Originally Posted by michael1
I found a 70 nova and was wondering how can I tell if it is a SS. The car has SS emblems on it and it has a 12 bolt rearend in it. I know with a chevelle if the vin starts with a 138 it is a SS. Can you tell me what does the nova have to start with to be a SS? Thanks
I'm sorry I do not know much about all that. There is a site called "steves nova site" I think...might try there. Even if there is no VIN character that will tell you,I bet there are clues that will tell someone that knows what to look for....I know there are some sharp chevelle guys around that can pick out a clone pretty quick based on small details that are missed.
But the 138 thing isn't completely true about a chevelle...only certain years is that true. I THINK up to 69..I know that there is
no way to tell by the VIN on 1970 and up,because "SS" was just an option, not another model of car....
I would suspect it is the same for the nova.
the only one that is completely provable by the VIN in the 70 and up Chevelle is a 72 with a 454 because 454 was only available in SS optioned cars. 1972 was the first year that the engine was identified in the VIN...454 being a "W" as the 5th character.So any 72 Chevelle with a "W" in the vin was an SS ...but it could have been an SS with any v8 except the 307.