Chevrolet Nova

Chevrolet Nova: which generation to buy

Drive, boost, and layout do not change the choice: RWD, boost No, Gasoline, Carburetor, Front, longitudinal on all 44 listed versions (the generation counts sum to 62; 18 claimed slots are not in the listed arrays).

1 generation is the Cabrio years. Manuals are 3-speed; Automatics are 2-speed. Peak listed output is 250 hp on 5.4 MT and 5.4 AT. Tank 68 L, ground clearance 147 mm. Kerb weight not measured.

2 generation keeps the same 91–250 hp span and the same 68 L / 147 mm chassis figures, but every Manual gains a fourth gear (4 vs 3 in 1 generation). That is the concrete extra of 2 generation versus 1 generation on the same engine names: 2.5 MT, 3.2 MT, 3.8 MT, 4.6 MT, 5.4 MT all move from 3 to 4 gears at unchanged horsepower. Automatics stay 2-speed. New names versus 1 generation: 4.1 MT and 4.1 AT at 150 hp (110 kW) from 4096 cm³, 6 cylinders, Inline — 8 hp above 3.8 MT/3.8 AT (142 hp) and 20 hp below 4.6 MT/4.6 AT (170 hp). Body in the data: Coupe Hardtop.

3 generation is Coupe. The catalogue field counts 30 modifications; 12 versions are listed here and those 12 are the only ones that can be compared. Peak listed output falls from 250 hp to 157 hp (4.1 MT and 4.1 AT at 157 hp): 93 hp less than 1/2 generation 5.4. Manuals return to 3 gears (one less than 2 generation Manuals). Automatics remain 2-speed. This is the only generation with kerb weight: 1330–1485 kg. Ground clearance is no longer one number: 147 mm on 2.5, 3.8, and 4.1 157 hp; 124 mm on 4.1 112 hp and 5.0 MT 132 hp; 117 mm on 4.1 101 hp and 5.0 MT 117 hp (30 mm below 147 mm). Tank still 68 L. 2.5 MT/2.5 AT here are 67 kW, not 66 kW as in 1, 2, and 4 generation at the same 91 hp.

4 generation is Coupe, 1974-09-01 to 1979-12-31. Manuals are 4-speed again (same gear count as 2 generation Manuals). Automatics step to 3 gears — the only 3-speed Automatics in the four-generation set. Peak listed output is 177 hp on 5.7 MT and 5.7 AT: 73 hp below 1/2 generation 5.4 (250 hp) but 32 hp above 4 generation 5.0 MT/5.0 AT (145 hp). Fuel grade in the data is 80, not 76 as in generations 1–3. Tank not measured. Kerb weight not measured. Ground clearance 147 mm on every listed 4 generation version. The Automatic six-cylinder is named 3.8AT (no space) — that string is the catalogue name, not 3.8 AT.

Drive, boost, and layout do not change the choice: RWD, boost No, Gasoline, Carburetor, Front, longitudinal on all 44 listed versions (the generation counts sum to 62; 18 claimed slots are not in the listed arrays).

Engines and specs

Power per litre (hp ÷ displacement in litres) is the fair engine-to-engine stick when 0–100 is not measured.

5.4 MT/5.4 AT are the densest engines in the set at 46.7 hp/L — 10.0 hp/L above 2.5 (36.2 hp/L) and 16.3 hp/L above 4 generation 5.0 (29.0 hp/L). 4.1 MT/4.1 AT 157 hp is the densest six at 38.4 hp/L. The same 4.1 name at 101 hp is 24.7 hp/L: 56 hp and 13.7 hp/L less than the 157 hp pair, on the same 4093 cm³. 5.0 MT 117 hp is the thinnest listed engine at 23.3 hp/L.

Torque where measured: 2.5 206 Nm at 2400 rpm; 3.8 298 Nm at 1600 rpm (92 Nm more, 800 rpm earlier); 4.1 101 hp 237 Nm at 1600; 4.1 112 hp 251 Nm at 1600; 4.1 157 hp 319 Nm at 1600; 5.0 MT 117 hp 278 Nm at 2000; 5.0 MT 132 hp 312 Nm at 2400; 5.7 343 Nm at 2800. Torque on 3.2, 4.6, 5.4, and 4 generation 5.0 is not measured. Compression 8.5 where given; 4.1 101 hp is 8.25.

Performance and economy

0–100 km/h: not measured on every listed version. Top speed: not measured. City / highway / combined consumption: not measured. CO2: not measured. Eco class: not measured. You cannot rank mpg from this catalogue; you can only rank displacement, hp, and (in 3 generation) kg per hp.

Dimensions and weight

Ground clearance is 147 mm on all of 1, 2, and 4 generation. In 3 generation it is 147 mm, 124 mm, or 117 mm as above. Tank 68 L in generations 1–3; not measured in 4 generation. Wheel sizes: not measured. Gross weight: not measured.

Kerb weight exists only in 3 generation:

• 2.5 MT 1330 kg → 14.62 kg/hp
• 2.5 AT 1340 kg → 14.73 kg/hp (10 kg more than 2.5 MT)
• 3.8 MT 1380 kg → 9.72 kg/hp
• 3.8 AT 1370 kg → 9.65 kg/hp (10 kg lighter than 3.8 MT)
• 4.1 MT 101 hp 1425 kg → 14.11 kg/hp
• 4.1 AT 101 hp 1437 kg → 14.23 kg/hp
• 4.1 MT 112 hp and 4.1 AT 112 hp 1375 kg → 12.28 kg/hp
• 4.1 MT 157 hp and 4.1 AT 157 hp 1430 kg → 9.11 kg/hp (lightest kg/hp in the listed set)
• 5.0 MT 117 hp 1485 kg → 12.69 kg/hp (heaviest car, 155 kg over 2.5 MT)
• 5.0 MT 132 hp 1435 kg → 10.87 kg/hp

Automatic versus Manual is not a fixed weight penalty: +10 kg on 2.5 AT, −10 kg on 3.8 AT, +12 kg on 4.1 AT 101 hp, 0 kg on both 112 hp and 157 hp 4.1 pairs.

