Pick of the Day: 1970 Chevrolet Nova SS

“Front shutters The fenders, bulging hood and throbbing exhaust let people know this isn’t a knockoff,” Chevrolet says in an ad about the Nova SS. The Nova was launched in 1962 as a compact economy car, But it later evolved into a muscle car that became a hit with buyers.

The Pick of the Day is a 1970 Chevrolet Nova SS for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Mount Airy, Maryland. (Click the link to view the list)

“This car is an original with 43,000 miles and its drivetrain is documented, including carburetor, transmission, rear 12-bolt anti-roll bar differential,” the seller says. “Options include power disc brakes, power steering, factory buckets and console.”

Originally launched in the early 1960s as the “Chevrolet II”, the Nova was a compact car built on General Motors’ X-body platform. As the muscle car era began to heat up in the mid-to-late 1960s, the Nova became one of the cars known for its available high-performance offerings, such as big-block engines and upgraded suspensions.

The third generation Nova was introduced in 1968 and had a wheelbase of 111 inches (making the car only slightly shorter than Chevrolet’s midsize Chevelle at the time). The following year, the “Chevy II” nameplate was abandoned, and the car was thereafter simply known as the Nova. Exterior lighting, badging and grille all receive cosmetic changes to make each year unique.

What’s before us today is a striking model that started life as a solid, low-mileage car and has since been updated from the inside out. The seller says, “A lot of time was spent on wet sanding and polishing, resulting in a beautiful paint finish that is very straight, no orange peel, and has lots of body gaps.” The engine bay details are similar, and the interior has a clean look with black accents. Vinyl bucket seats, woodgrain door trim, center console, and T-handle shifter.

The heart under the hood is a 350ci small-block V8 engine paired with an automatic transmission. The listing says the engine, transmission and rear end never left the car. The seller adds: “This car drives great. Very tight, no rattles, and no leaky windows. I wouldn’t hesitate to drive it across the country.”

Asking price is $42,500 or best offer and includes build sheet, registration renewal, Protect-O-Plate and restoration documents. A throbbing exhaust note included at no extra cost!

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