Nova SS 396 sells for 250,000
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1970 Nova SS Sells for Record-Breaking $275k at Mecum Auction 1970 Nova SS Sells for Record-Breaking $275k at Mecum Auction
If it was the 375 HP version, that's a pretty rare car.
I remember those when they were new. I always hated them. I lot of them would crab walk down the road.
Yup. It is. The L78 375 HP 396. If that Nova is in proper tune, A Duster 340 ain't gotta prayer.
I've always loved the 68-72 Novas. Just really tough lookin.
Regardless of brand, you have to respect reality. That Nova would walk all over a Duster or Demon. That is not taking anything away from Mopar. Just giving credit where it’s due. Just like the fact that the Duster / Demon are copies of the Nova styling cues. They had a good thing. Obviously the designers liked it too.
I guess you are not the only one, LOL. The only Chevy big block I liked was the 427. But I'd take a BB Mopar or Ford any day.
I'm partial to um all if they're OLD and AMERICAN. The Chevy big blocks will just flat make power very easily. And they do it without winding them to the stratosphere.
Not in my experience. A 340 Duster would take them every time.
I had a friend who seriously raced them, but there were very few stock parts (needle roller main bearings) and they did not live long if seriously beat on. 396's had cooling problems and would cook the rings on one the the rear cylinders. He told me which one but I forget which one.
I agree 100%. The 340 A bodies were serious contenders. People often mistake the big HP big block Chevys for their more docile 350, 325, or 300 HP counterparts. The 375 version had huge rectangle port heads, .520 lift solid lifter cam, aluminum intake, Holley 780 and big flowing HP manifolds. Not to mention 11.25:1 compression and 375HP and 410TQ. I'd even spot a 340 A body a full length in the 1/4 and I promise you in my racing prime, I wouldda reeled him in.
Never heard that and I've been around a lot of them. Sounds like an issue specific to your friend. Now, what I remember about the stock ones was, the solid lifter motors did have issues with chewing up pushrods. That's why the first thing we always did was get a nice set of Cranes and stick in them. Then they were good to go.
33IMP
Well-Known Member
The 325 hp 396, was easily 100hp less than the "375".hp version. (REAL numbers, not rated ones)
The very same engine was rated at 425 in a 65 vette.
If I remember right, there was an aluminum head version of the 375 horse 96, with the same 375 hp rating. I'd guess that version would be in a quarter million dollar Nova.
A 340 was and is a giant killer.... but it depends a lot on the giant.
The very same engine was rated at 425 in a 65 vette.
If I remember right, there was an aluminum head version of the 375 horse 96, with the same 375 hp rating. I'd guess that version would be in a quarter million dollar Nova.
A 340 was and is a giant killer.... but it depends a lot on the giant.
LOL, He was not normal. We worked together in R & D. He told me about modifying an UZI to use 12 gage shells In Nam. He said all 396's would always puff blue smoke out of that one side. Another friend had a 375 hp 396 in a 68 or 69 Camaro with a 4 speed. It was always in the shop, but he was not a motor head.
I've never seen a car guy that was normal. lol
norshorblufish
By the Big Water
It doesn't matter what your driving if the person behind the wheel can't handle the hp he's going to see tail lights. People seem to forget the person behind the wheel!
33IMP
Well-Known Member
396 option with aluminum heads was L89.
I had a friend, since passed away, that had a 69 COPO Camaro, with the L89 in it. Unusual in that the great majority of COPO cars had 427s.
I would be shocked if that crazy dollar Nova wasn't a copo L89.
( Edit: for my Mopar buds who might not be familiar, copo is Central Office Production Order. A method for getting an unusual combo built)
I had a friend, since passed away, that had a 69 COPO Camaro, with the L89 in it. Unusual in that the great majority of COPO cars had 427s.
I would be shocked if that crazy dollar Nova wasn't a copo L89.
( Edit: for my Mopar buds who might not be familiar, copo is Central Office Production Order. A method for getting an unusual combo built)
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Not that car they won't.
Oh yeah, it would, not stock. Fastest car around. Beat all comers. "71" 340, 3 speed manual. I bought the short block for a friend after he dropped an intake head and blew out the cylinder, the heads were not for sale.
33IMP
Well-Known Member
325 horse 96 compared to a 375 horse version, is equivalent to saying a 426 hemi is a dog, cause you beat up on a 426 street wedge.
Two different animals.
Two different animals.
Well we're talkin stock for stock here. Ain't happenin. Unless the Nova driver is a retard and asleep. No offense to asleep retards.
One thing is for sure, the 396 was poorly designed, skinny main bearings, I knew 2 people that bought them new and they didn't get over 15 thousand miles on them, and I have read that the factory replaced thousands of them, I like the nova, but if I had to pick one for longevity it would not be the 396 , 327 would be my pick with a 4 speed. Agree, the Nova was a great unibody, light, small front nose and transferred weight quit well. I had a 72 with the not so great 307, traded up to a 73 a/c 318 Challenger my wife and I drove 7 years.
abodyjoe
Well-Known Member
that thing is sweet..
After hearing that auction price, you may be wondering why this Nova sold for so much, and that's certainly a fair question.
First of all, it's about as mint condition as any car you'll find of that age. With only 11,319 original miles — that's just over 200 miles per year — it's still practically brand new, and it was still in the original owner's possession until August of 2025. Of course, it's a numbers-matching car with the original engine, and it includes lots of relevant paperwork such as the original window sticker, purchase invoice, and Protect-O-Plate.
Secondly, this is a very desirable configuration. It's got the potent L78 396ci V8 paired with a Muncie M20 4-speed manual transmission and 12-bolt Posi rear end with 3.55 gears. Only 3,765 Novas were built with the L78 package in 1970, making all-original survivors relatively rare today.
The status of this car as an original L78 has been verified by Dale McIntosh of the L78 Registry, and a certificate was included in the sale.
The King Coyne Chevrolet window sticker on this Nova SS shows a total of $1,127 in options, bringing the original MSRP to $3,706. The listed options are as follows:
After hearing that auction price, you may be wondering why this Nova sold for so much, and that's certainly a fair question.
First of all, it's about as mint condition as any car you'll find of that age. With only 11,319 original miles — that's just over 200 miles per year — it's still practically brand new, and it was still in the original owner's possession until August of 2025. Of course, it's a numbers-matching car with the original engine, and it includes lots of relevant paperwork such as the original window sticker, purchase invoice, and Protect-O-Plate.
Secondly, this is a very desirable configuration. It's got the potent L78 396ci V8 paired with a Muncie M20 4-speed manual transmission and 12-bolt Posi rear end with 3.55 gears. Only 3,765 Novas were built with the L78 package in 1970, making all-original survivors relatively rare today.
The status of this car as an original L78 has been verified by Dale McIntosh of the L78 Registry, and a certificate was included in the sale.
The King Coyne Chevrolet window sticker on this Nova SS shows a total of $1,127 in options, bringing the original MSRP to $3,706. The listed options are as follows:
- • Soft-Ray tinted glass
- • Floor mats, front and rear
- • Positraction axle
- • 375hp Turbo-Jet 396ci V8
- • 4-speed transmission
- • Electric clock
- • AM pushbutton radio
- • Rear seat speaker
- • Custom interior
- • Rally wheels
- • Nova SS package
- • Black vinyl interior
- • Cortez Silver paint
I saw one that never made it off the car transport brand new.
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