The Complete Chevrolet Nova Evolution: 1962–1979
The Nova is the car Chevrolet built in a hurry when the rear-engine Corvair did not sell the way they hoped, and it ended up being one of the most useful platforms the company ever made. It started life as the Chevy II, a plain compact aimed at the Falcon, and it had no business becoming a muscle car. Then somebody dropped a big block in it. I have built more than one of these, and the appeal is simple: it is light, the engine bay swallows damn near anything, and a clean SS is one of the best-driving muscle cars Chevrolet made. Here is how the Nova went from economy compact to street sleeper and back to a sensible commuter.
Chevrolet Nova — Generation by Generation
1962–1965
First Generation (Chevy II)
"The conventional compact"
Chevrolet rushed the Chevy II to market for 1962 as a no-nonsense, front-engine compact to plug the hole the Corvair left against the Ford Falcon. It came as a sedan, wagon, convertible, and hardtop, and the Nova 400 was the top trim. Most left the factory with a four or a six, but a 283 V8 became available, which hinted at the platform's potential. These early cars are simple and clean, and the convertibles in particular have a quiet following.
Key Changes
- → Conventional front-engine compact platform
- → Nova 400 as the top trim level
- → Sedan, wagon, convertible, and hardtop bodies
- → Four and six standard, 283 V8 added
- → Aimed at the Ford Falcon
Specs
| Engines | 153 four, 194/230 I6, 283 V8 |
| Bodies | Sedan, wagon, convertible, hardtop |
| Top trim | Nova 400 |
| Character | Simple economy compact |
Chevrolet Nova for Sale — 1962–1965
Dealer
United States
1964 Chevrolet Nova
$174,995
Dealer
United States
1963 Chevrolet Nova
$136,995
Dealer
United States
1965 Chevrolet Nova
$133,995
1966–1967
Second Generation
"Crisper styling, first real V8 muscle"
The 1966 restyle gave the car cleaner, more squared-off lines and, more importantly, the chassis to handle real power. The L79 327 making 350 horsepower turned the SS into a genuinely quick car for its size, and this short two-year run is where the Nova first earned its sleeper reputation. These are tidy, light cars and the V8 SS versions are increasingly collectible.
Key Changes
- → Crisper, more squared-off 1966 restyle
- → L79 327 rated at 350 hp
- → SS as a performance package
- → Improved chassis for V8 power
- → Short two-year generation
Specs
| Engines | 194/230 I6, 283/327 V8 |
| Top engine | 350 hp L79 327 |
| Key model | Nova SS |
| Reputation | First true sleeper |
Chevrolet Nova for Sale — 1966–1967
Dealer
United States
1966 Chevrolet Nova
$138,995
Dealer
United States
1967 Chevrolet Nova
$38,495
Dealer
United States
1967 Chevrolet Nova
$55,495
1968–1974
Third Generation
"The big-block and COPO years"
The 1968 redesign is the muscle Nova. A longer, semi-fastback body on a 111-inch wheelbase gave room for the big block, and the SS396 with the 375-horsepower L78 made the Nova one of the quickest cars in Chevrolet's lineup. In 1968 dealers like Yenko and the COPO program slipped the 427 into a handful of cars built purely to go drag racing, and those are the holy grail. The Chevy II name was dropped after 1968. Power faded after 1970 with the rest of the industry, but the 1968 to 1972 cars remain the most wanted Novas by a mile.
Key Changes
- → New 1968 semi-fastback body, 111-inch wheelbase
- → SS396 with 375 hp L78
- → 1968 COPO and Yenko 427 cars
- → Chevy II name dropped after 1968
- → Power declines after 1970
Specs
| Engines | 250 I6, 307/350 V8, 396 V8, 427 (COPO) |
| Top engine | 375 hp L78 396 |
| Holy grail | 1968 Yenko/COPO 427 |
| Watch for | SS clones; verify the trim tag |
Chevrolet Nova for Sale — 1968–1974
Dealer
United States
1969 Chevrolet Nova
$59,995
Dealer
United States
1970 Chevrolet Nova
$99,997
Dealer
United States
1971 Chevrolet Nova
$32,995
1975–1979
Fourth Generation
"The refined compact"
The 1975 redesign brought a more refined, quieter compact with better glass area and improved brakes, including standard front discs. The muscle was gone, replaced by mild V8s and the emissions hardware of the era, but the platform stayed sound and the cars sold in big numbers. The LN and the Rally trim added some appeal. These are inexpensive, durable classics, and a clean one is a good base for a build given how much the early aftermarket overlaps.
Key Changes
- → Refined 1975 redesign with more glass
- → Standard front disc brakes
- → Mild emissions-era V8s
- → LN and Rally appearance trims
- → Sold in large volumes
Specs
| Engines | 250 I6, 305/350 V8 |
| Brakes | Standard front discs |
| Character | Durable, refined compact |
| Value | Affordable build base |
Chevrolet Nova for Sale — 1975–1979
Dealer
United States
1977 Chevrolet Nova
$7,895
Dealer
United States
1978 Chevrolet Nova
$23,495
Dealer
United States
1977 Chevrolet Nova
$24,995
Legacy & Impact
The cars to chase are the 1968 to 1972 SS models, especially the L78 396 cars, and the rare 1968 COPO and Yenko 427 Novas that are about as fast and as valuable as Chevrolet compacts get. Just understand the Nova is a cloning magnet, so a real SS needs the trim tag and documentation to back it up. The early Chevy II cars are honest and getting more love now, and even the plain six-cylinder cars make great starting points for a build because the platform takes everything. Whatever you buy, look hard at the rear frame rails and the trunk floor. A Nova rusts where the weight sits, and a soft rear end is the one thing that turns a cheap car expensive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Nova began as the top trim level of the Chevy II line in 1962. Chevrolet gradually made Nova the dominant name, dropped the Chevy II badge after 1968, and sold the car simply as the Nova from 1969 onward.
The 1968 to 1970 Nova SS with the 375-horsepower L78 396 was the top factory model, but the rarest and fastest were the 1968 COPO and Yenko Novas fitted with the 427 big block, built in tiny numbers for drag racing.
The classic Nova spans four generations: 1962 to 1965, 1966 to 1967, 1968 to 1974, and 1975 to 1979. A later 1985 to 1988 Nova was a rebadged Toyota Corolla and is unrelated to the classic cars.
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