Differences between '68-'69-'70 Nova's

[1972coronet]

What noticable-in-scale differences are there between the 1968-1969-1970 Nova's ?

I've been wanting to build a COPO 1968 Gibb/Harrell 9638 (e.g. , the 50 L78 / TH400 cars built for SS/DA , E/SA classes in July '68 ) based on the Revell '69 Nova ; what cosmetic differences are there between '69 & '68 ? Easy conversion ?

I also want to build a 1970 L34 Nova SS. Other than the engine call outs above the front side markers, what else changed for 1970?

Thanks.

[mike 51]

Check out the Old Car Brochures web site.

They cover each of those years.

Edited June 13, 2015 by mike 51

[Snake45]

Exterior differences between the '68 to '72 Novas were mainly in the grille, rear panel/taillights, side markers, and other minor trim. I'm a Nova fan, even owned a '69 for more than a decade, and I can't tell them apart without serious research.

In other words, do your homework and you can build ANY of them from either the AMT '72 or the Revell '69 kits.

Rather than sweating the minor details, you should be concentrating on getting the rear end of the Revell to actually look like a Nova, which it doesn't.

BTW, an L78 Nova wouldn't have been a "COPO," just an unadvertised regular production option. Despite what Revell splashed on their box, there were never any big-block COPO Novas. The factory built L78s, and all the 427 were done independently by shops/dealerships. Revell's "COPO Nova" is a phantom, a complete fantasy.

ETA: I notice you included an actual COPO number in your questions, so decided to do some research. It turns out there's no 9638, but apparently there WAS a COPO 9738 Nova. The stories I found were a bit sketchy but the COPO number seems to refer to a special beefed up TH400 transmission mounted in the big block/Nova combination. So apparently there WERE "COPO big block Novas," of a fashion, though they weren't (factory) 427s as most seem to want to believe.

As my Old Man always says, "You learn something new every day if you're not careful."

Edited June 13, 2015 by Snake45

[Rob Hall]

The biggest interior difference over those years seems to be the '68 dash...quite different from the 69-72 design.

[Snake45]

The biggest interior difference over those years seems to be the '68 dash...quite different from the 69-72 design.

I understand that, just like the '68 Corvette, the '68 Nova was in some ways unique, and many parts aren't interchangeable with '69-'72 cars, as you'd think they would be. But I'm not sure any of this would have mean anything important to us here in Model-World.

Edited June 13, 2015 by Snake45

[Muncie]

interesting - brings back some memories

There was a small HP shop in the service area at the gas station on the corner in 1969. The owner ran a 1968 SS/DA Nova. At that time it was raced every weekend in the racing season. It did pretty well locally if I recall. Yellow, all lettered up, and Cragars - looked good.

[Mike Chernecki]

I own a few Novas, 1962, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972 (x2).

Differences between '68, '69 and '70-'72

Interior

'68 is totally different, dash, steering wheel, steering column (ignition is on dash for '68 not on steering column), seats (no headrests), door panels (actually the doors are different, door lock pull is are the far rear of door panel while the others are 3/4 ways back.

'69-'72 interiors are practically identical, slight difference in pattern and door panel insert

Body & Trim

'68-'69 have short marker lights front/rear, taillights and rear panel, front bumper has small turn signals

'70-'72 are the same, '72 has a slightly different taillight lense

'68 SS trim is different from the other years

'69-'72 has same body trim, rocker molding, side trim etc

'68 headlight bezels are all chrome with no holes for headlight adjusting screws, '68-'72 are the same

'68 has different hood emblem, "Chevy II", '69-'72 are the same

'68 has Nova emblem on rear quarter and not on front fender

'68 trunk emblem says "Chevy II", not Nova

'68 was last year to use name "Chevy II"

'68-'69 had real radio antenna, the others had it embedded in the windshield

Mechanical Parts

'68 has some different brakes, brackets, some odds and ends on suspension.

Hope that helps

[Snake45]

I own a few Novas, 1962, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972 (x2).

Differences between '68, '69 and '70-'72

Interior

'68 is totally different, dash, steering wheel, steering column (ignition is on dash for '68 not on steering column), seats (no headrests), door panels (actually the doors are different, door lock pull is are the far rear of door panel while the others are 3/4 ways back.

'69-'72 interiors are practically identical, slight difference in pattern and door panel insert

Body & Trim

'68-'69 have short marker lights front/rear, taillights and rear panel, front bumper has small turn signals

'70-'72 are the same, '72 has a slightly different taillight lense

'68 SS trim is different from the other years

'69-'72 has same body trim, rocker molding, side trim etc

'68 headlight bezels are all chrome with no holes for headlight adjusting screws, '68-'72 are the same

'68 has different hood emblem, "Chevy II", '69-'72 are the same

'68 has Nova emblem on rear quarter and not on front fender

'68 trunk emblem says "Chevy II", not Nova

'68 was last year to use name "Chevy II"

'68-'69 had real radio antenna, the others had it embedded in the windshield

Mechanical Parts

'68 has some different brakes, brackets, some odds and ends on suspension.

Hope that helps

Nicely done, Mike! Thanks for taking the time to detail those differences for us!

[1972coronet]

Thank you one and all .

That was typo on my part regarding the 1968 COPO number. From all that I've read , that specific order is quite esoteric ( reminds me of the 1967 Dart GT+S ; built only the last couple months of the '67 model year , and people deny the cars' existence .)

I , like countless others, am amazed that Piggens, et al., wouldn't endorse 427 Nova . After all, the X bodies and the F bodies were kissing cousins !

Thanks again, every one , for your help , advice , and expertise. Let's keep this topic going for a while ; it's nice to learn about these kinds of specialty vehicles.

[cartpix]

68 & 69 Novas had separate back up like the Revell kit has. The 70 & 71s had small back up lights, in the center of the tail lights. 72 Novas had a large back up light, in the center of the tail lights. All body panels are interchangeable, other than different sized marker light holes & emblem holes. A little known trick, that I did to my 69 was, the doors from 73 / 74 Novas have 1 piece windows (no wind wings). I really cleans up the look of 68 - 72.

[Bob Ellis]

1968s were called Chevy IIs with that name on the hood. Then in 1969 they became Novas.

[Nova-ss]

I as well are a Nova fan..I've owned so many.it was great to see the big differences written here thanks dude.

[1972coronet]

Been pining to build a '70 Deuce and a '68 L-78 (and an L-79 for this matter) . I hope that the revitalised Revell does some reworking of its '69 Nova ( like , backdate to a '68 and run that for a few years ; then rework it into a '70 , keeping the Mark IV as an option , but with the main focus being a Yenko Deuce LT-1) .

In the meantime , I'll start converting the (much-maligned) AMT '71-'72 Nova into a phantom Deuce ( e.g. ,  a "continuation series" ) using the AMT 1970 LT-1 / 4-speed combo that I bought off of eBay a few years ago .

[mikemodeler]

I believe one other odd fact was that 1968 was the last year you could get a 4 cylinder engine in the Chevy II / Nova. Not sure how many were actually built with the 4 cylinder.