The 1965 model year wasn’t the best release for the Nova series, as sales continued to go down after the notable decline in 1964.
Chevrolet sold over 326K Novas in the first year on the market, followed by a substantial increase to 372K units a year later, mainly thanks to the introduction of the Super Sport. The 1964 model year dropped sharply to 191K units and 1965 continued to decline with only approximately 122K units leaving the factory.
The wagon was also impacted by the nosedive, with only 21,500 customers ordering this least popular body style.
A 1965 Chevrolet Nova wagon landed on eBay this week, and despite the body style not being everybody’s cup of tea, it still looks to be a great candidate for a complete restoration or a custom build.
eBay seller ninetoesjoe says they found this Nova in a barn where it was parked by the second owner in 1983. The wagon has been sitting ever since, but despite the long sleep, it’s not a wrecked car. It doesn’t exhibit the typical rust suspects, though you’ll find such damage on the driver’s side, and the owner says the Nova is 90% clean.
The photo gallery accurately highlights its condition, confirming that the glass is in good shape, except for the crack on the windshield.
The engine under the hood doesn’t bring good news. First, it’s a six-cylinder unit, but this is no longer surprising, considering it’s a Nova. However, given that many people installed their own V8s after getting a Nova, seeing a 1965 wagon with the original 230ci unit in place leaves the door open to a restoration to factory specifications. I doubt many people will retain the six, especially if their plan is a custom build.
The owner says the engine no longer starts, but it turns over and shows no signs of being seized. A good mechanic should inspect it and decide if it deserves a rebuild, but again, a six-cylinder unit makes sense in a Nova wagon only if your objective is bringing the car back to factory specifications. The engine is paired with an automatic transmission, but its condition is unknown.
A Nova station wagon isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, but an example in this shape is rare, as most early releases typically come with heavy undercarriage rust. This is its main selling point, and the owner hopes it’ll eventually help someone pay $7,000 for their car. This is fairly optimistic, but they also enabled the Make Offer button, so someone interested in the car can start the talks by submitting their offer online. The wagon is parked in Fresco and will require transportation, given the non-running engine.