The 1973 release was a phenomenal model year for the Nova, not only from a production perspective but also in terms of demand for certain versions.
The Nova debuted in 1962 as an economical alternative to Chevy’s bigger and larger cars, so you could had it with four- and six-cylinder engines. The demand for more power was obvious from the first days on the market. People were looking for ways to get a V8 in there, so aftermarket upgrades, some performed directly by dealers, became a common thing in the Nova world.
Chevrolet noticed the trend, so they joined the fun with a Super Sport and V8 units. The 1973 model year perfectly highlighted this desire for more powerful engines in the Nova.
Of over 369,000 Novas, only 106,437 rolled off the assembly lines with a six-cylinder engine under the hood. Over 263,000 units got a V8 mill, despite the Super Sport accounting for only 35,542 cars.
The 1973 Chevy Nova in these photos no longer has an engine, hiding bad news under the hood. The mill is missing, but the owner claims it’s a “complete car.” – I think it’s critical to investigate this claim, as a missing engine could be a sign that a vehicle served as a donor for another project; several other parts are missing in the photos, and given the “complete” promise, you must make sure they are in the trunk or sell with the car separately.
You can easily tell this Nova has been sitting for many years in that yard, and the photos confirm you’ll spend many hours dealing with the rust issues. You’ll need new floor pans and must patch the panels around the wheel wells. eBay seller jamesisenstei0 claims the trunk is very solid, and only minor touches will be required here.
The VIN (1X27D3W181375) confirms it’s a 1973 Nova two-door sedan with a 250 six-cylinder engine under the hood, so maybe the lack of a mill is good news for the next owner. It leaves the door open for a more potent engine—the top choice in 1973 was the K-coded 350 four-barrel V8, but a Nova is the perfect home for heftier upgrades.
Getting your hands on this Nova should be easy. The digital battle starts at $2,000, but the owner also configured a reserve, meaning this won’t be the selling price. The bidding will end in five days, so fingers crossed that someone willing to invest in the car pulls it from the yard where it has likely spent the last years. Meanwhile, it remains parked in Lamar, Colorado, and the buyer will need a trailer to take it home, considering the lack of an engine. It’s unclear if it rolls freely.