it stand out. Especially if it turns out not to be a clone but a genuine article. Online resources peg those cars as fetching north of $30,000.
Auctions Ending Soon
2006 Ford Mustang Saleen S281 SCBid Now7 hours$15,000
2002 Subaru Impreza WRXBid Now3 days$333
1975 Chevrolet Corvette ConvertibleBid Now3 days$3,000
1964 Ford F-100 Camper CustomBid Now3 days$2,000
2006 Jeep Wrangler SportBid Now5 days$10,500
Comments
Watching…..
Not sure on a 69 but on my 67 that is the body tag and not the vin. My body tag says 118 (v8 ss) but my vin is 117 ( ss but a 6cyl) originally. Fisher didn’t know what GM would do with body engine wise.
Hard not to like Chevrolets like this.
Ummm, not sure it’s an SS?
The sellers ad says he has the build sheet.
Then he should’ve supplied pix of the build sheet and motor.
I smell a rat… just not a Rat Motor.
I don’t believe the build sheet will show the SS option package on a 69 Nova SS, I know the VIN won’t either.
117 and 118 were VIN designations for 1965-1967 Nova SS models. 1968 and later Nova SSs were standard, V8 Nova coupes with the SS option. VINs for these cars started with 11427, like this one.
Correct. My friend has a’69 with a 114 VIN and it’s very original SS 350, 4 speed. His cousin bought it new, his dad bought it from his cousin now he has it, and it’s in almost perfect “day two” condition.
I have a numbers matching ‘67 SS 327 4 speed and it has a 118 VIN and 118 on the trim tag
Maybe even a picture of the engine bay?
I was under the impression the body style pictured above was from the 1968-1974 body style and that the 1967 style was the square look.
Correct, this car is from the Nova’s 3rd Generation, which like you state, ran from 68-74. A 67 car would be a 2nd Generation car, a not-so-drastic evolution of the 1st Generation car.
Why would this car have a 12 bolt rear with a 350? I would think the stock 350 in the SS is nowhere near as powerful as the solid lifter z28 350 in 1970 1/2.
Maybe it had a 396 originally?
coulda been ordered that way….There was a point in time you could go into a dealer an actually order a car the way you wanted and get it in a reasonable amount of time.I had a 68 ss350 4spd Camaro in 1974, had a 12 bolt in it
Yup. My ‘67 SS with a 275 hp 327, 4 speed has the original 3.55 12 bolt posi rear in it. It was available as a heavy duty option in all Novas
This Nova has been repainted, maybe a good while ago but it has been repainted.
The SS with a 350 came with a 12 bolt. My 1970 model also did.
And yes, the SS package would be evident on the build sheet. I would not be so quick to post the biuld sheet on an internet listing, because of all the scammers. I’ve posted cars online for sale only to find my car and photos in some internet pirate’s “inventory”. I agree an engine pic is necessary.
What code or numbers on the build sheet would denote the SS option for a 69.
Z26 is the RPO code for SS on a 69 Nova.
https://www.novaresource.org/rpo_Z26.htm#1969
I like this car, but something is off. If this is a true 396 SS car, then there’s multiple ways to verify that without like Cman said, provide the scammers more fodder for their arsenal. I can see skipping in-depth documentation, but any basic listing should have at least an engine pic or two. Maybe I’m wrong, but my Spidey sense is tingling on this one.
Theres a BF inspector in Amherst NH, not very far away from this car if anyone is interested in it…….
11427 is correct l had a 1969 nova SS
11427 is correct actually correct for all nova’s from 1969 that had any form of V8 with 2 doors.
11327 is for novas with 6 cylinders for 69 with 2 doors
11127 is for novas with 4 cylinders for 69 with 2 doors
(yep this year had a 4 cylinder option)
The build sheet would have the SS package listed on it.