Barn find cars are pretty hot, but this barn fire 1973 Chevrolet Nova got a little too hot. Sadly, the classic American muscle car was quite mangled by the inferno, as one might imagine. The paint has been scorched, plastic trim pieces are melted into deformed shapes or completely missing, the tires look about the same, and just about everything on the vehicle looks awful. Yet YouTuber Junkyard Digs decided getting this Nova running again and driving it home was a good idea.
There has been a lot of work done on the cliché of the YouTuber who fixes automobiles in barn find condition on the spot and drives them home rather than loading them onto a trailer. Yes, such films are pretty interesting, especially when you watch to see if the old tires’ sidewalls can survive the strain of driving on the highway, but this is something else entirely.
The main worries aren’t whether this guy can start the engine and whether the running gear will function properly, at least not for us. The bigger worry is whether any of the electrical wiring has melted into copper puddles, fully stopping up essential functions like the headlights, horn, and so on.
The grill has melted, the front harness burnt, the body panels are warped and wavy, and the windshield is cracked. However, despite the fire, Phoenix points out that the interior is not in horrible shape.
Upon initial inspection under the hood, it was quickly determined that minimally battery terminals would be required, and of course a fresh battery, but on a positive note the coolant looked fresh and the engine had oil. The only other obvious need was a set of tires.
The tires are also a cause for concern. This is more than just someone driving on potentially dangerously dry-rotted tires. Although we’ve witnessed what happens to automobile tires when traveling through forest fires, this Chevy Nova has experienced much worse.
While not as big of a concern, there could be a number of other unforeseen difficulties. Maybe there’s something wrong with the interior or pieces of the car could fall off at speed. Granted, more modern cars with more plastic and composite components probably would be even more damaged by a fire, showing that they really don’t make them like they used to. Hilariously, all the Bondo used on this Chevy was consumed by the fire, so that’s helpful.
Anyway, the video is long but it’s entertaining. Trust us, this is better than the slop they broadcast on television these days, so check it out.