(Update: I goofed; the SS package was still available in ’75 & ’76)
Roshake77 found this ’74 Nova Supersportivo in Italy; and you wonder were they’ve all gone to. Well, it looks to be in good hands, and it’s pleasantly original too, right down to all of that striping and graphics.
1974 marked the last year of this generation of the Nova SS package/trim line.
It looks straight out of the brochure.
It’s easy to forget that the Nova SS package was still soldiering along in 1974; it would make its last outing in 1976.
Stripes were increasingly out in the mid ’70s, and Euro-style was in.
It started started in 1963, when it was mostly show and not go, as only six cylinder engines were on tap.
Starting in 1964, the tell-tale V8 badge appeared in the fenders II. The 283 was available in both two-barrel (195 hp) and four-barrel (220 hp) versions, making it the undisputed hot rod of the compact class in 1964.
Its peak years were either 1966, when the high-winding 350 hp 327 was the giant killer of the day.
Or 1968-1969, when the big-block 396 with up to 375 hp was on tap. Things drifted downhill from there, performance-wise.
Actually, things took a slight turn up in 1974, when the optional four barrel 350 (5.7L) V8 added ten hp, and was now rated at 185 hp. And a four speed was still available too, although the THM-350 automatic was a more pragmatic choice.
The revised front end that appeared along with the 5-mile bumpers in 1973 was, like so many in that era, a bit of a let down, especially since the fender wasn’t changed, so that its original line was still visible behind the fill panel. The rear side windows were increased in size, to go along with the low-budget refresh that would last just two years.
The Nova and the even more popular Duster were the hot compacts in 1974, which were enjoying a renaissance of sorts after falling out of fashion during the Mustang’s heyday. In fact, 1974 was the best year ever for Chevy II/Nova sales, with 392k units. Somewhat curiously, the majorly restyled 1975 Nova’s sales dropped significantly, but it came back in ’76 and’77.
I had remembered the A body GTO from 1974 but had forgotten about the Nova SS. I wrinkled my nose at these cars’ performance pretensions back then, but in retrospect a 350/4 speed in a car like this would have been pretty quick for the day.
I had forgotten all about that front fender fill panel on these – I was always amazed that Chevrolet would go for such a low-budget quick fix.
I am not surprised that sales dropped in 1975 – the Granada sucked all of the oxygen out of that market segment that year, which was a bad sales year in a bad economy to start with.
Just for the record, the 74 GTO was an X body based off the Ventura which was the Pontiac version of the Nova. I own one so am very familiar with this one year offering.
Oops, a pre-coffee morning mistake. X body, definitely.
I’m with you on the front fender fill panel. A different look, sure, but not that attractive.
The cheap “refresh” on the ’73-’74 Nova did not do the Harry Bradley design any favors. Yet the ’75-’79 facelift was a quite successful visual change using most of the same body panels! The significant visual change to the DLO contributed to the modernized looks.
Under the skin the Nova remained pretty much the same budget car as before however. Having owned 2 ’69s, a ’72 and finally a ’79-all 6s-I can attest to their modest capabilities. OTOH, except for the California ’72, these Novas were reasonable transportation for the time in the U.S. market.
A friend had a new ’69 SS 396 when I had my first ’69. Went well in a straight line, but throw in curves and my radial shod 6 was a better car!!
Frankly none felt like a major improvement over my ’56 Chevy 150! 🙂 DFO
I always wondered if Buick stole the intended 1973-4 front for the Apollo leaving Chevy to cobble up this face at the last minute.
OTOH I really liked the DLO on the ’73-4 coupe and hatchback, to the point that it’s the only Nova, and one of only a few cars at all, where I can see the logic of the premium the vintage-car market places on two doors.
In contrast, the ’75-79 clearly gives me the impression that emphasis was placed on making the 4-door sedan a handsome car and cutting cost from the coupes (fixed quarter glass).
There were Nova SS models in ’75 and ’76. When in doubt, the brochures online at a couple locations come handy.
We had a new ’73 Nova coupe. Poorly assembled but nice-looking and surprisingly inexpensive to buy. Only one inch shorter wheelbase than a Chevelle coupe.
At the time, I thought the ’74 SS graphics were the worst ever…and I still do.
I was a big fan of the ’75 restyle. Loved the LN but almost never saw them. But even the Nova Custom had a pretty nice interior.
Whoops; you’re right. I actually looked at one, and missed it.
Nice to hear someone comparing the tri 5s ( 55-57 ) to the nova group as I was weened on them lol !, best handling of all 50’s cars ( except sports cars ) but will add that the 68-up novas use the same mechanical platform as Camaro ( the H clip as is called ). born under the 67 Camaro so all the performance suspension parts can be used ! I learned the 76-79 Seville used the same platform as the 70-81 Camaro too & the 75-79 nova group as well ! so don’t dismiss the economy group as a non performer With the right up-grades you have a great driver in sleeper form in a 4 dr. !
