Another 1970 Nova L78 Story

[jwbavalon]

In June of 1968, I saw my first Z28 Camaro at a Vancouver Chev dealer. I was interested. Although money held me back, it was the fact that it was a 4 speed that stopped me because I didn’t know how to drive a stick.

A few years passed and it was January 1970 and I was looking for a new car. I still wanted a Z28 and there were still some 1969 available but they were 4 speeds and the new Camaro was delayed. I saw an ad at a Chev dealer in North Vancouver where I lived at the time. They had a fully optioned 1970 Nova L78 SS396 with automatic. I went down to look and test drove and sat down to negotiate the terms. I could not pass the financial test for repayment. The salesman said they had another SS396 L78 Nova with very few options (bench seat, no radio, no carpet, no console) but a M20 4 speed. We went for a test drive and after what seemed like all afternoon of stalling and leap frogging on starts, the very patient salesman and I struck a deal. I picked up the car a few days later in a heavy rain storm and drove up it home. Each night after work I’d take the car to the local supermarket parking lot and practiced starting, stopping and shifting. By Friday night I was ready for my night out. I successfully maneuvered the upper deck of the downtown parking lot and that was that. I was able to drive a stick. For over 10 years the L78 became my daily driver through sun, rain and snow. Its early life was parked outside and later in a garage. It never let me down.

I did try to trade it in in the early 70s but there was no market for muscle cars and dealers did not even want it as a trade. I kept the car and as years passed it became the 2nd car then in 1986 parked waiting for a restoration. That never happened. A local guy dropped by each year asking if it was for sale and finally, I said yes. In 1990 it traded hands along with the POP, broadcast sheet, invoice, etc. and was on its way to a full restoration. I kept in touch and saw the finished car at a number of local car shows. I then lost track of the car till last year but by chance did an internet search on the VIN and up it popped. It had just sold at the Mecum Auctions, Osceola Heritage Park, Kissimmee, FL, during the January 2-12, 2020 auction.

It brought back a lot of memories but no regrets. It has been looked after during the last 50 years and I hope the new owner is enjoying his new ride.

And to complete the story, I did buy a 1968 Z28 with a “born with” drive train this last summer so my circle is complete.

This is the listing for my old Nova. When I owned the car it had red steel wheels with dog dish covers and white wall tires. Other than that, it looks the same.