What transmission came in a 72 Nova?
The 1972 Chevrolet Nova offered several transmission choices depending on the engine and trim. In general, most cars paired a 3-speed manual or a 2-speed Powerglide automatic, with a 3-speed automatic (Turbo Hydra-Matic 350) common on V8 models, and a rare 4-speed manual available on certain SS configurations.
Overview of transmission options
The following options reflect what was typically available across the 1972 Nova lineup, with variations by engine and trim level. This section breaks down manual and automatic choices that buyers could encounter.
- 3-speed manual (Saginaw) — commonly used with the inline-6 and some V8 configurations.
- 4-speed manual (Muncie) — available on select SS models equipped with the 350 V8.
Note: Availability depended on the specific engine and option package; not every combination offered every transmission.
Automatic transmissions available
Automatic transmissions were widely used and offered in two main configurations for the 1972 Nova, with the more modern 3-speed automatic preferred on V8 models.
- 2-speed Powerglide — a common automatic on many base and smaller-engine Nova models.
- 3-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic 350 (TH350) — the standard automatic choice for most V8-powered Novas and the preferred option for performance-oriented builds.
In general, V8-powered Novas leaned toward the TH350 automatic, while smaller-engine versions often came with the Powerglide or TH350 depending on the salesperson’s package and customer order.
Model-specific notes
Exact transmission pairing could vary by body style and option boxes. The Nova SS (especially when equipped with the 350 V8) could be ordered with a 4-speed manual, reflecting the era’s performance-oriented options. Non-SS models more commonly featured the 3-speed manual or the TH350 automatic, with the Powerglide as an occasional alternative on certain builds.
SS performance and engine choices
The SS package sometimes offered the 350 V8 paired to a 4-speed manual, while other SS configurations used the 350 V8 with the TH350 automatic, illustrating the mix of performance and convenience options in 1972.
Summary
