Thinking of parting with my Nova... what should I do?

[BurnoutNova]

I'm kind of at a crossroads with my car. I've had the car for 10 years, since I was 14, 24 now so kind of grew up with it, It was my first car, ect ect. I love Nova's, they are definately a car that defines me even my friends call me "nova" as a nickname. The trouble is the car is NOT in the kind of shape I want my "dream" car to be in. It's gotton tremendously worse since I've had it, always sat outside, rusty, ect. It needs EVERYTHING as far as bodywork. Still has the original Cranberry red paint, has rust in the floor pans, quarters, outer wheelhouses, trunk, ect. It will aslo need EVERTHING on the interior, seats, carpet, door panels, ect.

I am capable of doing the bodywork myself, done a few cars they turned out pretty good. I could definately make the car nice enough to be happy with it, BUT I've been down this road before redoing cars. I just dont want to dump 10K into a car that will never be worth more than that. I have atleast that much into the drivetrain as it sits. About the only thing it has going for it is the drivetrain parts. I have alot of parts for it, just need to put it together... rebuilt dz302 w/ ported World Motown heads, big solid roller, msd igniton, EVERYTHING done to the motor, alum radiator, 4.10 posi with richmod gears, built th400 w/ 3800 stall, ect. It would/will be a fun car to drive, but looks like crap.

I'm contemplating putting a stock 350 in it, selling it for maybe like $2000??? After tha cars gone sell off all my parts I know I could get like $3000 for the 302 motor, maybe like another $300 for the trans. THEN looking for a really nice original 68-70 bigblock nova, or an original ss 4 speed car or somthing. Not afraid to spend some money, I just think I'll be money ahead in the long run buying a car thats nice already.

Sooo... Have any of you guys let there first car or first Nova go and really regretted it? I went thru this with my 71 Chevy truck, spent more redoing it than I could have bought a nice one for. Just trying to figure out what to do.

[68gmsee]

Make it into a dune/bush buggy... That's what I did with my 56 Mercury. Wish I still had a lot of the cars I used to own, but you gotta move on or your yard will be full of old cars. Or you could part it out.

Cars I wish I still had.

62 morris minor
55 chevy 2 door sedan, pontiac engine with 3 dueces
56 mercury
56 chevy
59 plymouth
62 Chevy Impala
68 Javelin
70 Chevelle SS

[BCOWANWHEELS]

i still have my first car, its a T BUCKET. i started building it in 1967. i,am almost 60 now.TOO MANY MEMORIES OF ME AND DAD. I,am going to give it to some kid someday.
bob

[Average Joe]

So like yourself I bought my Nova when I was 14. That was 20 years ago. Like yourself I've contemplated selling it but never have. Its no showcar but looks tough with a slightly narrowed 9" and mini tubs. I've probably only driven the car 15k in the last 20 years but every mile was memorable. Lots of good memories building the car with my Dad and buddies. Now my nephew has reached the age where he appreciates Hot Rods so lots more good times yet to be had. My vote would be to hang on to your Nova and put it together with what parts you have.( digg the 302 btw). So what if the car aint perfect most real cars are not anyway. Drive the hell out of it and enjoy it. You will never get another first car. Easy for me to say this when my car was and still is 99% rust free though. Have you considered tubbing the car since you have rust??

[wzuke]

I think your plan to put a 350 in it and sell it is a good one. I have fond memories of every hot rod" I have ever built. When you are ready, take pictures, sell the car, go on to better rods and enjoy the memories forever.

[67ChevyRedneck]

I normally say "keep it" for sentimental value, but your plans are to buy another and it's in piss poor shape... your idea sounds OK to me. I gave my "real" first truck to my dad, it's a 58 apache. Great shape, south carolina truck, but I never did anything with it. Bought it when I was 14 and it never saw the street. In just a couple months my pops already has big plans for it and has grafted on a front clip with coils spings and 5 lug disc brakes.

[big_al_71]

I would say sell it and try to recoup as much as possible. Time to turn the chapter and make new memories..

[kev2809]

that's a tough one man. if u think u can salvage the car then I would keep it. but its far past gone then drop the 350 in and let it ride to someone else and u can start a new one. personally, if it was mine and I had the slightest chance to save it and rebuild, then I would. u can never replace a first car.. just my .02

[cdowns]

screw sentiment sell and move on there's always a new excitng different challange waiting in a barn,farmfield or on the side of the road with your name on it

[dammitmitchell]

got a picture?

[bw4sale]

I would say sell it and try to recoup as much as possible. Time to turn the chapter and make new memories..

