Photo: eBay seller mismay-39
Chevrolet launched the Nova in 1962 and it didn't take long for the company to get the message and understand what customers wanted.
Even though the car was offered with six-cylinder engines, many Nova buyers wanted more power from their shiny new cars. As a result, these people turned to aftermarket upgrades, so if you come across a Nova with a V8 engine, it's not uncommon.
Chevrolet decided to answer the call for more power under the hood of the Nova with the launch of the Super Sport package in 1963.
The SS debuted in 1961 on the Impala, but based on market reception, GM extended the sporty upgrades to more cars in its lineup. On the Nova, the SS was available on the Nova 400 coupe and convertible, with special tires, finned wheel covers, aluminum rear quarter panels, the desirable Super Sport emblems, and large side moldings. Anyone who wanted an SS had to pay $161 for the upgrade, and more than 44,000 customers considered it an offer they couldn't refuse.
The Nova convertible in these photos also rolled off the assembly line with the SS package, but as you can see from the photos, that doesn't matter much today.
The car has been sitting for who knows how long, probably under clear skies, and we all know what that means for a convertible. It is in rough shape and whoever buys the car will have to rebuild everything from scratch. eBay seller mismay-39 is not sharing many details, and I don't think they are needed, as the photos speak for themselves this time.
It's safe to assume that this Nova SS convertible needs everything, including floorpans, new trunk floors, and everything else metal-wise. The convertible parts are also destroyed, so the Nova is no easy father-son project.
The car still has an engine under the hood, but it is likely not running. Unfortunately, the seller did not share any other details, so we do not know if this is the original engine, although I do not think it matters much considering its shape.
A Nova SS is usually a very desirable project, but the condition of this convertible makes it nearly impossible to restore. I find it hard to believe that many people would rush to take it home for a full restoration, which is probably why the car is struggling to find a new owner.
The auction starts at $3,500, but no one has signed up to bid on the Nova. The auction ends in two days, and since it has no reserve, it only needs one bid to go to a new garage. The vehicle is parked in Bozeman, Montana, and you'll need a trailer to haul it home, given its shape.