3rd Gen Novas

So my wife has been wanting to learn how to tell the difference between years of cars. Specifically the 68-72 Chevys (yes I had some influence on this). So far she has learned the Camaros, Chevelles/Malibu, Corvettes but she cant get down the Chevy II/Nova. Ive looked around and maybe I just havent looked in the right spot. Im trying to find something that will clearly define or show pictures of what to look for to tell each model year apart. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Ive already shown her the pictures of the side markers to help between 68-69 and 70-74.

I have a 71 and know they changed a few things from the 68-69. Im not definate on all the details but I think they changed the ignition key location. Some of the factory options changed also within those years. I would definately check out this page for some more details.



http://www.novaresource.org/history.htm

http://www.novaresource.org/sitemap.htm

I checked out the site and I guess Im looking for more info on the exterior aspect of model year differences. Like the Chevelles having 4 headlights in 68-70 but the grills are different 68-69 and then 70 they have a flatter front end and different grill. I know its not as drastic a change for the Novas but thats the info Im looking for to make it clear to the wife. I try to be a little to through sometimes.

Did you look here for some good factory photos?

http://www.novaresource.org/ads3.htm

Good dimensions here as well

http://www.novaresource.org/dimensions.htm


Good compare here.

http://www.novaresource.org/ads/71_02.jpg

I didnt see that one but I hadnt thought about lookig there either. Thanks!!!!

68-69 are very simular and 70-72 are simular.
68 have Chevy II on the hood lip molding.
68 have Nova script emblem on the rear quarters 69 do not.
68-69 use small marker lights on the side front and rear.
70-72 use longer side marker lenses front and rear.
70 have clear front signal lenses.
71 have amber front signal
72 I'm not sure on exterior differences from 71

Sorry I don't have pics of all this.

68/69 also share the same parking/turn signal lamps shorter and wider, and the tail lights are narrower with the reverse lights inboard as apposed smaller and in the center of a wider tail light.

I just thought it was ironic, finished decoding my cowl tag and the page above looks like it is the original color of my nova.

anyone have pictures of a 73 chamois exterior and neutral interior?

The clear backup light portion of the tail light lens on the 70-71 are rectanguler and on the 72 they are more square and 72s have amber front turn signals too.That's the only exterier difference that I can see for 72.

'68 was quite unique and was basically a one year vehicle. It shared external sheet metal with a '69 but thats about it. '68 had Chevy-II logo on the hood and trunk. '68 had the "Super Sport" script on the bottom rear of the front fenders.

Correct '70-'71 has a different tail light lens than a '72.
'68 & '69 have larger openings in the grill than a '70-'72.

Rally wheels changed between '69 and '70 too.
Hubcaps varried between years. In '69 the dog dish was the stock hubcap.

You can look at the dealer brochures here.
http://www.classicnovas.net/brochure/index.htm

73-74 The park lights moved to the grille, the tail lights are 4 rectangles, and the quarter windows got squared off. The easiest way to distinguish between 73 and 74 is the bumpers. The 73 front has no vertical rubber bumper gaurds, and no emblem in the grille (unless it's an SS), and the rectangular holes in the front bumper are larger on the 73, the 73 bumpers are also closer to the car, than the 74. The 73 had steel mounts for the bumpers, the 74 had the energy absorbers (like a shock), mounted between the bumpers and the car.

Pat

73 and later Novas are ugly. That's the best way to tell them apart. Sorry to all you 73-74 owners reading this - they've just never been my cup of tea. Although there is a 76 sitting at my parents' place that I may eventually buy and restore.

It looks like everone has the differences covered, so I'll post some pics.

68

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/3/web/2475000-2475999/2475706_3_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/3/web/2475000-2475999/2475706_4_full.jpg

69

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/10/web/2686000-2686999/2686564_16_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/10/web/2686000-2686999/2686564_7_full.jpg

70

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/12/web/2532000-2532999/2532222_259_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/12/web/2532000-2532999/2532222_260_full.jpg

71

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/11/web/203000-203999/203082_2_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/11/web/203000-203999/203082_22_full.jpg

72

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/7/web/763000-763999/763439_23_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/7/web/763000-763999/763439_25_full.jpg

Of course, they are not all the same because of different trim levels, customization, etc.

a couple other SMALL thing

after 70 the v8 cars didn't have the fish gills on the lower part of the fender, but some 71 cars had them. 6 cylinder cars you're sorta stuck on figuring it out

in 68-70 cars the interior dash lights were sort of green, whereas with 71-up they were more clear. the numbers on the gauges on 68-70 cars have a greenish hue

the dome lamp on 71-up cars is round vs. the oblong/rectangular swept one on 70 and down cars.

72-up have a seatbelt warning lamp in the dash. too bad this stuff is easy to swap

72-up cars should have an "x" in the vin if they're 350/4bbl but i'm not completely sure on that.

71-up will have a charcoal canister behind the back seat leading into the trunk, as well as in the engine bay



basically it's tough. something 71-up has rubberized knobs for the radio and the wipers too, though ALL that stuff is easy to change. good luck memorizing that stuff

basically it's tough. something 71-up has rubberized knobs for the radio and the wipers too, though ALL that stuff is easy to change. good luck memorizing that stuff

My 73 had a plastic knob for the windshield wipers but the headlight switch was rubber.

There were a lot of changes form 68-74 but if your trying to distinguish an 68 and a 69 or a 70 and a 71 its a little tough but the changes are there, you juust have to really know what to look for, i'd rather just be able to guess within a year:D

after 70 the v8 cars didn't have the fish gills on the lower part of the fender, but some 71 cars had them.

Based on the Nova Resource website the fender louvers are part of the following option packages. While the SS package does normally(some of the early SS cars had 6 bangers) mean you have a V8 the Custom Exterior package has nothing to do with the motor that came in the car.

Custom Exterior Package - RPO ZJ2 ('69, '70)
http://novaresource.org/rpo_ZJ2.htm

Super Sport - RPO Z26 ('69, '70)
http://novaresource.org/rpo_Z26.htm

Based on the Nova Resource website the fender louvers are part of the following option packages. While the SS package does normally(some of the early SS cars had 6 bangers) mean you have a V8 the Custom Exterior package has nothing to do with the motor that came in the car.

Custom Exterior Package - RPO ZJ2 ('69, '70)
http://novaresource.org/rpo_ZJ2.htm

Super Sport - RPO Z26 ('69, '70)
http://novaresource.org/rpo_Z26.htm

interesting. sorry for my mis quote there.

one thing i forgot, the vertical bars on the grilles of the 70-72 are close together and there are more of them. 68/69 cars have a better looking grille in my opinion

I guess this is why Ive had such a problem defining all the 68-72 Novas. Chevelles and El Caminos Ive got down due to the changes in front and rear ends. I guess I will just stick to getting it in the right year ranges. Does anyone know if theres certain trim options for only certain years?

all that stuff came off the top of my head as did pretty much everyone else on here. you're just not enough of a nova guy to memorize it...