Opinions on resale value - 70 Nova SS / Day II

[NorCam]

Value Opinions Please

I'm looking to step up on another car that's available and I've been thinking of cutting loose the little Nova I redid this spring. Car was bought for 23K before I completely redid the entire underside with new lines, new brakes, fuel system, suspension, some body work and paint touch ups, and a professionally built B&B forged 383 solid lifter small block. It also received a new bell, clutch, new M-22, super shifter and a host of Day II mods including vintage gauges, Lakewood roll bar, Lakewood slapper bars, NMW loop, tow tabs, Hurst line loc and a full set of vintage Cragar's with period slicks and front runners.

With all the mods and restoration work done, the car is very well sorted and runs like a wicked little small block car. Estimate around 500hp/500tq with Callies forged internals. That said, I have invested a little over 29K into the car since redoing it with a chunk of that being the engine build, trans and clutch. The Day II goodies were then sourced and fully restored before going into the car. Super clean rust free floors and all original body panels with car having 36,000 miles with 3 known owners. Only the original diff remains of the drive line and the interior was fit with 67 buckets and pistol grip. Paint is 95% original with billboard fogging and original lacquer clear coat. Now the million dollar question is...what's it worth?


More pictures linked here (https://ibb.co/album/jjOstv) in case you want to know more about the car and the upgrades.

https://i.ibb.co/q1FL0RY/IMG-3234.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/fC7YrLC/IMG-4641.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/cFMQmG4/IMG-4642.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/44LZrXd/Engine.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/Bcq0fQz/IMG-0363.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/B2YzfmR/IMG-4852.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/g759BVy/IMG-4810.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/njzbzqK/IMG-4804-Copy.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/qgKwV8R/IMG-4898.jpg

[67 Nova Boy]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! Don't let it go!!!

Dave
67 Nova Boy

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

Love this car!!!

I always look for comparables but in this case you won’t find any...

I say what you invested times 1.5.

Buy a 1969 COPO Chevelle 4 Speed next!!!

Ryan W31

Ryan W31

[big gear head]

I enjoyed watching you build this and I hate to see you let it go. I'd love to have it, but no $$$.

[GrumpyJeff]

Dude !!! wonder what it would cost to ship to PA ??? im seriously looking for an 70 El Camino or Chevelle ,But I love a Rippin Small block,4speeds

[NorCam]

The camshaft in this build is good for 7200 rpm Jeff. As for shipping, likely $3200 using TFX International w/ enclosed air ride. That's what it cost to get it up here last year. You should have come got it last weekend as you were just so close. (lol)

https://i.ibb.co/vJYj66z/IMG-1624.jpg

[WILMASBOYL78]

This is a quality build and a great presentation...it is always tough to put a number on a car like this. For someone who wants a 'turn-key' day 2 style car, this is a perfect choice. You have shared the costs both for the initial purchase and all the work done and the upgrades. It would be hard for anyone else to duplicate this for the same investment...assuming they can find a 70 Nova that is in really nice shape to start with and they are willing to do all the work you did.

I say add the two numbers together and make the price $52k OBO...then let the interested buyers sort it out from there. They know you will take less...if they are serious, I'm sure you can reach a price that is fair to both parties.

-wilma :scholar:

**Just curious what rear axle gear are you running in the bad boy??

[NorCam]

Liberty 4:56 gears with Liberty Axles.

[WILMASBOYL78]

Liberty 4:56 gears with Liberty Axles.

That must be something out of the hole with those 4.56's...did you ever run it at the track??

[Stefano]

Very Kool Nova, looks like a lot of fun.

[NorCam]

I just finished it a month or so ago and have barely put 150 miles on it for break in. Been so busy with work that I haven't had it out in over a month now. It cruises really well and there are no squeaks or rattles other than the pistol grip shifter top which buzzes when you take your thumb off it. I have rattled a couple a gears here and there but haven't opened the butterflies 90 degrees yet. Beyond that, I can easily say it boogies along and is great out of the hole, but with these Wide Oval Radials on the car, there isn't a lot of meat to stick to the pavement. Surprisingly they have stuck really good for a rolling start and I'm sure I've had them on the ragged edge of breaking free even at half throttle stabs.

I changed the alternator around and need to pickup a new fan belt this week. Then it'll get out to have some more miles put on it. I'm sure the burnout video's are forth coming.