I agree with Big Al. I recently sold my first car, a '65 Mustang in about the same shape as your Nova. It hurt, a lot, but now I'm using that money to actually make progress on my truck. That feels good.

[chris71]

all depends how sentimental you are, it doesnt seem cdowns is very sentimental , me on the other hand, i had my 55 since i was 15, built it with my father, have a ton of stories and memories so far, i will die with that truck. once you sell it there's usually no going back, if you do sell it i would reccomend selling it out of state or at least not locally, my dad's first car (1970 chevelle) was wrecked soon after it was sold, the new owner drove it into someones porch in their small town.

[big_al_71]

I was reading this thread again and thought of something to add, I have sold motorcycles, cars and trucks that I wish I had again but not for sentimental value more because of what they could be worth today

[BurnoutNova]

I do have alot of memories with the car, but I'm just hung up of the fact it is in such ruff shape, and the amount of money I'd have to put into it would be rediculous. I suppose I would always miss the car, it is my first car, my dad and I worked on it together, ect.

THIS is the type of feedback I needed. Its easy for me to go outside and look at it and just get pissed about haow much work it needs, but then I remember the history I have with it. THANKS!

[mclairmo]

When your dad passes away you will wish you had that Nova back, unless you are not that kind of sentimental person. My first car was stolen and I wish I had it now. My dad and I built it together when I was 12 to 16 years old and it sucks that it's gone now. However, if your Nova is not worth saving, you could drop the 350 in it and just store it for later. Put the 302 in your dream car.

[BurnoutNova]

I went outside and took a couple quick pics. Dang this car has deteriorated since Ive let it sit. I havnt driven it for about 3 years, the 355 thats in it now has a knock, so thats why I quit driving it. I havnt even poped the hood for like a year!

Took a pic of my truck also. "Finished" it about 8 mo. ago. It still needs interior done, ect but I'm done working on it for now.

[FRENCHBLUE72]

I love those novas id keep it myself but im sure it looks better in the pictures than when your standing by it by he way you describe it..

[BurnoutNova]

Originally Posted by FRENCHBLUE72

I love those novas id keep it myself but im sure it looks better in the pictures than when your standing by it by he way you describe it..

All in all its not that bad, its just that everything has just enough rust/dents/damage that in order to make it the way I want... It will need everything.

I also love novas... but I would love to have a nova thats in super good shape... not a pos one.

[prairewolf]

if it is paid for, find a safe place to store it, put some mothballs or bounce sheets in the interior to help keep the mice out, spray some lube in the cylinders and forget about it for a few years, ...... I stop over at our family acreage once in a while and say to myself, " wow, thats right!, I own that too! "

one cool part of the old vehicle hobby for me is Thinking about it.

ultimately do what You want , it is your car.


your car is one of the cool body style Novas.


life is good,kent

[retodd7711]

This thread should have a poll.
I vote Sell.
Get it running with the 350.
Price it higher than your asking, let the buyer think he got a deal.
Save the 302 for a future project.
To me a car is just a car.
I have no attachments to "stuff"
When the money and time is right, it's gone.

[sweet70beast]

Keep it! Some day you will regret it. I got my 70 Nova when I was 16 and have had it for 20 years. It's in pretty close to the same shape that you say your's is in, I drive mine almost every day to work in the summer. My take on this question is that if your not sure if you should sell it or not, you will regret it, a part of you wants to keep it and that's the part that will kick you in the butt whenever you see a Nova. Mine is well used and not in real good shape but because of sentimental value whether I put $1000 or $10,000 or a million bucks in it to me it's priceless. Keep It.

[cayoterun]

Interesting thread:

I've had a few cars I wish I had kept, mostly a '55 Chev. ragtop.

All four of my kids had to help me build their 1st cars. Three of them still have theirs. No amount of money could get them to part with them. Believe it or not, our daughters are attached to theirs more than the boys. Oldest girl drove hers to her 20th class reunion in '07. Her classmates like to have freaked out, and had to go "drag main street" for memories sake. Had a blast. One son had to give his up due to adverse circumstances, and it still bugs him.

If money or other circumstances are not an issue, I'd vote keep it. Too many of your memories ride in that car. Keep them alive thru it.

Good Luck with your choice and do what ya' gotta' do, tho.
Cayoterun

[kev2809]

the only reason I would sell it is for financial reasons. if you need the $ to get through, then by all means let it go. but if not, u gotta keep it. u will regret it later. and it doesn't look so bad in the pic, but im sure it could look diff in person lol. good luck with ur decision..