What’s It Worth? 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu

The mid-size Chevy Chevelle got a modest facelift for the third year in a row in 1971, but it was still very much the car that had been redesigned in 1968. The biggest changes came in the form of single instead of quad headlights and “ovalish” taillights inset into the rear bumper. The seller’s example is said to still wear its original Classic Copper Metallic paint, but rust has begun to take it over. There is some Super Sport identification on the car, but since the seller does not refer to the Chevy being one, it may be a thinly disguised attempt at a clone.

Nearly 190,000 Malibu Sport Coupes were built in 1971 with a V8 (a few six-bangers were also sold), so this model and body style continued to dominate Chevelle sales. We’re told a 350 cubic inch V8 lives under the hood, but it’s not running and may not be period-correct, much less original. The transmission has been replaced by a 700R4 automatic with a floor shifter between decent-looking bucket seats.

The seller is optimistic about the condition of the body and frame, but the area around the rear back glass is the most troublesome, with indications of an early repair that’s starting to go south. On the plus side, the tires are new as is the exhaust, and aftermarket wheels and traction bars have been added (a part of the SS tribute process which would hardly be accurate). The machine is said to have been running when it was parked three years ago, but it needs the radiator reinstalled (loose in the trunk?).

While the interior seems okay, the carpet is toast and will need to be replaced. And someone has already jettisoned the factory gauges for what appears to be an aftermarket setup. Located in Satsuma, Alabama, this is a project that awaits starting and finishing. Would you turn it into a Malibu restomod or go the rest of the way to an SS clone? The car is available here on eBay for $13,000 OBO.