Old or New?

[michael6372]

Hello everyone! I am looking for your opinion on this as I cannot make a decision. I have a 70 Nova, Thinking about doing a full build on it. I am also wanting a Z06/ZR1 very, very badly. The Nova will cost as much or more than either of the Vettes(new or used). I owned a Z06 a couple of years ago and loved it! I just cannot get the old cars out of my blood!

There are alot of good points and bad for each car. With my work schedule, I'm afraid I will not get much use out of the Nova but could use the Vette more often.It would take a while to save enough money to do the Nova and I would have to have a shop build it because I do not have the tools or ability to build it. I really wish I could do it myself but I know I do not have the abulity and want it to be a great car when done(if I do it)

So, If you were in my position, what would you do? Please vote and give your reasoning for the choice.

THANK YOU!!

Michael

[DHarrison]

I can definitely understand your dilemma. However, with the technology that is being put into these pro touring cars today is pretty impressive. If you were to put an LS engine and complete pro touring suspension on the Nova....it would have the reliability and handling of a new car. A lot of people have new Corvettes, but how many people in your area have a pro touring Nova? The new Corvettes are very nice, but a rebuilt muscle car has a look that is second to none (in my opinion).

[brownz]

vette now build the nova over time, get what you are going to get the most use out of.

[NWEBER540]

love old but go new drive it everyday

[NWEBER540]

looking to sell my chevelle to buy a zo6

[king869]

I agree that there are a lot of vette's out there but how often do you see a pro-touring Nova?! With that being said if you can't do it yourself it will definately be costly, I think it comes down to how much you wanna spend and how soon you want to start driving it...

[shortrack]

not my quote but "truly great cars are built not bought....."

[SLO_Z28]

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/11/sucp_1104_07_ospeed_techs_1972_chevy_nov-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

Which of those excites you? Its a personal preference, and a choice you alone have to make. Whatever you choose make sure your absolutely committed to it.

[Trevon]

Get a Vette if you want, and make the Nova a driver and have fun with it; work on it over time...as others have said.

[Rod]

build the nova, with corvette suspension and you have both in one parking spot!! oh and one more thing, drive the piss out of it

[Snake Eater]

I'd go vette, ZR1 is bad to the bone. Absolutely loved my vette, building the Nova over time has its rewards as well, especially as new parts and upgrades are coming out. Gives you time to really get the Nova right, while burning down the road in the vette.

[Yelcamino]

If you're in the position to buy the Vette, I say do it so you can have something to enjoy now! The Nova should be your source of relaxation and creativity, something you can craft to your personal tastes and not be in a rush to get it done. In the end, you'll have two very cool cars.

[Bryce]

Almost anyone can buy a vette, but not everyone can build a cool looking, great handling pro-touring vehicle.

[exwestracer]

Here's the hard question you have to answer:

How..long...do...you...want...to...wait...to drive it.

If you like both and can afford to do either, that's all that matters...

[solarguy09]

I just love my Old school.

I am finishing all the underneath Pro Touring stuff and running the Factory drive line for now.

But if I go New tech drive line, I will be pushing Z06 prices by then...

But to compete with them in all categories, I would have too.

Tough Choice, but for you, I would Go Z06...

Then down the road, you can get a PT project, or one already done...

IMHO...

[anthonys 69]

get the vett and do a mild build on the nova you’ll love it. don’t get rid of the nova you’ll regret it

[parsonsj]

Here's a third choice: sell the 70 Nova, and buy a finished PT car. If you have Z06 money, you'll be able to get a sweet car, then tweak over time to make it your own.

[trapin]

I would build the Nova instead. Some of these new cars are truly great; Mustang GT500, ZO6, New ZL1 Camaro...but they will never have the coolness factor of a Pro-Touring '70 Nova. Why? Because they're essentially everywhere you look; they're all over the place. Hell even a C6 ZO6 is pretty common these days (sorry John).

But a '70 Pro-Touring Nova? I mean c'mon...how often do you see that in your neck of the woods?

I can tell you this, in Michigan...there aren't any that I know of and if there were there would be accidents happening all over the road from people doing double-takes to look at it.

Nova baby. Nova. :)

[parsonsj]

Hell even a C6 ZO6 is pretty common these days (sorry John).No apology needed! I have two neighbors with Z06s. One blue, one red. They both have extensive diaper collections with which to rub their babies.

They shake their heads when I roll by with mine on a trailer, covered in rubber and brake dust.

[sixfivepost]

Similar to what others are saying, it really depends on how you plan to enjoy it.

Pros
Nova: Attend classic car shows, attend performance car gatherings like Cars and Coffee, have something unlike anyone else, possibility of increasing in value as it ages like fine wine, back seat, auto crosses, track time, fairly inexpensive classic car insurance.

Corvette: Attend performance car gatherings and Vette clubs, drive it every day, modern conveniences, warranty, ease of repair if it gets damaged, auto crosses, track time, buy and drive immediately, easy to customize, not having to deal with the restoration headaches.

