This 1972 Malibu purports to be a real-deal Super Sport. But there’s a lot of the key SS stuff missing, including the 402 (aka 396) V8, 4-speed transmission, and raised hood. The body is not without issues, as the right rear quarter panel is quite rusty thanks to what may have been a leak under a vinyl top that’s long gone. So, whether it’s a donor car or a restoration project, the Chevy is with a dealer in Graham, North Carolina, and is available here on eBay. A handful of bids have raised the ante to $4,378.
The VIN supplied by the seller indicates that a 402 V8 was under the hood when this Chevelle was new. That’s the updated version of an engine that Chevy would still promote as being a 396. It came with RPO LS3 of which sources indicate more than 20,000 were built in the 1972 model year. That motor appears to have gone MIA some time ago – and if the transmission is still around, it’s buried under a pile of parts in the trunk.
We’re told this Chevelle once had cruise control, but it’s disappeared as well. And the grille was replaced with one from 1971, perhaps at the same time as a regular Malibu bonnet was installed. You could assume this occurred because of an accident, but there are hood pins present that could have been added later. The bucket seat interior looks to be intact, but its condition may be no better than the sheet metal wrapped around it. The seller says he’s waiting for a new title to arrive, so until it does I wouldn’t exchange any funds or show up with a truck and trailer.
The “SS396” stopped in 1970. The big block 402 could also come in a plain Malibu Chevelle…Malibu El Camino..and GMC Sprints in 71 and 72 so that capital U in it’s VIN means nothing about proving any factory SS. Only an original Build Sheet can state a factory SS after 1968…with one exception…if it has a W in a 1972 VIN…it proves an SS because could only get a 454 in a factory SS.
My buddy had a plainjane, solid blue 402 Chevelle when we were kids back in 81. Plain on the outside, buckets and console interior,nice car
You could get a 72 ss350 402 or 454 chevelle or elco. I had a 72 ss 402 chevelle.Auto with the staple shifter. I think the only one with cid callouts on the fender below the ss was the 454 the other 2 just said ss in 72.
There wasn’t really a stand alone marketed SS package for 72 but really just options,I think true SS ended in 69.
1970
I believe this is a True SS; the seller is Ausley’s Chevelle Parts out of NC. I’ve bought a few parts from them. He wouldn’t mistake this for a Non SS. It would be more desirable to me as Big Block 4 speed ‘Malibu 400’ ; as those are rare.
If you look at the dash, this car has the round gauge pods, standard on any SS (and Monte Carlo, plus the ‘woodgrain’). Seller states it is a non tach and gauges car. That was only on an SS – the ‘no tach/round gauge’ dash. A non tach Malibu would have the sweep speedometer. A lot a trouble to fake – just add all the gauges. Plus, there are other tell-tale signs…
Not sure on the cruise being factory. Looks odd, but I don’t know what a factory cruise with a manual transmission looks like. I know it’s different, because of vacuum requirements, and an extra switch on the clutch pedal to disengage it. That black connector and vacuum line look like GM, but I am not familiar.
Any Chevelle experts out there?
I’m no expert,far from it,but we did just do a rear panel, trunk,fenders,rockers, and floor replacement on a 72 350 chevelle.The parts are reasonable and plentiful as the wagons shared a lot.I thought the hood locks were added but the ss did come with them and black grille.There were 20,031 LS3 402 engines optioned in 1972
I know those guys , They been at Turkey Rod Run For Years , They have a Bunch of Chevelle parts , Might want to call them if they have a Parts list for the Car and maybe they will cut you a Deal on a Package Parts and Car
Cruise control was not available with a manual transmission. From the “useless facts” file deep within my brain, the Datsun 280zx was the first car to pair cruise control with a manual transmission.
Take the crap out of the trunk and inside the car and take better pics of the floor and trunk and under car pics,you listed it sell it right?. Find a better one to start with imo.This thing needs all its sheet metal.You’ll sink 75k plus into this one and it won’t have the original drive train. It’s at 5500 which imo is to much for parts car with no engine or trans in this condition.
You put all the crap on the floor and in the trunk so you can hide how bad it really is. Instead of being too lazy to clean it, this is calculated.
I seriously doubt a well known Chevelle parts retailer would intentionally put all the crap in the car to hide things, they likely acquired it this way. Ausley’s Chevelle Parts would have little to gain and a lot more to lose by intentionally misrepresenting it. The bidding opened up at $3999
I have to agree with you. I didn’t look close enough to see who was selling it.
I have heard 70 Chevelles that were manufactured in the Kansas City Plant and had the L stamp were also considered SS….this rule seems to be accepted by most within the Chevelle SS community.
It has a lot of sbc stuff in the trunk , headers , exhaust manifolds, has an auto shifter laying inside and the cowl tags upper left corner is missing , isn’t that where a rivet belongs ?
The trim tags all have a little notch in each corner, and the rivet is where it is supposed to be on the left side middle. The notch style varies from assembly plant to plant, but they all have a notched/nicked/punched corners going back to at least 1967.
I really wish the people who owned desirable cars wouldn’t sit back and let these cars go downhill and get in such horrible condition. When you notice rust forming be proactive. Don’t watch the car disappear right before your eyes!
This car wasn’t worth much when it was a ten year old car , and without the internet, you’d have no idea if it was rare or not. It probably ended up as some kids $1000.00 hot rod, and he beat the snot out of it , probably blowing the original motor and sticking something else in it , until the next kid got it for $300.00 , and so on
Ausleys here. Car was picked up in this condition. Car was a stick car, still has pedals in it. I believe it to have been a bench 4- speed car. Buckets and auto shifter laying in car came from a M Carlo previous owner parted out. Frame solid and floors look ok from the bottom, but trunk floor is gone. Parts in trunk are from another car. Car is sold HOWEVER no deposit has been sent as required in auction.
Cruise looks original with wiring, cable and attachments, BUT looking at accessory list, it states automatic trans only, so must have been added.
As I remember, cruise control was not available on a manual transmission car back then. The main reason was that there was no provision for a disengage switch on the clutch pedal. Because, if you pushed in the clutch with cruise engaged, the control would go to wide open throttle. Also, that doesn’t appear to be a GM transducer. It’s not one made by AC. This one looks to be aftermarket. The wiring may look like a factory connector but the connections to the O.E. transducer are at right angles to each other. Another clue is the clamp on the vacuum hose is the wrong variety. How do I know? I installed plenty of the factory kits when I was doing new car get-ready at a Chevy dealer back in those days.