Top Dog Barn Find: 1969 Chevrolet SS 396 Nova
When you are hunting for a Barn Find, you never know what will turn up. Lots of classics, unusual “who-done-its”, discarded muscle cars, old everyday unremarkable drivers and just about everything else in between. But when you find a majordomo special like this ’69 SS 396 Nova, well that’s a find! Located in Burbank, California this Chevy Nova is available here on Hemmings for $55,000.
The Nova or Chevy II as it was known in its initial incarnation was introduced in 1962 with a 151 CI, four-cylinder engine. It didn’t see a V8 until 1964 and by 1968 it was still offering that four-cylinder but now you could get a 396 CI V8, 375 HP engine as an option. Talk about a spread! It’s a bit crazy to think of putting an engine of that size and power in an economy compact but that’s the way the muscle car movement rolled in those days. And interestingly, while the 396 engine was available in the Nova for three years, ’68, ’69 and ’70, the big engine was never referenced in sales brochures, owners manuals or print adds with one exception of only one that I could find, it is pictured above. GM had a rule that their cars, regardless of division, had to have a minimum of ten lbs. of curb weight per gross HP and a 375 HP Nova was under that standard. So Chevrolet was told by GM corporate to not offer this sort of an arrangement but they did it anyway. Don’t advertise it or talk about it and it doesn’t exist, right? Even the order form for the Nova had the 396 engine option hiding in plain sight on the reverse side. By 1970, the weight minimum was withdrawn but such power arrangements were still not actively promoted.
The seller states that this barn find has been sitting since 1985 and it is all original. I apologize for the images, they are not that comprehensive in terms of their field of view and were shot in small image format. There are before/after images and as can be seen, this example cleaned up quite well – please check all of the images included in the listing. There are primer spots on the front fenders as well as covering the entire hood but the “Hugger Orange” finish, and the body in general looks great once cleaned. The finish really brightened up! The seller adds that there is no rust present, anywhere, on this Nova SS. Other than the previously referenced primer, the only thing out of place on the exterior is the rear bumper, it’s a bit bent in. As found, this Chevy had the wrong rims but the seller has moved to red lines with steelies and doggie-bowl hubcaps on the rear and white letter BFG’s on the front. It seems that it would make for a better presentation going with either tire selection but not both.
The interior is Chevy Nova all the way. It is a simple black vinyl affair with a bench seat, no gauges and a rubber floor mat. It is a very no-frills environment. It would appear that the original owner, typically, was interested in going fast and not too concerned about creature comforts. Nevertheless, what’s there is in great, original condition.
The engine situation has been previously covered but for the sake of clarity, this Nova possesses the L78, 375 HP variant of the 396 engine as opposed to the tamer 350 HP (L34) version. And strangely, according to Hemmings, there were 1,947 350 HP versions and 5,262 375 HP copies produced in 1969 – pretty much the opposite of what one would expect. The seller does not elaborate on how well, or even if, this Nova’s engine runs. That seems odd considering that the engine is the overarching, most significant aspect of this muscle car. He does mention that it is unmolested and complete, so that’s a good start. As for originality, the seller has the air cleaner assembly but that fan doesn’t look like a factory piece.
While the production volume does not denote rarity, a Nova SS 396 is still an uncommon find, especially one this original. The seller is asking for a pretty stiff price and he’s firm on his number so excellence and originality come at a cost. So, here’s your chance, you may not get another one like this fantastic barn find, any takers?
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Comments
55,000.00. no
This was a potent combination, so much so (as I was told years ago) that LAPD ordered these-in a 4 door! However, the brakes didn’t always match the abilities of that 396ci motor after 130MPH..
This would be a great resto but it’s a whole lot more coin than I can or would want to spend on a project like this one.
55 k? My 71 ss small block 4 speed is going to be on the market soon
Unless you’re a purist about original, this may be the one. But at that price, good luck to the seller. I’ve been around this hobby for a long time and it’s amazing what people ask for certain vehicles. I hope our beloved hobby survives.
Yes Irocz28, this creeping crud will have an effect on the hobby. Go to a car show and see how many grey hairs (including meself) you see. Don’t get me wrong, as the hobby is alive and well, but looking 20 years down the year it might be electric cars. I’m thinking the virus and so many folks out of work may bring the prices back to reality. Not sure this one is worth the coin, but you could get a good painter to shoot the nose with a color close. If the car was sitting where pictured since ’85, you better look underneath. Good luck!
Stay safe and wash your paws
Cheers
GPC
Seriously 55k? Money is slowly ruining this hobby. Sure makes me wish my father didn’t sell his unrestored 69 SS396 Nova for a quarter of that price
Very nice car but why not paint the nose to match?
Chevrolet did NOT build a Nice NOVA.. after 67….. when they changed the body style in 68… it went downhill… big time… so..so sad
This guy.. is past being nuts on his price..but.. its in California… so what do you expect…
I’ll have to disagree with you, Mike. Having owned a ’70 SS with the 375hp L78 396 hooked to a Turbo 400, I found it to be one of the best muscle cars I’ve ever had; and I’ve owned more than a few. The power in that small car was amazing and with buckets and a console, the interior was comfy and sporty. It wasn’t a great handling car but it was built for straight-line runs, not for a road course. I did my fair share of street racing and the only cars that beat my Nova was a ’67 Mustang with a 427 and a ’69 GTO with a 421, and neither beat me by much.
I’d love to have this one but $55K seems like a little much considering the work it still needs. Maybe with fresh paint and some detailing under the hood but as it sits, that’s a big ask. However, it’s a desirable car and there are a lot of guys with plenty of money so it wouldn’t surprise me if it sold at that price.
It is the STYLE of the Car…. 68 on us… is nothing but a box..an ugly box to boot..
I smell a rodent. Probably a bodywork rodent and maybe an engine one.
check south florida craigslist theirs a factory 396 nova for 38,000a bit more echnomical
I guess the marketing plan was on a need to know basis, it worked okay. Still, this Nova doesn’t have the charming good looks of the Chevelle or Camaro. More or less a street racers specially, possibly budget reasons but I have know idea what these sold for new.
For 55 grand it’s all for the love of money…or spending it.
Not the best pic. but I am pretty sure that 375hp came with a 780 cfm Holley carb. It appears to have a 600 cfm carb.
55K – doesn’t hurt to ask.
Seller knows they will never get it.
Plus, it gives us comment ammo.
I’ve heard that Hugger orange cars had to be ordered special from the factory as it wasn’t listed as a color choice .If thats true, and this one was originally orange, it could bring its value up.
for 55K I would expect a nice paint job, if it were a Yenko then maybe, but a plain SS, dude , it aint a hemi ,, cya
how huch is it