(I suspect this is not actually a case of double-negation — nor one of negative-concord, either. Maybe.)
It might sound a little bit old-fashioned or formal, but yes, your second sentence is certainly allowed. See herehere. I might well use your sentence, at least in writing or formal, crafted speech.
It’s a pernicious myth that nor cannot be used without having been preceded by *neither. It’s up to the writer and their preferred style for that sentence, not some imagined rule grammar:
- Those on the bottom had neither the ability nor the opportunity to get to the top.
- Those on the bottom did not have the ability, nor the opportunity, to get to the top.
- Those on the bottom did not have the ability or the opportunity to get to the top.
- Those on the bottom did not have the ability or opportunity to get to the top.
- Those on the bottom hadn’t the ability or opportunity to get to the top.
- Those on the bottom had no ability nor opportunity to get to the top.
- Those on the bottom had no ability to get to the top, nor the opportunity.
- Those on the bottom had no ability to get to the top, nor had they any opportunity to do so.
I have seen broken software try to tell you that only one or two of those are allowed, but that’s just a bug in the limited experience with real English by the misdesigner of that software.