Special Paint/Hugger Orange 1969 L78 Nova

68-69-70Nova SSL78 · #1 09-10-2009, 05:14 AM

Need so help. Looking thru the Supercars/Musclecars for sale section I ran across a Special Paint/Hugger Orange/Double dash 1969 Nova L78 (absolutely georgeous) for sale. It say's this a very rare/limited option. I also have a documented double dash/hugger orange/special paint L78 Nova, which is unrestored original (original motor, trans, rear end,etc.). I bought this car about a year ago about 30 miles south of Pittsburgh. My question is are these double dash/special paint cars really that rare? If anybody has knowledge on this issue it would really help. Thanks Ed

**1969l78** · #2 09-10-2009, 05:22 AM

Great question, I would say they are a bit rare. Wish there was a way to find out gm's color production number of cars. I have a burnished brown L78 nova and have never seen another.

92646 · #3 09-10-2009, 05:38 AM

I have seen a few factory orange Novas and I used to own a 1968 SS350 that was factory orange. Dash-dash paint codes are rare and are worth more to some people. I think one of the big reasons for the price on the orange 1969 L78 Nova in the cars for sale section here is because of the quality of the restoration.

68-69-70Nova SSL78 · #4 09-10-2009, 05:43 AM

I guess to get a double dash you would order any paint GM offered other than stock colors for the Nova. If it the color was offered in a Nova you would get that number paint code, Forest Green code 48, etc. Looking up camaro a while back the only color not offered to the nova but was offered to the camaro was Daytona Yellow and Hugger Orange. But you could have ordered other GM colors with the special paint/double dash. If that makes sense.

Schonyenko2 · #5 09-10-2009, 08:05 AM

This is the first -- special paint H/O L78 Nova I've ever personally seen. I know of one other on the East coast. I lived through the hey day of the muscle car years, and never saw one that was original. I think there were more -- special paint Novas done in firemist Caddy colors than H/O. I can think of at least three of those off hand. My semi educated guess on H/O L78 Novas would be somewhere around 70-- H/O Chevelles numbers. Maybe 10-20.
The Grossman connection I think is interesting as they were a Yenko network dealer, and also sold ZL1s. Where was yours sold new from?
Please post some pics of your car. I'd be very interested to see it.

**72-SS-L48** · #6 09-10-2009, 05:01 PM

A while back I was looking at a 69 L78 Chevelle special paint code. It was one of only a couple I had ever seen.

[ QUOTE ]
I have seen a few factory orange Novas and I used to own a 1968 SS350 that was factory orange. Dash-dash paint codes are rare and are worth more to some people. I think one of the big reasons for the price on the orange 1969 L78 Nova in the cars for sale section here is because of the quality of the restoration.

[/ QUOTE ]

In your opinion what is an Original L-78 Nova worth that is not a special paint code but has a top notch restoration?

-Dave

**YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY** · #7 09-10-2009, 08:52 PM

I've seen my fair share of Novas, and a - - paint code is fairly rare. When you do see one, the color is usually a non chev color like Schoneye points out. I usually see the Caddy and Buick colors, and usually in the deep rich golds and chocalates.

92646 · #8 09-10-2009, 09:40 PM

Dave if your car is perfectly restored, has the original drive train and is documented as you stated. I would think $85,000 would be a good number to shoot for and more if you are willing to wait for the right buyer. All I have seen sell recently are very nice original low mileage documented cars with born with drive trains and those have changed hands in the $70,000 range. The problem with L/78 Novas is that so many of them have been restored with wrong parts that when one is done right it stands out. To be honest I think a dash-dash paint code in the right color is a plus but that does not mean the next buyer would prefer your color over a black car that he really wants for what ever personal reason.
Mark Sheppard

68-69-70Nova SSL78 · #9 09-11-2009, 06:17 AM

Dave I bought a 17,000 mile unrestored forest Green 1970 L78 Nova last year (May). This car has a much docunmentation as I have ever seen. When I evaluated the car we asked what was not original to the car. Headers, aluminum high rise, fiberglass fan, and electric fuel pump. Bolt ons we all changed when we bought our musclecars. Thats it. I have decided not to restore it at this time, it's still that nice. Let me add that my very first car when I was 16 was a brand new 70 forest green L78 novs that was the twin to this one except that this one has a green vinyl top. So it was love at first sight again 30 some years later. I paid 68k for the car but there are so many variables for someone to pony up the green. Is it a personnal thing like me. How bad is the owner willing to sell, etc. I think 65k to 85k is realistic for a car that is original unrestored or a very very nice restored. But thats what I would pay.

**Salvatore** · #10 09-11-2009, 06:38 AM

I have seen real nice ones in the $65,000 range. Seems like the 69 cars bring a little more. I think it is a good decision not to restore your car. Those changes we all made to our cars in those days. After all we did not buy these cars for comfort or gas mileage but to RACE!