Dealer kept a 1972 Chevrolet Nova hidden for 35 years in California due to the surprise under the hood

The Chevy Nova was among the best-selling muscle cars in the 1970s, but the 1972 Chevrolet Nova got a new trim without the larger engine and for a good reason.

It was because the ’72 version had a Rally Sport trim that offered the same appearance as a Super Sport (SS) just without the power of its performance V8 engine.

A dealer in California got his hands on one of these Novas with the V8 but never managed to restore it to its former glory.

This is why he is now selling the car after keeping it for 35 years, hoping someone does what he couldn’t.

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The 1972 Chevrolet Nova SS got all the attention

To be fair, the Chevrolet Nova wasn’t just a great muscle car, but also something that many wanted to get their hands on.

For instance, celebrities like Joe Rogan and Johnny Depp still have a Nova in their car collections.

It boasted a 350 cubic-inch V8 that sent out somewhere around 175 to 190 horsepower.

The toned-down version without the V8 obviously was there for those who only wanted a Nova that looked like the SS trim, so it wasn’t all that special.

As discovered by Autoevolution, the eBay seller ‘xceptional’ bought the muscle car along with several other cars, hoping he would find the time to restore all of them.

However, he couldn’t find the time to get all of them shined up, so the Nova stayed in his garage for well over three decades.

If he had followed through, the car would have been a gem because even a burned Nova managed to come back to life after a proper restoration.

It’s a promising package

What makes it special is that the 350 V8 is still alive and kicking, and the seller even has a video of the car with its engine on.

They also have a video of it running — and they even threw in new tires, a battery, water pumps, and some other minor adjustments to ensure it’s completely functional.

Moreover, the car comes with most things stock, and as the seller emphasized, it still has the factory air conditioning setup.

But that’s just about it — because it still is a car that needs restoration.

The 1972 Chevrolet Nova SS’s interior needs reupholstery, the floor needs some work, and the bodywork needs repairs.

The condition might not seem too appealing, but its functional V8 under the hood probably compensates for everything else.