The problem with Chevrolet muscle cars is that many were performance packages, so you need documentation in order to prove their provenance. However, our Pick of the Day is one of the few hi-po Chevrolets that has its pedigree baked in the VIN. This 1972 Chevrolet Nova SS is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Lenexa, Kansas.
Make a list of primo Chevrolet muscle cars and there’s a good chance documentation is the only way to prove it is what it is. 1961 409 Impala SS? Nothing will tell you whether it came with a 409 or the SS package. L78 1966 Chevelle SS 396? Sorry, you’re SOL—the VIN will tell you it’s a real SS, but nothing will tell you which version of the Rat motor was originally installed. Ditto the L79 1966 Nova SS. What about a first-gen Camaro Z/28? The data plate may hold a clue, depending on the model year. And the hallowed LS6 Chevelle? Nothing will give you info on whether it’s an SS 454 or which 454 it was built with, again unless you have original documentation.
The 1972 Nova SS doesn’t suffer from this problem. No, the Super Sport package is not reflected in the VIN, but the engine is. Nineteen seventy-two was the first year General Motors put the engine code in the VIN, which helps collectors to no end, and the Super Sport’s engine was an exclusive, so it wasn’t available on any other Nova. That means if you find a Nova with a “K” in the fifth character of the VIN, you will have an authentic Super Sport. The L48 350, which first appeared in the Nova SS in 1968, was now rated at 200 net horsepower after producing 270 gross horsepower the year before. Most of the drop had to do with the rating method rather than an actual drop in horsepower.
Through 1968, the model was known as the Chevy II, with the Nova and Nova SS being the highest trim levels. Starting in 1969, the Chevy II name was dropped and all were now known as Novas. From 1968-72, the Chevy II/Nova evolved little, featuring detail changes that would require a discerning eye to determine the model year. Starting in 1973, with federalized requirements for the front bumper, Chevrolet’s compact received its first restyle for its generation.
As such, the 1972 Nova SS is the last of the desirable Novas. However, this 1972 Chevrolet Nova SS stands out for other reasons, as it has only 33K miles on the odometer. It has “the original window sticker, Protect-O-Plate, new vehicle inspection from the original dealer, maintenance logs, [and] owner’s manual, many historical and restoration photos will be included in the sale,” says the seller. Aside from its numbers-matching 350, it is equipped with a Muncie four-speed manual transmission, power front disc brakes, and Flowmaster exhaust system. Vintage aftermarket items include a column-mounted tachometer, Thrush headers, Lakewood traction bars and subframe connectors, Accel SuperCoil, Weiand intake, and Holley carb. It’s painted Golden Brown with a Light Covert cloth and vinyl bench seat—can you think of a more 1972 color combo?
Sure, the big-block 396 often seems the way to go, but those weren’t built past 1970, and it takes a lot to prove that it’s real. This 1972 Nova SS requires little fuss and offers peace of mind that no other Nova SS can offer. For $59,900, isn’t it worth the peace of mind?
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