/RAdbOveMqAQ

[NorCam]

I should add by that speed sign, that up here in Canada it's only 60 Kilometers an hour along that road and all my neighbors have horses so I wasn't going to pound it out down the hill through 4 gears or they'd all be pissed off at me. Here's a clip of the car idling after exhaust was completed. M/T style headers with Turbo mufflers.

Smf-qWBfrtI

[WILMASBOYL78]

Sounds like a big block car idling...very cool :beers:

[Rumbleguts396]

It's Priceless !!!! ROB

[dykstra]

Sounds killer!!

[NorCam]

Thanks for the advice, the comments and the interest expressed in the car. Opinions of value align with what I've been thinking. I now have a decision to make.

:3gears:

[TMagda]

Wow, gorgeous. Start at $52 and see what happens!

[NorCam]

I added up some additional receipts that I hadn't counted into the mix and it's a bit higher than I had said, but have already told a couple people who inquired about the car that it would take 52K for me to separate with it. If that happens I'm cool with it, but I'm really thinking I should keep this one as I know I cannot replace it.

Still debating on that one...but leaning towards the latter.

Again, thanks for the vote of confidence with regards to it's value. I was curious what others thought it might be worth and I am glad to hear I wasn't the only one who thought the car had some value in it. Cheers

[Locker537]

You know my opinions on the car! I think it just oozes cool...

[ScottG]

That would sell fast at $40,000. Test blast would be mandatory though..

[Mr.Nickey Nova]

There are times when you never get back what you put into a car. I say keep it, drive and enjoy. That's why you built the car this way. Good luck!!

[Lynn]

The personalized car is always difficult to value. No two of us have EXACTLY the same taste.

It is rare that you get back everything you put into it on something like this (not talking about the 69 Z someone bought in 1980... more about a short term ownership like this).

The uninformed buyer will see "383" and assume it is the same as every other 383 out there with Chinese internals. He won't understand what makes this one worth much more.

Still, this car has SO much going for it.

If I had just done everything you have done to it, I would have a hard time parting with it. IMHO it really won't matter if it has 100 miles on it or 1000 since the build (unless it gets hit). So, if it were me, even if I knew I would likely part with it, I would make certain it is adequately insured, drive it a good 1000 miles (or smiles, whichever comes first) then re-evaluate.

You never know, someone might leave you a love note, asking if it is for sale. I get those from time to time.

[luzl78]

I just finished it a month or so ago and have barely put 150 miles on it for break in. Been so busy with work that I haven't had it out in over a month now. It cruises really well and there are no squeaks or rattles other than the pistol grip shifter top which buzzes when you take your thumb off it. I have rattled a couple a gears here and there but haven't opened the butterflies 90 degrees yet. Beyond that, I can easily say it boogies along and is great out of the hole, but with these Wide Oval Radials on the car, there isn't a lot of meat to stick to the pavement. Surprisingly they have stuck really good for a rolling start and I'm sure I've had them on the ragged edge of breaking free even at half throttle stabs.

I changed the alternator around and need to pickup a new fan belt this week. Then it'll get out to have some more miles put on it. I'm sure the burnout video's are forth coming.

/RAdbOveMqAQthat driving video definitely helps sell the car if you were to part with it!

[NorCam]

Thanks for the perspective you always manage share Lynn (and others too). :youguysrock:

After some thought, I'm going to keep the car. I'll leave it as it is for now and use it as my Friday night cruiser while keeping an eye open for another big block car. Cheers

[GrumpyJeff]

While I'm sure there are more guys on this site that appreciate the time And the $ that it took to make this car what it is, than any where else ! And while the money were talking is a lot for a Nova . This car in my opinion is way Cooler and would be way more fun than Any other #s matching,restored trailer queen Nova !!! do me a favor and Keep it !!! that way I don't regret not buying it

[L78M22Rag]

Graeme, I’ve liked this car from the start... and really like what you’ve done with it. Your attention to detail is amazing, right down to the M/T scavenger style headers. Based on how much time you’ve put into the car, I hope you also get a similar amount of time to enjoy the car if you don’t go getting knee deep into other projects. Sounds like work is that next project for you, so you probably won’t have time to build another car anyway. I vote for keeping this bad a$$ car until you’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. I don’t think a big block would replace it.

I’m kinda relieved that I haven’t met up with you at a stop light... not yet anyway ;-)

[napa68]

Thanks for the perspective you always manage share Lynn (and others too). :youguysrock:

After some thought, I'm going to keep the car. I'll leave it as it is for now and use it as my Friday night cruiser while keeping an eye open for another big block car. Cheers

Atta boy!

Killer build Graeme!