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1966 Chevrolet Nova

$74,997

1966 Chevrolet Nova

Vehicle Details

Make

Chevrolet

Model

Nova

Year

1966

Mileage

24,948 miles

VIN

118376N154428

Body Type

Coupe

Transmission

Manual

Engine

327ci V8

Description

1966 Chevrolet Nova SS — 327 V8, 4-Speed, Restored Undercarriage Why This Car Is Special The 1966 Chevrolet Nova Super Sport sits at an interesting crossroads in American automotive history. By 1966, the Chevy II Nova was entering its final year of the second-generation body style — a clean, tight platform that engineers and hot rodders alike recognized as an ideal foundation for a V8. Chevrolet agreed.

That year, the Super Sport package was made available on the Nova hardtop coupe, and buyers who optioned in the 327 cubic inch V8 got a car that weighed significantly less than a full-size muscle car but carried the same small-block lineage that powered Corvettes and Chevelles. The VIN on this car decodes as a 1966 Chevy II Nova hardtop coupe built at the Norwood, Ohio assembly plant — one of the primary production facilities for this body style during the mid-1960s. The model year designation and body style codes within the VIN confirm the two-door hardtop configuration, which is the most desirable body style among Nova collectors today because of its cleaner roofline and the fact that it was the only body style available with the full Super Sport equipment group in 1966.

What makes the 1966 Nova SS with a 327 particularly collectible is context. The 327 small-block was already a well-regarded engine in 1966, appearing in various states of tune across Chevrolet's lineup. In the Nova, which tipped the scales well under 3,000 pounds in stock form, the combination produced a genuinely quick car by any standard of the era.

The Nova SS was not just a trim package — it brought specific interior and exterior appointments that separated it from a base Chevy II, and when paired with a four-speed manual and the 327, it represented the performance-oriented configuration that serious buyers ordered. This example has been built and presented as a driver-quality Super Sport with a number of well-chosen upgrades alongside preserved factory-correct details. It is the kind of car that gets used, gets admired, and holds its value because the foundation — body, interior structure, and drivetrain combination — is exactly right.

Features - 327ci V8 Engine - 4-Speed Manual Transmission - Super Sport Package - 327 V8 Badge On Body - Flowmaster Dual Exhaust - REV Classic Polished Wheels - Wood-Grain SS Steering Wheel - Center Console with SS Emblem - Updated Digital Gauge Cluster - Vinyl Top - AM Radio - Chrome Bumpers - Restored Undercarriage - Bucket Seats Mechanical The 327 cubic inch V8 under the hood is the correct engine family for this application and it presents well. The engine bay has been detailed with polished aluminum valve covers, a Weiand intake manifold, and a performance-style open-element air cleaner with a Chevrolet bowtie center cap — all period-correct in appearance while adding some visual distinction over a stock setup. The block is painted in Chevrolet engine red, which is correct for the era, and the overall bay presentation is clean and organized without looking like it was built for a show trailer.

The 4-speed manual transmission is the right gearbox for this car. In 1966, Chevrolet offered both the Muncie 3-speed and 4-speed manual options for Nova SS buyers who wanted a more involved driving experience. A 4-speed paired with the 327 was the combination most serious buyers specified, and it remains the most sought-after configuration today.

Underneath, the car has been fitted with a Flowmaster dual exhaust system — the Flowmaster mufflers are visible in the undercarriage photos, routed cleanly with dual outlets exiting at the rear. The exhaust note on a 327 through a Flowmaster dual setup is a well-known quantity: authoritative without being obnoxious at cruise. The undercarriage has been restored and is genuinely presentable.

The floor pans, frame rails, and suspension components have been coated in black, and the work is thorough enough to photograph well from multiple angles on a lift. The

Classic Chevrolet Nova Buyer's Guide

Full guide
M
Mike Sullivan
Muscle Cars
1962–1979
~3 min read
Updated Apr 2026
Expert buyer's guide to the classic Chevrolet Nova 1962–1979. SS396 verification, COPO documentation, cowl tag decoding, floor pan inspection, and current market pricing tiers.
This guide covers
10-point inspection checklist
Common issues & what to avoid
In-person inspection guide
Market pricing by year & condition
6 FAQs answered
History & fun facts

Chevrolet Nova Market Overview

Based on 97 Chevrolet Nova listings currently on ClassicCarsArena.com

97
Listed Now
$45,733
Avg. Asking Price
1962–1978
Year Range
Price Position on Our Site — Above Average
This car: $74,997
Low: $7,500 High: $174,995
Transmission Distribution
Automatic 67%
Manual 28% ◄
Condition Distribution
Excellent 10%
Good 6%
Fair 1%
Data from ClassicCarsArena.com listings Browse all 97 listings →
💰

