This week for Fan Car Friday  we bring you Joe and his iconic 1973 Chevrolet Nova.  Fan Car Friday is a segment where we want to share with the world the automobiles that our fans have. We have absolutely no affiliation/relationship with the cars, the build or the owners. This post was made with written consent from the owner.

“I’d like to send you pictures of my 1973 Nova with a total of 19,000 miles on it. I am the second owner. And I am still in touch with the original owner. With all matching numbers, I have spent the last two years restoring, cleaning and repainting everything since the car was not stored properly. The motor was refreshed with flat top pistons, RV cam, aluminum manifold and a new Edelbrock AVS2 and dual exhaust. Originally a 350 two barrel with single exhaust and putting out a whopping 145 HP, I estimate now about 300! It has the original 350 turbo tans and original rear end. I also added power disk brakes in the front. All side trim and lower body moldings were removed to give it a cleaner look. Also both front and rear bumpers have been “tucked” for appearance sake. Although the 73 Nova was not one of the most popular due to the start of the new Federal regulations, I believe I have produced what Chevy would have if they had their way in 73! You previously have featured two other cars of mine a 1964 Impala and a 1965 El Camino! Thank you for your consideration.“

Thank you again Joe for sending us another great ride.

The Chevrolet Chevy II/Nova is a small automobile manufactured by Chevrolet, and produced in five generations for the 1962 through 1979, and 1985 through 1988 model years. Nova was the top model in the Chevy II lineup through 1968. The Chevy II nameplate was dropped after 1968, with Nova becoming the nameplate for all of the 1969 through 1979 models. Built on the X-body platform, the Nova was replaced by the 1980 Chevrolet Citation introduced in the spring of 1979. The Nova nameplate returned in 1985, produced through 1988 as a S-car based, NUMMI manufactured, subcompact based on the front wheel drive, Japan home-based Toyota Sprinter.

The 1973 model year introduced a hatchback bodystyle based on the 2-door coupe. The front and rear of the Nova were restyled, following a government mandate for vehicles to be fitted with front and rear bumpers capable of absorbing a low-speed impact of 2.5 mph (4.0 km/h). To go along with the bigger bumpers, stylists gave the Nova a new grille with a loosely patterned crosshatch insert and parking lights located inboard of the headlights. In 1974, they could absorb 5 mph impacts. Fuel tank capacity increased to 21 gallons, which required a redesigned trunk pan where a circular section was stamped to house the space saver spare tire used on hatchback models.

An SS option remained available, but it was merely a $123 dress-up package that included a blackout grille and Rally wheels. It could be ordered with any of the Nova engines. 35,542 SS packages were installed, making 1973 the best-selling year for the option. A modified rear side window shape was also introduced, eliminating the vent windows on both two- and four-door models. A revised rear suspension was adapted from the second generation Camaro with multi-leaf springs replacing the mono-leaf springs used on Novas since the original 1962 model. By this time, six-cylinder and V8 engines were de rigueur for American compact cars, with the 307 cu in (5.03 L) and 350 cu in (5.7 L) V8s becoming fairly common. The 1973 Nova with a six-cylinder engine or 307 cu. in.(5.0 L) V8 were among the last Chevrolets to be offered with the two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission, which was in its final year. A dressy Custom series (which became a mid-level trim package in 1975) joined the Nova line and a Custom hatchback listed for $2,701 with a six-cylinder engine. That was $173 more than the six-cylinder base-model two-door hatchback. Air conditioning added $381. Every 1973 Chevrolet Nova got side guard door beams and additional sound insulation, as well as flow-through ventilation systems. A sunroof could be installed, and fold-down rear seats were available.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Chevy_II_/_Nova

Sorry if the photos come out sideways but couldn’t get them to set correctly no matter what. – M

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