How is it that someone buys a rather ordinary car, keeps it 50 years and accumulates only 15,000 miles? Well, the owner or owners of this car did exactly that and this 1970 Chevelle Malibu looks practically new. The wheels and exhaust are not factory, but just about everything else is. It can be found in Eagle, Idaho (near Nampa) where the seller is offering it here on craigslist for a healthy $34,500.
The Chevelle was born in 1964 when Chevrolet got into the mid-size market that Ford started with the Fairlane a couple of years earlier. In reality, the Chevelle was about the same dimensions as the full-size Chevy’s were in 1955-57. The car was a sales success and even more so when they were redesigned for 1968-72. The 1970 model is my personal favorite from a styling perspective, perhaps because that was the car of choice for Driver’s Education classes while I was in high school.
I’m not the only one who liked these cars. Chevy sold more than 260,000 Malibu Sport Coupes in 1970. The seller’s car is finished in Astro Blue, which was applied to nearly 30,000 cars that year, but that number also included El Camino’s and Monte Carlo’s in addition to the Chevelle’s. We’re told this is an investment grade car, which is a point that is hard to disagree with, right down to that original Astro Blue paint. The seller says this machine is rust-free and the photos seem to support the claim.
The seats look as though they’ve never been sat on. The dashboard, headliner carpeting – they all look great. How a car like this has been on the planet for 50 years and still looks this good is amazing. The seller is including a great deal of surviving documentation, including three build sheets, a POP, a handwritten dealer sales invoice, a pre-delivery inspection checklist, an original owner’s title, and a shipping invoice. Someone was planning ahead.
As great as it looks, this Malibu wasn’t overloaded with options. It has the basic 307 cubic inch V-8 with Powerglide automatic, which are apparently original and unmolested. The factory carburetor has been rebuilt along with the radiator, and the car was afforded a complete tune-up along with a brake job. The seller tells us the car runs very stout with no pending mechanical issues. The only things that appear to be non-factory are the set of Rallye wheels from a Corvette with newer tires and a dual exhaust system. The seller is providing the original wheels and wheel covers as part of the transaction.
Hagerty pegs the ’70 Malibu at $20,000 on the top end, as long as it isn’t an SS or have a big-block engine. But the condition of this car would seem to justify that amount or more, but is it worth $34,500? The original list price for a Malibu in 1970 would have been $3,500 plus a few options. Not a bad a return.
I really like this – nice ro see a Non SS in this color, instead of light green. Not that there is anything wrong with the light green.
Some will say that the price is high. I think when you look at the low mileage plus the preserved state, it should hold value for what it is.
Dare I say it – IF someone would want to clone it – you might be able to find a low option really SS 396 for less money than the conversion.
Odda are that you would be the only ’70 at the cruise, show, etc. without the SS badges – weather the other cars were born with or without them.
I’d rather do a clone of the Malibu 400 like this one featured in Hemmings Muscle Machines a while back:
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/un-ss-1970-chevrolet-chevelle-malibu-400/amp
” investment quality”? With a 307 and a power slide? No, not for me. No one put miles on this thing because that combo sucks. Sorry,truth hurts. Ya can’t drive it. Value is in low miles. Just my opinion. To those who disagree, you’re right. 34,500 can buy a lot of cars you can and would enjoy driving
$34500 is crazy for a 307 PG car. Yes, it’s stunning. And the seller hopefully has full docs for the mileage. But what are you going to DO with a $34500 Bu?
You can’t drive it, or you’ll quickly have a $15-20k car. And it’s not a great trailer Queen (not that I like any trailer queen really).
Gorgeous car, but the price doesn’t make sense to me.
You’re absolutely right. If this were used as a daily driver it would become a $15k car. It’s overpriced at the current price. It’s condition and miles may warrant low 20’s.
that motor was repainted . The paint peeled of those by 12K miles . They will get 35K for it . People pay 75 K for retro mod clones
I’m not sure the price is too far off. You would be hard pressed to buy one and restore to this level of originality for this amount of money. That is assuming you could find the NOS parts and even then, you would still have a restored car, not an original like this. Ultimately the market will decide. I think it is a lot of car for the money.
