Today's Facebook Marketplace gem is this 1974 Chevrolet Nova SS. I know, right? A Nova SS from model-year 1974. Bet you didn't know these were built or if you did, you may have forgotten they were.
Chevrolet didn't make many and 1974, after all, was the tip of the spear of the Malaise Era that would run through, depending on who you talk to you and their definition of it, at least 1982. Some say it lasted into the '90's; its starting point varies on who you talk to as well. I say it's the advent of lower compression engines in 1971, others say safety bumpers in 1973. Tomato, to-mah-toe.
Surcharges on anything insurance companies construed as a performance car had already knocked performance cars loose on their hinges; emissions regulations did their thing too, but the gas crunch knocked the door clean off them.
After 1974, Chevrolet pulled the plug on these muscular "little" cars stuffed with Chevrolet's "L48", 185-horsepower, 350-cubic inch, V-8 engines. Yes, the same L48 used in Camaro's and the haughty Corvette although, supposedly, detuned a whopping 5-horsepower. This way, GM could still market that the Corvette was still the most powerful Chevrolet available that year.
With a factory, 3:42 posi-rear and a four-speed, pull up next to a Corvette or Camaro with an L48 and my money's on you and your Nova. Not by much, but enough to make the Corvette owner wonder why they spent almost a third more to go all but just as fast. These were no stinkers in the corners either with their fatter than stock sway bars and firmer springs. Base model Nova's were adroit handlers, imagine how this thing rides.
You could also order a Nova SS with an automatic in 1974, but the "350" in those cars would be the 145-horsepower, L65. Not quite the thumper the L48 was, especially with the 3:42 gears but it was better than the 250-inline six without that much of a penalty in fuel economy. Automatic, L65 Nova SS' for '74 had at best 3:08 posi-gears although, have to imagine, most had 2:73's (posi).
All in, for less than five-grand in the waning days of the Nixon administration, those looking for a performance bargain laughed all the way to the bank. Or had some extra sheckles to fork over to their insurance company. In fairness, Corvette and Nova buyers were as far apart as John Dean was from H.R. Haldeman was when it was all said and done but still, these were no slouches.
Chevrolet sold a Nova SS for 1975 and 1976 but it was all but a trim package. 1975 also brought a substantial reboot to all of the GM "compact" X-bodies that made them better conveyances, but also massaged away any of their "small-muscle car" mojo. Particularly on the coupes.
This one's for sale back in my old neck of the woods (Long Island, New York) and has an asking price of, you sitting down? $35,000. That's more than ten-grand of, ahem, green north of what high retail for what these are going for these days. Can't blame them for asking.
You may see other Nova's of this vintage at car shows this year but you're not going to see many 1974 Nova SS'.
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