Please note that this is NOT a list of parts for sale. The purpose of this list is to help fellow Nova enthusiasts determine which restoration and repair parts will fit a 1973 Nova.

The "Avail from Parts Suppliers" column lists the availability status.

• Yes = you can buy this part from most all Nova restoration parts suppliers.
• Some = you can buy this part from only one or two of the Nova restoration parts suppliers.
• No = none of the Nova parts suppliers sell that part.
  See my Locating Restoration Parts page for tips on locating these type of parts.

The "GM PN" column lists the original GM part number for the part (if available). These numbers are listed as LEFT / RIGHT. I've taken these numbers from several different sources so there may be some inaccuracies. Many of these numbers have been discontinued by GM or superseded with new numbers. However, they are still useful for reference and parts identification purposes.

Parts listed in green will physically fit a '73 Nova but are not technically correct for '73. The notes following the listing give more details about the differences.

Jump to:

• Body Panels & Trim Parts
• Emblems & Nameplates
• Window Glass & Mirrors
• Special Molding & Trim
• Wheels & Hub Caps

Body Panels and Trim Parts:

These parts are used on all '73 Novas. See the Special Moldings and Trim section for optional parts. These parts are listed in order from the front to the back of the car.

Emblems and Nameplates:

Window Glass, Moldings and Mirrors:

* Check with local auto glass shops for availability. Restoration parts suppliers do sell some glass but shipping can be difficult and expensive.

Special Moldings and Trim:

These parts are optional pieces not found on all '73 Novas.

Wheels and Hub Caps:

This table lists wheels and hub caps that were standard or optional equipment on all '73 Novas. Some of these wheels and hub caps were also used on other Chevy cars.

Notes:

1. A '74 front bumper is cosmetically different (narrower slots), but will fit a '73 and can be mounted in one of two ways:
   • Use existing '73 brackets and filler panel with just the outer chrome "shell" part of a '74 bumper. This method would not use the '74 inner bumper reinforcement panel.
   • Use the entire '74 bumper assembly (including the energy absorbing mounts and filler panel).
2. All 3 pieces of the '73 filler panel are plastic. The '74 filler panel has a metal center with plastic ends. Due to the different mounting methods of the filler panels, they are only interchangeable if the corresponding year bumper mounting system is used.
   
   A company called Replica Plastics lists reproduction '73 Nova body to bumper filler panels on their web site at www.replica-plastics.com/Chevrolet.html
   
   
3. '73 and '74 grilles are the same but the '74 has a bow-tie emblem. SS and standard grilles are also the same except for the color and emblem. The standard grille is silver while the SS grille is black with silver on the 2nd & 5th horizontal rows.
4. Radiator supports used with '73 - '74 heavy duty cooling and '68 - '70 big blocks have a wider radiator opening (23" versus 20" wide radiator core).
   A standard radiator support can be modified by cutting out the opening (along the pre-stamped pattern) and moving the LH lower rubber mount to the outboard position.
5. '68 - '69 fenders and quarter panels have smaller side marker light holes. Most reproduction rear quarter panel skins have the marker light holes in the correct position for '73/'74 (the '70 - '72 lights were slightly farther back).
6. '75 - '79 side marker lights have different "SAE" markings than '70 - '74 lights. Otherwise, the rear ones are physically interchangeable. The front ones have different "index tangs" where they fit the bezel studs so minor modifications would be necessary.
   '70 - '79 rear marker light bezels are all the same and are also used on the front of '75 - '79. The front bezels on '70 - '74 have a slightly different contour (to fit the fender) and different "index tangs" as well.
7. '68 - '72 hood lip is slightly different, but can still accept the '73 - '74 molding.
   '68 - '72 SS hoods have holes for louvers. '73 - '74 SS don't have louvers.
8. '68 - '72 doors will fit a '73, but they have vent windows and would require matching interior door panels.
   '68 doors are similar to '69 - '72 doors but the interior lock knobs are farther back.
   '68 - '72 outer door skins should fit '73 - '74 doors with little to no modifications (may need to modify to deal with the absence of the vent windows).
9. Starting sometime in 1971, door hinges are welded on rather than bolted on.
10. All handles are the same for 2 & 4 door, front and rear, but rear push rods are shorter on 4 doors.
11. '75 - '79 gas tank filler necks have an unleaded restrictor plate. They also have a screw on cap instead of a double tang twist on cap.
12. Regular and hatchback trunk floors are the same but the hatchback has added brackets for the load floor.
13. A '74 rear bumper is cosmetically different and mounts via energy absorbing mounts instead of rigid brackets. A '74 rear bumper could possibly be mounted on a '73 in one of two ways:
    • Use the entire '74 bumper assembly (including the energy absorbing mounts). This method would require somewaht extensive modifications to the rear underbody/subframe structure of the '73 car to accept the energy absorbing mounts.
    • Use the existing '73 brackets and drill new mounting holes in the chrome shell of the '74 bumper. This method may require modifying and/or shimming the '73 brackets to line up with the different contour of the '74 rear bumper shell. This method would not use the '74 inner bumper reinforcement panel.
14. A '74 "Nova by Chevrolet" emblem looks different than a '73 emblem but can be used if the mounting holes are re-drilled.
15. '68 - '72 windshields do not have a rearview mirror mount but one can easily be glued on for use in '73 - '74 Novas.
16. The plain steel wheels used with all hub caps and wheel covers are 14"x5" with a 5 on 4 3/4" lug pattern. They are usually painted body color when used with hub caps and black when used with full wheel covers.
    14"x6" plain steel wheels may have been optional.
17. Rally wheels with special center caps are standard equipment on '73 - '76 Nova SS models. Trim rings were not used on the '73 SS.
    Most rally wheels are 14"x6". Wider 14"x7" rallys are used with:
    • '71 - '72 SS (note: rally wheels are not standard equipment on '71 - '72 SS though)
    • '73 - '74 with disc brakes, E70-14, or FR78-14 tires
    • '75 - '76 with F41 sport suspension or radial tires
    • '77 - '79 with F41 sport suspension
    
    These 6 slot rally wheels were also used on many other 70's and early 80's Chevy vehicles such as the Camaro, Chevelle, and El Camino.

Please note that this is NOT a list of parts for sale. The purpose of this list is to help fellow Nova enthusiasts determine which restoration and repair parts will fit a 1973 Nova.