This past spring, I was shopping for a new project car for Popular Hot Rodding, when I ran into what looked like a really nice ’70 Nova at a good price. I had a pocket full of cash, and it was burning a hole in my pants something fierce. But unlike in years past, I did not let my eagerness get the best of me; I decided to take it easy, look at the situation with a more detached perspective, and only use the cash in my pocket to flash it at the last moment if a good deal was about to get away.
My mission on this day was to examine a solid-looking ’70 Nova. It had faded green paint, it was a low option car, and it had a straight six. In other words, a stripped-down grandma car. It was only five grand, and I figured I could talk the owner down to $3,500 or less, but first it would have to be worth the money.
My project goals didn’t call for a solid engine, trans, or even rear end; those things I was planning on replacing. My only drivetrain need was that it run for the short term. The main concern was that the body be straight, and rust free. The catch is that straight to the eye doesn’t always equal straight in reality, or even rust free, although it may appear that way at first. To find out, I brought with me one of those flexible, rubberized refrigerator magnets that people are always giving me.
When I arrived to look at the Nova, I pulled out the magnet, and gently dragged it across suspect areas of the body. Keep in mind, some sellers will not want you to do this, in which case, bring a thin sheet of paper to protect the car’s finish. This car’s paint was old and chalky, so it didn’t matter. I quickly discovered three or four problem areas that the current own didn’t even know about. I showed him how the magnet would just fall off the car in those places, even though the surface looked fine. I decided not to buy the car at any price, since the cost of competent body work would’ve outstripped my budget by several orders of magnitude. This simple trick saved me thousands of dollars in future repairs.