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Classic Chevrolet Nova Buyer's Guide

The Chevrolet Nova ran from 1962 through 1979 and spent most of that run being underestimated. General Motors built it on a compact platform originally designed for the economy-minded Chevy II, then spent the late 1960s cramming engines as big as the 396 cubic-inch big-block into every corner they could find. The result is one of the most rewarding sleepers in the classic car market — if you know how to verify what you're actually buying. A documented SS396 is worth real money. A car wearing repro SS badges without a cowl tag to back them up is worth considerably less.

What to Check Before Buying

VIN Engine Decode — On 1968 to 1971 cars the VIN does not encode the engine; decode the block casting number and stamped suffix code. Any mismatch means the SS package is not factory.
Cowl Tag Check — Locate and photograph the firewall cowl tag. Verify body code, trim code, and option codes match the advertised configuration.
Block Casting Number — Read the engine block casting number on the rear driver's side. Cross-reference against published casting number guides for the claimed engine.
Floor Pan Probe — From underneath, probe floor pans with a screwdriver at seat mount areas and around the transmission tunnel. Soft metal means rot.
Rocker Panel Magnet Test — Run a magnet along the full length of each rocker. Filler is non-magnetic. Check for rippling or waviness indicating patch panels.
Cowl Seam Inspection — With the hood open, inspect the cowl seam at the windshield base. Bubbling paint or soft metal indicates serious rust.
Rear Quarter Rust — Check lower rear quarters and the area behind the rear wheel opening. These rust from the inside out — look for bubbling paint.
Trunk Floor Check — Pull up the trunk mat and inspect the floor and spare tire well for rust-through. Check seams where the floor meets the quarters.
Subframe Mount Condition — Inspect front subframe mounting points on the unibody for corrosion. Cracked or rotted mounts require serious structural repair.
Cooling System Check — On 396 cars, check for overheating history: rusty coolant, white residue on valve covers, or milky oil on the dipstick.

Common Issues

Floor pan rust is the Nova's most universal problem — water trapped under carpet rots the pans from above while road spray attacks from below. Budget $1,500–$4,000 for full floor replacement on a rough car. Cowl rust at the windshield base is serious structural rot affecting the firewall — repair costs run $2,500–$5,000. Rocker panel rust is cosmetic on the surface but structural underneath; full rocker replacement runs $800–$2,000 per side. Lower rear quarter rust is common and repairable but can extend into the trunk floor. On 396 cars, check for overheating damage — cracked heads and warped intake manifolds result from cooling system neglect. SS badge fraud is widespread: verify every claim with cowl tag data.

What to Look For

Start with the cowl tag — riveted to the firewall, lists original body, trim, and option codes. On 1968 to 1971 Novas the engine is not encoded in the VIN; verify the engine by its block casting number and stamped suffix code. On 396/SS cars, confirm block casting numbers and casting dates. Inspect floor pans from underneath with a screwdriver — they rot from trapped moisture under carpeting. Check rocker panels and lower rear quarters for filler with a magnet. Inspect the cowl seam at the base of the windshield for rust perforation. Look at the rear frame rails where they meet the floor. On manual transmission cars, check the bellhousing area for cracked metal. Verify front subframe mounting points for corrosion. Check trunk floor and spare tire well.

Price Guide

Third-gen 1975–1979 drivers: $8,000–$18,000. Chevy II 1962–1967 with V8: $18,000–$32,000. Second-gen 1968–1974 non-SS 350: $22,000–$38,000. SS350 driver: $28,000–$42,000. Documented SS396 L34: $55,000–$75,000. Numbers-matching SS396 L78: $70,000–$90,000. COPO 9562 documented: $90,000–$130,000+. Deduct 30–40% for a non-original engine. Regional premiums apply in the Southwest where rust-free originals surface more frequently.

Did You Know?

The Nova nameplate generated an urban legend in Spanish-speaking markets — "no va" loosely means "it doesn't go" — though GM sold Novas successfully throughout Latin America. The 1975 Nova hatchback shared its platform with the Pontiac Ventura and Oldsmobile Omega. Yenko Chevrolet of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania was responsible for most documented COPO Nova orders — Don Yenko personally lobbied GM engineers to enable the 427 installation in the compact platform.

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