Nothing says “muscle car” like an L48 350 V8 with a 4-barrel carburetor. The Pick of the Day is a 1972 Chevrolet Nova SS that’s described as “flat-out stunning” and “laser straight” by the dealership in Hamilton, Ohio, advertising the coupe on ClassicCars.com.
Originally launched for the 1962 model year, the Nova (then called “Chevy II”) was designed to provide “maximum functionalism with thrift.” The Nova compact car was first designed with the Ford Falcon used as a benchmark, and it sold (albeit not continuously) for a total of 22 model years between 1962 and 1988.
While envisioned by its creators as a basic car, the Nova went on to be offered in a wide variety of configurations over the years, from econo-minded family transportation (even including a station wagon variant) to a tire-burning muscle car with a 396-cubic-inch big-block V8.
That muscle car was the Super Sport version of the Chevrolet Nova, originally just a trim option but later sold as a complete performance package. At the heart of every Super Sport was a V8 engine option, either in 350-cubic-inch or 396-cubic-inch configuration. The 350 produced 295 horsepower, which for its time was a lot of power for one of the smallest cars coming out of Detroit.
The selling dealership describes how this example is one of the nicest of its kind they’ve ever seen. There are 81,024 actual miles on it, and the condition is reportedly in line with the low odometer reading.
On the outside, the Midnight Emerald Mica paint is said to have a mirror finish and it is enhanced with rally wheels and clean bright work, the seller says, and on the inside, the bench seat, carpet and door panels are all in nice condition. Most importantly, the dealer adds, the car runs and drives excellent.
Even though Chevrolet Nova updates for the 1972 model year were few, that year struck a record in Nova sales with nearly 350,000 units sold. About 40 percent of those were powered by the smaller 6-cylinder engine. Fake Super Sport examples are common in the enthusiast community, but this one is said to be a true SS survivor, which makes it rare and gaining in collectibility. At $34,900, this could be a chance to get in on that movement.
The seller says this car is “ready to go cruising.” The hardest part might be finding the right AM radio station for jamming out to on the Nova’s original factory head unit.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
That seems like a lot of money for a Nova SS with a small block and automatic. With a big block and a four speed it might make sense, but not for this one. For me, anyway.
Looks to be in great condition, though.
Way too much for a Nova.
Its in great shape.
Negatives = bench seat no Cowl induction a weak 350 and becaust of the bench no floor shift.
Sorry 28k might go faster.
JimP I couldn’t agree more,but to add a little could maybe get a tad closer to that price if it at least had center console and buckets,but yet a beautiful car.
A SS with bench seats?
Oh yeah that was common You could order a car like that. My neighbor has a 68 Chevelle ss with a bench seat
I had a New 1970 Nova SS with a bench seat.
A big block 4 speed is easily gonna bring twice that amount!!
No 4 speed on a SS..
I have an original 1972 Nova SS bench, 4 speed, manual steering car fully documented “K” car that had 46k miles on it when I bought in 1988. So yes, bench seat SS and even more, bench seat 4 speed.
Just to set the Record Straight.
GM Production Numbers show the Years for the Big Block Factory Installed in the Chevrolet Nova was 1968 to 1970 (Independent GM Dealership were installing Big Blocks, but not GM/Chevrolet) All other were 4 Cylinder, Straight 6 Cylinder or Small Block Production.
I agree with Jim P
What a beauty she is!! I’m not sure I could part with this, for any amount of money. I hope she finds a home that will continue the love and care.
Cheers,
-KB
It look good I have 1970 nova and I fix it
I have a 1978 Nova what’s the best place to get a carburetor for it
Small block auto asking to much can get 4 speed big block cheeper and just as nice
A big block 4 speed is easily gonna bring twice that amount!!
All of the other people said it all,to much money….good luck
you guys are forgetting that the Hamilton price
The Nova is very nice and as far as the bench seat goes. I recently sold a 67 Chevelle SS with a factory 396 and a factory 4 speed that came from the factory with a bench seat. One restorer told me the car was extremely rare because of the bench seat. The young man who purchased the car was only interested in a car with a factory 4 speed with a bench seat. Besides a bench seat allows your girl to sit right next to you.
Your right. Most of the 4 speeds were a bench seat car!
At 36k I can get a 2017 chevy SS sports sedan with less than 20k and a 6.2 liter v8 and with and 10k more in chevy performance m mods at the chevy parts store I could have a monster for about the same price that in my opinion is a way better car but 45 years newer not that the nova isn’t special but not at that price.
Yes I have to agree with most of the other comments as far as price little high but the bench seat beautiful that’s what you’re looking for romantic bench seat in a muscle car you can’t ask for anything more than that. beautiful car priced too high 28.9 I’ll take it.
My best friend’s 1972 Nova SS was a floor-mounted 4-speed with a black vinyl bench seat; very basic, but a true SS right from the Chevy dealer. But as far as this very nice green Nova, I’m suspicious of it being a true 1972 SS. I owned a 1971 Nova SS, neither mine nor my friend’s 1972 has the “gills” on the front fenders; they were only on the 1968 – 1970 models. So this is not a 1972 or it is, but with replacement older fenders. Never saw a 1972 Nova SS with an automatic on the column… maybe possible, but a red flag. I’ve seen too many fake SS’s; beware.
You bring up one of the couple things I see wrong. The “gills” were only available on 1969 & ’70’s. But you are right. They are not supposed to be on this car. Plus, look at the front grille and headlight bezels. For a low mileage car, why aren’t the front grille and headlight bezels correct? multiple red flags for such a price!
Would love to have the girlfriend next to me, but could not afford the car after my wife of 52 years divorced me. Nice car, price is only important to the owner. As long as he loves it, who cares about money.
For such a tall price, I would expect this car to have the grille and headlight bezels correct for a 72 Nova SS and those aftermarket front fender gills (they are aftermarket because they were 69-70 only and came painted body color only) shouldn’t be on the car period. Just check the VIN found on the driver side top of the dash looking down through the wind shield. The 5th character in the VIN from left to right must be a “K” which denotes L48 4 barrel 350 V8. The Nova SS in 1972 was only available with the L48 so if you have the “K” it is a real deal SS. Otherwise, its just another clone. 1972 was the only year for the “K” in the VIN. Make sure you research these cars before you spend big bucks and find out it isn’t really what you were told.
Nice car, a little strong on the price without 4 speed. A Nova SS without a 4 speed is like a sundae without chocolate syrup.
I tried my best to find my dads car. It was supposed to be mine when he passed away when I was 11. But the judge made sisters sell it.I found it ragged out when I was 15 but my mom couldn’t it back cause of bs…. Now it’s lost forever.. last time a tag was on it was 1995 it was a 1972 dookie brown ss super sport nova… I love it so much