The 1975-79 Chevy Nova besides sharing an identical platforms with the 1970 1/2-81 Camaro and 1975 1/2-79 Cadillac Seville also used the same floor pan components including the pair of rear leaf springs behind the front suspensions and subframes from the 1968-74 Novas so its a combination of the proven 1968-74 platform/chassis sharing and upgrades in the front suspensions and subframes from 1975-79. This was when the RWD X-Bodied Nova got the fusion of both worlds. That is why I created this photo montage compilation several years ago to share their close kinship with one another.
I’m surprised to hear the Nova sold well in ’74. I about lived at a Chevy dealer as a teen then, and the car seemed long-in-the-tooth to me. Add to that, the smallest V8 offered in one was a 350.
This I do remember–our ’73 Nova, bought first week of Oct. ’72, had a 3-speed floor shift mated to the 250 six. A rare car for the dealer to have in inventory then. When the gas crunch hit soon after, our hometown dealer started stocking a good bit more Nova sixes with 3-speed. The floor shift was a $26 option that added a slightly sporty vibe.
I vaguely remember one of the car mags (Car Life, Car & Driver?) pulling a 327 fuely out of a new Vette and plopping it into a new Chevy II just to see what happens. This was before a V8 was offered in it. Don’t remember the numbers but it was FAST!
A Mr. Rogers look-alike driving that Nova in the 1964 ad.
My first car, purchased for $1,900 dollars in 1977, was a ’74 Nova 2-door. Mine was a base model, with no carpeting, no power steering, manual drum brakes, and a flat bench seat interior. It DID have the optional 145 horse 350, paired to a three speed floor shifter. I remember it fondly as my first car – I also remember the roughly 12 miles to the gallon it got, the clutches it ate due to a warped flywheel, the slow heavy steering
and other malfunctions, even though it only had 25,000 miles. I would love to visit the car again, if it is still around – though I don’t think it would be a happy reunion driving it.
I remember seeing these when I was a kid, always thinking the “Nova SS” decals on the side were comically big.
These ’73 and ’74 Novas were one of the few cars that actually integrated the 5mph bumpers fairly well, IMO. Although now that Paul mentioned the fill panel area, I can’t unsee that. But that dip in the bumper below the headlights always looked good to a 13 year old me. Certainly much better than the Impala/Caprice of ’73, or even my own beloved first car, the ’73 LTD.
My parents would eventually buy a 2-door 1977 Concours, in triple red, which by then, the bumpers looked pretty good (either that, or we were just finally getting used to them).
I didn’t live it but it seems like based on the cars and trends(like the van craze) stripes and graphics actually got more prolific and hokey in the latter half of the 70s and into the early 80s. The only segments not really afflicted by them were luxury brands, but it’s not like you’d see stripes on Devilles or Mark IIIs earlier. A good few euro cars of the sporting variety had stripes too, Porsche in particular comes to mind with many examples of 911s, 914s and even 924s sporting rocker striping, boldly proclaiming ===Porsche=== or ~~Carrara~~. The clean Euro look as we know it is something I associate with the 80s, where the cars that were previously festooned with them (like the Trans Am) toned them way down with each passing year, eventually dropping them entirely.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a 73-74 Nova SS before, I think knew they existed but they don’t have much of a following in their original form. Heck I’m quite certain I’ve seen a 73-74 Nova “SS” or two at local car shows but they’re dressed up with 68-72era badging, not these graphics. These late muscle car appearance packages look uniquely forlorn, where the companies couldn’t even be bothered with scoops, die cast emblems etc so the best they could do to sport them up were cheap decals, and gaudy decals at that because they had do be attention getting on a mundane car, this SS is in that same company with the 75 Roadrunner.
Ok! Burning question. On the red 64 ( “plain Jane it ain’t “ I am pretty certain I’ve seen those hubcaps on Mopar cars too. Anybody know anything about this?
The “64” model year is a big fav of mine!! “69” is next; the red “74′ is awesome!
Never much liked the ’73-’74 Nova. The Pontiac Ventura was a much better ride, particularly the unloved ’74 GTO.
But there is one Nova of those years that is pretty cool, and that’s the one Jules and Vincent rode around in in Pulp Fiction. Not quite as famous as the Bluesmobile, but still a memorable movie car, nonetheless.
Likewise, the Ventura that Roy Scheider drove in The Seven-Ups is okay, too. Unfortunately, the recycled Bullitt soundtrack completely ruins the chase scene.
I’m torn between the recycled Bullitt soundtrack or the recycled Bullitt getaway driver ruining that chase scene. Both are pretty equally egregious. Actually pretty good car casting now that I think about it, everybody slightly familiar with cars would know the Ventura is a obviously repackaged Nova, so it’s fitting for the obviously repackaged chase scene 🙂
I think the best movie 73-74 Nova was the chopped custom in Carlitos Way, I remember being so confused as to what it was when I first saw it but that was a solid custom
Nova sold well in 1974 due to gas crisis, many big cars traded in for them. The I6 was priced well. Certainly better then a Vega.
1975 was “sticker shock” with MSRP’s up $500, get your inflation calculators out. Also, there was resistance to unleaded gas requirement for new catalysts. Seems like pent up demand after summer 1975 led to increased sales, also rebates and stripped models, like Nova S.
Nova LN didn’t sell as well as Granada, so for ’76 was called Concours, but then back to Nova Custom for ’78.