350 V8 4-Speed: 1974 Chevrolet Nova SS
Thanks to the OPEC oil embargo of 1973, the 1974 Chevy Nove enjoyed its best sales year ever. Six-cylinder versions were in huge demand while V8 sales dropped off a bit. But that didn’t stop Chevrolet from selling more than 14,500 Nova Super Sports with the L48 350 cubic inch V8, like the one pictured here. This beauty has a 4-speed manual transmission and was a one-owner car until recently. Located in Long Island, New York, this Bright Green Metallic beauty is available here on craigslist for $35,350. Kudos to Barn Finder Rocco B. for the trip down memory lane!
From its introduction in 1962, the Chevy II (later Nova) would be a best seller for Chevy in the compact field. And that would continue through 1979 when rear-wheel-drive vehicles began to fall out of favor. The Nova got a facelift in 1973 to accommodate bigger bumpers and the addition of a hatchback model, but they still looked like the Novas of 1968-1972, the car’s most popular era. It’s this period where SS clones are most popular, though the seller’s edition appears to be documented and the “real deal”.
In 1974, the Nova SS was an appearance option, which meant that the car could come with any Chevrolet powerplant. Yet about two-thirds all of SS models sold that year had the L48 like in the seller’s car. That same year, the Pontiac GTO had its last hurrah as a variant of the Ventura, which was a rebadged Nova. The SS for ’74 was a flashier car that relied on bold graphics, such as the striping and large SS lettering on the front fenders of this one, which wears a nice but older repaint. The seller bought the vehicle last year from the estate of the original owner.
We’re told this Chevy is numbers matching and would be the last year you could get one without a catalytic converter. There is no mention of a rebuild of any of the key hardware items at 108,000 miles, but the seller says it runs well and that you could drive it anywhere (“fly in, drive it home”). The body and paint look quite good and the interior with bucket seats seems to have held up nicely. Though it sports Cragar “mag” wheels, the seller has the original Rally rim (which I would like better) to also go with the car. If you’re in the market for a Nova SS, does this later version have a greater appeal than the hot SS 396 of just five years earlier?
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Comments
My first car was a 74 Nova with this engine and an automatic- not an SS. I’m from Long Island.
I’d hold out for the 396. Be sure to check this one carefully for rust around the taillights and the drivers side floor
You are going to be holding out a long time for a 1974 Nova SS 396. 1970 was the last year of the big block in Novas.
Shame, I like the older style but those later ones have grown on me.
This one looks cool to me, hope it’s not rusty where you mention.
The price is a little steep for a ’74 considering it was mostly a stripe and sticker package that you can order with any engine and trans combo. It wasn’t really a performance model. For $35k you might be able to find an earlier SS350.
Agreeing that the price is a bit steep this is a very nice car. My dad had a Ventura with the biggest engine available and it was great fun to drive. Full power and AC make this a complete, fun package.
Could you get the z28 245 hp motor if you “knew someone”?
& i wonder if any were even installed by mistake in a Nova.
The 5000? rpm redline on the tach is kinda low – i would think it’s really higher than that even for this 350 …
https://images.craigslist.org/00f0f_7zYscVxwrUe_0ak07K_1200x900.jpg
Odd the side window frames are blacked out, but the roof drip moldings & the front/rear glass moldings & bumpers are still all chromed.
There’s always the COPO option. Who you had to know to place a COPO order varied, some dealers specialized in it. Don Yenko in Cannonsburg, PA is the one that is most remembered. Tasca Ford in Cranston, RI were the Ford specialists for working the Ford order system to advantage. The COPO program was intended mostly for special programs, like police packages for public safety personnel and the like, but as always, someone usually figures out how to “game the system” to their advantage.
I’ve got a 74 SS into which I’m shoehorning a 396 w/Factory Air. Although the side window trim is blacked out, the rear side window trim…although blacked out with the SS package…turns out to be shiny stainless underneath!
A car you didn’t see every day even back in the day. This must be the bright green listed in the brochure. The graphics look right I just don’t recall the gold color. Again, this is not a common car like the SSes or Rallyes of a few years earlier. I like it for the uniqueness and apparent good condition. You surely will have the only one.
The Good: Green all over and the bucket seats were checked off on the option list, no vinyl roof, and the car has a 4-speed and A/C. The Bad: 1974 Federal bumpers and smog controls, although this was the last year for leaded gas (any car made after 1970 could run safely on unleaded gas by Federal Law). The Ugly: Drivability was terrible, due to the aforementioned smog gear, but aftermarket fixes, in the form of various modes of fuel injection are available. Uncorking the exhaust with headers and dual exhausts would also help.
Hi. I bought a brand new 1973 Nova Custom Hatchback in April 1973. A beautiful light green with a dark green vinyl roof and off white bucket sets. A/C, power steering, brakes,350 2bbl V8 with automatic. I have had lots of cars in my day. That was one of the best. It ran good, no smog bogdown. I drove it 146,000 miles with no trouble at all! Had a 7 years.1973 was generally considered the worst year for smog controls.Drove it to New England, down south, Montana and all over California. My first new car I bought while working very hard at the car wash during high school. Great car in every way. Dave Richards
You were lucky, most of the cars with 70’s smog gear ran like flaming dog doo! I ought to know, my mom’s ’72 Maverick came factory equipped with the oh so popular “run for ten minutes with the key shut off” feature, LOL!
I’m not so sure on the price, but man this is an awesome car. I love the color combo, and as Nelson mentioned, wasn’t seen that often even back in the day. I’ve always had a soft spot for the 73/74 Novas, and it’s good to see one that was ordered the right way, and kept in such great condition. I’m always happy when I see these and some knuckle dragger hasn’t swapped the front end for a 68-72.
There are good reasons for swapping for a 68-72 front end on a 74. Saves about 100 lbs, so if you’re putting a 396 in it, it keeps the front ride height correct. Plus it looks cleaner. Adding chrome wrapped fiberglass rear bumper saves almost 150 lbs and looks stock.
The 73-74 novas were actually lighter than the 68-72 because the bumpers were aluminum and when they changed the doors without the wing windows and the rear of the car due to a different gas tank style they shed about 150 lbs although some of the later 74 s had a steel bar behind the bumper
Sorry Robert, but you’re wrong. I’ve got a set of 74 bumpers sitting here in my garage. Weighted ’em, rear (steel) with bar and shock absorbers weighs 161 lbs. Fiberglass rear bumper (which I also have sitting here) weighs 11 lbs. Rear 74 bumper shell (which I ALSO have sitting here, and will probably use on my car) with fabricated brackets for mounting weighs 58lbs.
Haven’t weighted front 72 bumper since it’s still in the box, but the front 74 bumper with shocks and brackets weighs 108 lbs, Can’t believe 72 even comes close.
I bought a new leftover 73 Buick Apollo – also a rebadged Nova, It had the 350 v8 but detuned so much the mpg was horrible.
Yes, the smog gear really bit the big one back in the day! They say that they don’t make’em like that anymore, and sometimes, you’re down on your knees, thanking God that they don’t anymore! When it comes to smog control, nothing beats modern electronic engine controls! Thank God for microprocessors and other modern microelectronics!
Home Ed teacher had one just like this one in 1974, my senior year. I know bc I hit her bumper leaving the prom.
a long time ago a guy I knew from Bellwood Illinois bought a new black 1969 Nickey prepped big block Chevrolet Nova, he cranked it up on Saint Charles road, it went sideways hit a tree and it broke in half.
Was there any damage to the car???