Perfect car to make a great LS-6 clone but need to get it for 20K to make it work.
Am I wrong to think that the engine paint looks a little fresh for 15K miles and 50 years?
34K for a 20K car imo
Everybody is shocked by the price. First rule of selling cars – START HIGH!!! You can always come down but you can NEVER go up!!
My cousin had a dark blue w white interior and top 70, buckets console automatic 350/ 4 barrel nice car, had balls for a 350, brand new in 70, great memories, lotsa burnouts, w the a/c on
My parents had a ‘70 ‘bu dark green w/black benches 307 with a 4 spd.
This car is gorgeous.
But seriously overpriced.
Mid 20’s all day.
In order to fetch ANYTHING over 20k this Malibu would need to have some ss options .A 350,buckets and console car ,MIGHT bring 30k even without the full on SS package.As is ? No way Jose !
Nice but with no A/C…….not sure if it will bring his price.
My dad had one with a 350ci and a/c and it was a runner! It was green on green and I hated the color!
My parents bought one of toward the end of 1970 from the dealer. It was badged a 307 but actually had a 350 in it. It had been traded in with a few thousand miles and a blown 307 by a family on vacation passing through our town. It was one HOT car. It was a favorite of all of ours. My brother and sister, both in their teens always loved getting their hands on it. I learned to drive in it but sadly my folks traded it in weeks before I got my license for a 77 Cutlass. My dad always looked back and wished he had kept it around for a second car, especially after the woman who purchased it got the front end ripped off by a train within a month of buying it. This model is a favorite for all of us in the family.
Scuderia is right about the fresh engine paint and detailed engine department on an original 15K mile car. Many of the real low mileage cars still have their original exhaust and are not perfect under the hood. The brake job might be be explained away, but doubt the linings needed changing at 15K. Wonder why someone would put dual exhausts on a 307 with a powerglide.
This is my favourite year for Chevelle, had lots of base models, but the three 454 Cowl inducted SS’s where unforgettable. You could stir them with gas petal. It was impossible not to light these things up ever time you got behind the wheel. Not even sure if I would be safe at an old age !!!
Aggressive styling for sure, even a cocker spaniel like this 307 Chevelle looks the part with the rally wheels and dual exhaust. It was just a basic car to start with, the difference in appearance with the two types of wheels alone is night and day. Hey, if someone is willing to spend 35 thousand on a 307 Malibu…..well, you won’t find a better one.
I see a sleeper here. Pull the engine and trans put it away. Install a stroker 383 with 450 hp. Reworked turbo 350 trans. The rear end change it to a posi 3.73 gears. Everything else leave it alone. And go have fun.😄
I had one with a 402 big block and 4 on the floor non SS.It was Green.Put More than 100000 miles on it.
Its funny, when an original and mint 6 banger is posted , the few guys that say ” put a bigger motor in it” are blasted out of the park with comments like “its original to the car ” , ” theres nothing wrong with a small engine” or ” thats the way most came from the factory” Well this IS how most came from the factory , small engine, bench seat , hubcaps. If this is a survivor, then it should be left alone. Too many others were modified over the years .
And the 307 was an option , as was the Powerglide .
I agree with you bone but apparently some people can’t (or don’t want to) see that fact. Just because an old car isn’t fast doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it for what it is, not what you think it should be. Leave well enough alone already, my God!
I still wonder if it was detailed by experts and if the mileage is correct. There seems to be no story as why someone would stop using this car with a 307 and preserve it with just 15 miles.
It was not an unusual car in 1970 because there were 7 other V8s some of which are real classics. Some people might say the 350 cu in 300 hp would be the cut-off for desirable Chevelles to collect. My group loved the high revving 283s and 301s(bored out 283s), but never said anything about 307s. Anyhow, people like different things.