From 1964 forward, one of Chevrolet’s most popular cars was the Malibu Sport Coupe. After a restyle going into 1971, Chevy was still selling nearly 190,000 copies of that model and body style with a V8 engine. While that sounds substantial, that’s 100,000 units less than the year before (remember, the decline of the muscle car market was also underway). This rusty ’71 Malibu was going to be a restoration project with an LS engine swap, but the seller has too many irons in the fire, so someone else gets to take a crack at it. Located in Kellyton, Alabama, this Chevy will run on an external gas can and is available here on eBay where the ante now rests at $2,550.

The likely paint color is Sunflower, something of a cross between gold and yellow. There is evidence of where chrome trim pieces would have separated the body from a vinyl roof, likely black but long peeled away. Most of the external sheet metal panels have rust in them, so they will require either patches or replacement depending on the amount of damage. Assuming this automobile is numbers matching, the cost of a complete restoration still may exceed its ultimate value. So maybe the seller was going to slap some SS badges on the car with the LS to help boost its bounty.

There’s a 350 cubic inch V8 under the hood, which would have been a common choice in 1971. It’s paired with an automatic transmission which could be a 2-speed Powerglide, but since that item was on its way out, a TH-350 is more probable. The seller does not know if the machine will go into gear, so it hasn’t been moved recently. Hook up a gas can, and we’re told the motor will at least turn over. 1971 would be the year the detuning process for lower emissions really got underway, and we started selling unleaded fuel at the gas station I worked at part-time after school.

While the interior has seen better days, we’re told everything is there to work with. Except for the steering wheel which has been replaced by something more commonly seen in a 1950s gasser. The glass is all intact and the windows roll up and down as they should, not something you always find in a car that’s been living outdoors. The seller has provided a link to a walkaround video and encourages all bidders to check with their better halves before bidding!