Vehicle Description
Custom Blue Metallic paint, a strong 350 V8 heart, and a
comfortable custom interior... Oh, and it's an ultra-rare hatchback
body style to boot. For those who want to be unique and stay on an
affordable budget, this 1974 Chevrolet Nova Hatchback seems to
check all the right boxes.
These late third-generation Novas are often forgotten in the
traditional classic car world because insurance regulations had
taken the power away from these cool little coupes. It's a shame
because this was also one of the most interesting designs in the
Nova's history. That's what makes this car so exciting, we just
simply don't see a lot of them. The custom Blue Metallic paint on
the car now is obviously way more attention-grabbing than what came
out of the factory, but we appreciate the somewhat wild hue on this
Nova's swooping body lines. The blue hade has lots of metallic in
the finish that sparkles out in the sun, and some hand-made ghost
flames were laid over the top for trick look that really sets this
car above the rest. Fit and finish is good driver-quality, meaning
that it shows well but upon closer examination some flaws are
evident. But this baby wasn't built for the trophy circuit, but
rather for the open roads and thoroughfares. The ghost flames
continue down the fenders and flanks of the body to break up the
blue just enough, and the remaining brightwork and bumpers are in
decent condition but can be made to shine with a little elbow
grease. A slight cowl hood gives the car a more aggressive look,
while the big glass in the back hatch is clear and provides a cool
fish-bowl feel for all passengers.
The serviceable feel continues on the inside with modern cloth
bucket seats up front that look like they were swapped-in from a
later-model Camaro. Not only are they far more comfortable than
anything that came out of the 70s, but you also have seatbelt and
cool Bowtie embroidery in the headrests. The front seats match
nicely with the rest of the interior, including the stock door
panels and plush carpets, for a well-presented, no-frills custom
interior. There's a Pioneer AM/FM/CD/AUX head unit in the dash, and
it manages the custom stereo system in the back-hatch area that
features Kicker speakers and subwoofers. Other upgrades include a
full complement of Dakota Digital gauges nestled neatly into the
factory dash bezel, a three spoke 'SS' steering wheel, and an
aftermarket Hurst ratchet-style shifter that manages the automatic
transmission below. Like any good Nova, this is a true driver's car
with a comfortable thick rim around the steering wheel, and the
padded dash is in great shape too. Out back, there's decent storage
room, as the custom stereo system and fuel cell were neatly
installed for added space.
As we mentioned before, federal fuel/emissions regulations robbed
power from this generation of American cars. That's why this Nova
was given a 350 cubic-inch V8 under the hood, along with a few
choice upgrades, to bring back memories of the powerful lightweight
Novas we all loved in the '60s. Enhancements include a Holley
four-barrel carburetor, a performance intake manifold, Trick Flow
throttle, Holley electric fuel pump, and long tube headers that
help the small block breathe. Now this Nova has a serious bark out
of the dual exhaust thanks to the Flowmaster mufflers and an
enhanced bite to back it all up. You'll love the way this full
package goes down the road thanks to additional features like the
TH350 three-speed automatic transmission, power steering, power
front disc brakes, and modern Cooper Cobra white-letter radials
wrapped around shiny Cragar S/S wheels at all four corners.
This is the kind of custom Nova we all knew the late third-gen car
could (and should) be. Not too many people would have taken the
time to do a hatchback like this correctly, which makes it an
interesting classic wherever it goes. And at this affordable price
we know it won't be with us long. Call today!!!