Cons
Nova: Headaches and pain associated with restoration process, difficult to repair the right way if it gets damaged, minimal warranty if any depending on builder, due to uniqueness probably not a daily driver, fear of getting damaged, long wait to drive it before it's completed.

Corvette: Just another Corvette, no classic car shows, insurance costs, 2 seats, depreciating asset.

These are just a few pros and cons; some may matter to you more than others.

The Nova may not cost as much as a brand new Z06 or especially a ZR1. I'm in the middle of a full frame off and it will cost me about $60k when done, but I'm not going LS. It's a mild pro-touring/resto mod with nice PT suspension, beautiful body and paint, but with a traditional small block Chevy for various reasons including cost (mods to make one fit). It all depends on the shop. My shop only charges $50 per hour and many are much higher than that. This guy has done some award winning magazine cars.

I too wish I could have the best of both worlds. An awesome classic car and a modern performance/luxury car, but I don't have the income for both. There are other options. Sell the Nova and buy one that's already completed. It will save you tons of $$. In hindsight, I wish I would have done just that, but I've had the Chevelle for over 25 years, so there is some emotional ties to this car for me. I could have sold it for about $7k and purchased a completed, decent car for around $30k which would have left $$ towards a modern car as well.

When I first started, I was doing the work myself, but due to space restrictions (modest 2 car garage), time, and etc, I shipped it off to a shop. My original budget was about $30k total for a nice driver. However, after finding all of the issues with this AZ car (lol), the budget spiraled out of control due to having to replace just about all of the steel (floors, quarters, wheel houses, trunk, rear window frame, etc, etc, etc... Once you start a restoration, you never know what's going to turn up and you're pretty much stuck unless you want to take the car back in boxes. PITA and lots of stress. It will never be worth what I've put into it; at least not for the foreseeable future. It will be nice to have something unique that I can show off at local classic car shows, enjoy driving, but if I were to do it all over again, I'd be more than happy to walk into a dealership and leave with a nice, fun, fast, car. Heck, I would be happy with a $40k Boss 302 Mustang (rare, fun, fairly unique) or a ZL1 Camaro. Those are both much cheaper than a ZO6 or ZR1.

ZR1 = over $100k
Nova restoration: $50k to $80k depending on how crazy you get.

Hope that helps...

[andrewb70]

Almost anyone can buy a vette, but not everyone can build a cool looking, great handling pro-touring vehicle.

Ding...ding...ding... Personally I am a builder. I love planning project and solving various technical challenges. That is just what I enjoy. Other people enjoy driving and racing, and that is OK too. I like owning cars that are unique. I see Vettes daily. Then again, a new will beat 99.9% of all "pro-touring" old cars. I didn't make this easier, did I? LOL Andrew

[Bryce]

Ding...ding...ding... Personally I am a builder. I love planning project and solving various technical challenges. That is just what I enjoy. Other people enjoy driving and racing, and that is OK too. I like owning cars that are unique. I see Vettes daily. Then again, a new will beat 99.9% of all "pro-touring" old cars. I didn't make this easier, did I? LOL Andrew


Thanks Andrew, I agree with that! I like building.

[michael6372]

I wish I had the ability to build the car. I have always dreamed of being able to build a car like the great pro-touring cars here. I know once I had it tore apart I would be in over my head. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to give their opinions and I hope more will continue to give them in this thread! I need all the help I can get!!

Michael

[andrewb70]

I wish I had the ability to build the car. I have always dreamed of being able to build a car like the great pro-touring cars here. I know once I had it tore apart I would be in over my head. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to give their opinions and I hope more will continue to give them in this thread! I need all the help I can get!!

Michael

Sounds like you got your answer. Enjoy the car, no matter what direction you go in.

Andrew

[Todd in Vancouver]

if you're in the position to buy the vette, i say do it so you can have something to enjoy now! The nova should be your source of relaxation and creativity, something you can craft to your personal tastes and not be in a rush to get it done. In the end, you'll have two very cool cars.

x 2

[ChassisPro]

Almost anyone can buy a vette, but not everyone can build a cool looking, great handling pro-touring vehicle.

I have to agree. Plus when you pull up at a cruise in or car show, the nova will get way more attention.

[Tomswheels]

Love the new Vette, but figured for the same $$ I could buy the new Mustang AND find my next old car project... At least that's how I got the wife to buy off on it.

[SRD art]

Almost sounds like the Vette is where you're heart is headed in the first place. I love Novas and own 2 of them right now. However, a Nova won't do 200 mph. A Nova won't drive down the road as smoothly and quietly as the Vette and won't quite handle like a Vette without painstaking care and lots of $. If you just want the feel of a Vette, why not buy one that is a few years older and has a much lower price tag, and then build the street machine Nova in time, as has been suggested. That's what I'd do.

PS if you did the Nova you could fit 4 people in it, I see that as a plus over the Vette.