Which version to choose

Want the most listed horsepower. Take 1 generation or 2 generation 5.4 MT or 5.4 AT: 250 hp, 183 kW, 5359 cm³, 8 V-shaped, 46.7 hp/L. Versus 4.6 MT/4.6 AT (170 hp, 4637 cm³) that is +80 hp and +722 cm³. Versus 2.5 MT/2.5 AT (91 hp, 2512 cm³) that is +159 hp and +2847 cm³. Prefer 2 generation 5.4 MT if you want those 250 hp with a 4-speed Manual instead of the 3-speed 5.4 MT in 1 generation. Prefer 5.4 AT only if you accept a 2-speed Automatic at the same 250 hp. 5.4 does not exist in 3 or 4 generation.

Want the strongest listed 3 generation car, with a weight figure. Take 4.1 MT 157 hp or 4.1 AT 157 hp: 157 hp (115 kW), 319 Nm at 1600 rpm, 4093 cm³, 38.4 hp/L, 1430 kg, 9.11 kg/hp, clearance 147 mm, tank 68 L. Do not take a 4.1 by name alone: 4.1 MT 101 hp is 56 hp weaker, 24.7 hp/L, 1425 kg, 14.11 kg/hp, clearance 117 mm. 4.1 MT 112 hp sits in the middle: 112 hp, 27.4 hp/L, 1375 kg, 12.28 kg/hp, clearance 124 mm. The 157 hp six beats both listed 5.0 MT eights: 25 hp above 5.0 MT 132 hp and 40 hp above 5.0 MT 117 hp, at 5 kg less than 5.0 MT 132 hp (1430 vs 1435 kg) and 55 kg less than 5.0 MT 117 hp (1485 kg).

Want a V-shaped 8 after 1974. 4 generation 5.7 MT / 5.7 AT: 177 hp, 343 Nm at 2800 rpm, 5733 cm³, 30.9 hp/L. That is +32 hp and +65 Nm versus 5.0 MT/5.0 AT (145 hp, torque not measured, 4998 cm³). It is still 73 hp and 15.8 hp/L below 1/2 generation 5.4. 5.7 MT is the 4-speed Manual; 5.7 AT is the 3-speed Automatic — one more Automatic gear than any 5.4 AT.

Want the 4 generation six, not the 8. 3.8 MT (142 hp, Manual 4) or 3.8AT (142 hp, Automatic 3). Same 3768 cm³, 298 Nm at 1600 rpm, 37.7 hp/L as 1–3 generation 3.8. Do not pick 4.1 MT/4.1 AT in 4 generation for more power: they are 112 hp, 38 hp below 2 generation 4.1 (150 hp) and 30 hp below the same-generation 3.8. 4.1 112 hp is 27.4 hp/L versus 3.8 37.7 hp/L.

Want a four-cylinder. 2.5 MT or 2.5 AT, 91 hp, 2512 cm³, 36.2 hp/L, 206 Nm at 2400 rpm in every generation where they appear. 3.2 MT/3.2 AT (1 and 2 generation only) add 29 hp and 667 cm³ (120 hp, 3179 cm³, 37.7 hp/L); torque not measured. 3.8 adds another 22 hp and 589 cm³ versus 3.2 (142 vs 120 hp). For gears: 2.5 MT is 3-speed in 1 and 3 generation, 4-speed in 2 and 4 generation; 2.5 AT is 2-speed until 4 generation, then 3-speed. 3 generation 2.5 is the only 2.5 with a kerb weight (1330 / 1340 kg) and the only 2.5 at 67 kW.

Want 2 generation without the 8. 4.1 MT 150 hp (Manual 4) or 4.1 AT 150 hp (Automatic 2), 4096 cm³, 36.6 hp/L. Versus 3.8 MT/3.8 AT at 142 hp: +8 hp, +328 cm³. Versus 4.6 MT/4.6 AT at 170 hp: −20 hp, −541 cm³, and you stay 6 Inline instead of 8 V-shaped. Displacement 4096 cm³ is 3 cm³ above 3/4 generation 4.1 (4093 cm³).

Manual versus Automatic, same engine. Horsepower does not change with the gearbox on any listed pair. What changes is gear count: Manual 3 (1 generation; 3 generation) or 4 (2 generation; 4 generation); Automatic 2 (1–3 generation) or 3 (4 generation only). If the extra ratio is the reason to buy, 2 generation Manuals and 4 generation Automatics are the two places the data actually adds a gear.

Problems and reliability. No failure rates, service intervals, or problem lists are in this dataset; treat them as not measured. Chassis pattern that is measured: Drum / Drum, Independent, spring / Dependent, leaf spring, RWD, boost No, on every listed version — those items do not separate a “better” Nova from a weaker one.

Short buy map. Peak hp: 5.4 MT (prefer 2 generation for 4 Manual gears) or 5.4 AT. Best documented kg/hp: 3 generation 4.1 MT or 4.1 AT 157 hp. Last-generation 8: 5.7 MT or 5.7 AT. Default six that does not change output across 18 years of listings: 3.8 MT / 3.8 AT / 3.8AT at 142 hp. Floor: 2.5 MT / 2.5 AT at 91 hp. Never order 4.1 or 5.0 by name without the horsepower: 4.1 is 101, 112, 150, or 157 hp; 5.0 MT is 117, 132, or 145 hp.