At first glance, this red-and-black Nova might induce a sense of deja vu. Red with black stripes, aftermarket cowl hood, Rally wheels on white-letter tires, black interior, Super Sport badging. These things are everywhere, with color being the only thing separating them…you might see this car in silver/black, black/white, or white/black. Underhood is a 350 small block, backed by a TH350 automatic on the column. Inside there is some work that needs to be finished up, but overall it’s a nice and clean driver. So what possibly could this car be hiding?
Look at that quarter window. Something suddenly doesn’t look right, does it? It shouldn’t, since that shape didn’t appear until the 1973 reworking of the X-body platform. The 1968-72 cars looked like this:
And about that 350 under the hood…care to guess who made it? It’s not a Chevy motor…it’s a Rocket 350. Yep, this “Nova” started life as a 1973 Oldsmobile Omega! At some point the owner decided to clone his Oldsmobile into a Nova, and went full kill on the parts list. According to the ad, the car has a whole list of new parts thrown at the car, including new sheet metal, trim, chrome and more.
After getting everything cleaned up and ready, the car was painted and as it sits is a driver, up for sale on eBay. A little interior work will make this a nice car to own, but I’d hate to explain to the cop the whole story every time I got pulled over. I can imagine a two-hour traffic stop every time while I convince the cop that the Nova he sees is really an Oldsmobile.
eBay Link: 1972 Chevy Nova 1973 Olds Omega
Can I spot what’s wrong?
Durrrrr – it’s a Chevy……..
I dont get it? Why not just buy a Nova?
Would have been cheaper to start with a 73-74 Nova, at least it would have a Chevy powerplant! Nice job though.
Shoulda left it an Olds…SMH….more money than brains I guess.
I agree shold have left it an Olds. At least then it would be different. To each his own I guess.
I WOULD HAVE MADE A GTO OUT OF IT. LESS BODY WORK AND CLOOLER HOOD.
Got was based on the A body platform tempest/lemans, not an omega.
Gto*
Not in ’74 it wasn’t. It was the ’74 Pontiac Ventura X-body with a 350 4-barrel Pontiac and a Trans Am Shaker hood with graphics
Do you really think a cop is going to notice or care if it has Chevy emblems on an Olds. Most I’ve dealt with don’t have a clue or even care as long as the VIN matches.
not the first time Ive seen this
buddy of mine had a ventura with a olds front clip on a (beater) back in the late 70’s
@quik1500 The one year 1974 GTO was based on the Ventura X-body car in a coupe or hatchback. Shaker hood, spoiler, badging. Google it.
Always wanted a 74′ GTO. A local mechanic near me when I was growing up had a 455/4spd GTO. Damn that thing was quick!
More money than brains? Is that what is different?
It his/hers to do with what he/she wants….a buyer would be suspicious as to why it was changed all up – the Omega would be more interesting to me because it’s not as common….to each their own
I had a 74 Nova that the quarter was hacked off of it when I got it. Local junkyard had an Omega there, so I hacked the skin off and put it on the Nova, direct fit…
On the 74 GTO, I knew where 2 were sitting, one was a 4 speed car. Just sitting there, rusting, until one day they disappeared. Hopefully not to crush. Never knew they were like that until I sow those two. Never knew who owned them either.