The styling of the second-generation Chevelle was tweaked in 1969, making for a better-looking car (IMO). Also, the 327 cubic inch V8 was dropped in favor of the new 350, which was available in outputs of either 255 or 300 horsepower. The seller says the latter set-up is in this Chevelle and the motor was built in Tonawanda, New York for use in the Chevy Corvette. While this automobile has only had two owners, it’s been off the road for years and is ready now for a cosmetic restoration, at a minimum, From Green Bay, Wisconsin, this Malibu is available here on eBay where the bidding has reached $5,401.
The V8-powered Malibu Sport Coupe was the Chevelle’s big seller in 1969 at more than 286,000 copies. Of those, nearly 11,000 were built in Canada for importation into the U.S. although that’s likely not relevant here. The seller says this ’69 Malibu was a special-order car, which implies that was the only way to get the 300 hp 350 V8 in the machine. But I thought it was just a matter of asking for one just like you’d get power steering or air conditioning.
We’re told the Chevy runs and drives, though it has been stored for years and the body looks like a rust scatter gun was pointed at it in several places. If this car spent most of its life either in the Northeast or Midwest, the rust on the outside may be an indicator of more issues to be found the deeper you dive. The seller doesn’t provide any photos of the interior, but the blue upholstery we can see through the windows looks to match that of the exterior finish.
The seller tells us the advantages of this “special order” engine which would have included 4-bolt main bearing caps and a forged crankshaft. “The lower block would have fully machine bulkheads, which allows for a stronger block, larger valves, and a higher compression ratio.” But these are the seller’s words for a car that we’re told is numbers matching. It has a Turbo-Hydramatic transmission to handle the shifting. Is this Chevelle as unusual as the seller indicates?
“It’s got a Corvette motor” is about the oldest sales tactic in the book, next to “little old lady owned and only driven onnSundays”. Then again the 350 that came in grandma’s Caprice could pass for a Corvette motor.
Look like a Camaro motor to me…
Looks like a sbc engine to me.
Easy steps to take step one take out motor and sell it, step two junk car.done
Looks like a Chevelle motor.
Yes sir! I had a 1977 Chevy Custom Delux, and it had a “Corvette engine” which is simply code for having a four bolt main and forged crank. Trust me when I say the truck was NOT particularly fast.
Had one in my 70 impala it took a beatin
It’s the same ‘69 295 hp motor you could get in Novas full size impalas
The L48 350 was available in everything but the Corvair in 1969. This was not a “special” order car, though I can believe it was ordered rather than bought off the lot. I can’t imagine there were many L48 Chevelle on dealer lots when most customers would have preferred an SS-396.
Yep that’s a motor alright.
Mom had the exact car but it came with a 305 in it and she blew it up with 3 of her boys in it. In a summer trip from Florida to Pa. Bout half way had to get it towed back to FL. Good Thing Sister Boyfriend dad owned a Garage with a Wrecker. Was not a good Summer so Mom ended up trading it in for a Montey Carlo / other car was still under warranty LOL 😂
Your mom’s car not a 305 probably 307.
Regardless of whether it is/was an LM1, an L65, or an L48 (all of which were optional 350’s in 69 Chevelles during all or part of the year), it would only be a 2-bolt main engine, not a HD 4-bolt.
Hi Jeff — I own a 69 chevelle Malibu ,and it has the L-48 350 CI Engine ,what I can tell you is the L-48 is a 4 bolt main engine as I had mine rebuilt. These were a tough engine and made some decent HP and torque . The Factory specs shown 300 HP on the air cleaner decal but in actual fact made closer to 325 HP ,compression ratio was 10.25-1 so premium fuel required . I upgraded the cam and roller rockers ,engine dyno’d at 338hp
“Attack of the Patina Monster!”
That’s a 307ci motor. The most common Malibu motor.
Buyer Beware the rust on that motor indicates it has not been rebuilt nush less a corvette motor. It looks to be the 307 original engine.
If the air cleaner is that rusty, I can imagine what the bottom side of the whole car looks like. The oil pan may even be rusted through. After all, look where it is.
Gee-o-Pete. It is NOT a special order engine and if it is a Corvette engine, then it came out of a Corvette, not a Chevelle. You don’t know if people know nothing about cars or if they are just selling bologna. Having said that; IF original engine to the car, pretty neat find. In my 67 year old professional opinion, the 350/300 horse engine is one of GM’s best engines ever. Very dependable and would run like a scalded dog (apologies to the PETA crowd).
The term”corvette motor”is nothing more than 300 hp version of the 350 which wasn’t exclusive to the corvette.and as far as larger valves,you do need a 4 inch bore to use 2.02/1.60 valves(which is the standard 350 bore)anyways
Yes sir! I had a 1977 Chevy Custom Delux, and it had a “Corvette engine” which is simply code for having a four bolt main and forged crank. Trust me when I say the truck was NOT particularly fast. Of course there are many opinions on what a Corvette engine is, but I’m certain my truck didn’t run like a Corvette. It started and went down the road, that’s about it lol
This reminds me of my 56 Ford that had a “Thunderbird” engine. It said so right on the fender.
Your mom’s car not a 305 probably 307.
The factory never installed a Corvette motor in a Chevelle or any other Chevy only in a Corvette. You could not order a Vette motor for a Chevelle.
In the mid 1970’s my brother had a ’70 Malibu with 4 speed, bench seat and 350 with a plate on the motor saying “factory blueprinted and balanced in Tonawanda. New York.”
I would think you could find machine shops in Tonawanda, and a lot of other cities in New York.
Just from the pictures this car appears to need metal replacement on every panel but the roof and trunk lid. Alot of Wisconsin cars have frames which are rusted through. Hope the next owner likes to weld. They will get alot of practice.