Here we have a 1972 Chevy Chevelle Malibu that hasn’t been converted into a Super Sport 396 or 454 clone. And we hope it stays this way with (at a minimum) an original drivetrain and paint. With a possible 40,000 miles, this car has been babied for the last five decades. If original Chevies are your thing, you can find this Malibu in St. Louis, Missouri, and here on eBay. The current bid is $29,200, but there’s a reserve you’ll have to satisfy before collecting your collectible.
The second generation of Chevrolet’s intermediate was a wrap in 1972. The cars were little changed as a new “Colonnade” design was coming in 1973 that would eliminate hardtops as we knew them. The Malibu Sport Coupe was still the most popular model and body style, with more than 207,000 of them leaving the factory with a V8 engine. That included some 25,000 Super Sports, as it had been an option since 1969.
This car comes with its build sheet, which should confirm the 350 cubic inch V8 and TH-350 automatic transmission. The odometer reading is just under 40,800 miles when the listing was placed. All of the sheet metal is said to be original and cancer-free, flagged by 53-year-old paint that looks stellar. Factory undercoating, no doubt, helped preserve the Chevy along with a fair amount of garage time. Other than the floor mats, the interior is also from 1972.
But modern times are represented here, too. The dual exhaust is new, as are the tires and wider Rally wheels. The factory A/C should run you out of the passenger compartment, and even the annoying seatbelt buzzer still works. Though the engine area has been blinged up, the factory pieces have been retained. The Chevrolet has only had two prior owners – are you up for being the next one?
Nice! Not an SS badge or hood/trunk stripe in sight. Green top and matching interior is a nice change of pace from black. I even appreciate the rocker arm covers, although I appreciate factory orange. In time you could remove those big block exhaust tips, but I’ll bet this is the one Goldilocks prefers…
I agree with Class_room’s comments!
Hate to think how many of the bidders have SS clone intentions in their plans.
i agree i see this becoming a ss clone. if it does that is a shame. nice to see a plain jane bu
A high price helps insulate it from becoming an SS clone. When someone makes a “SS” they often add tach dash, bucket seats, console, floorshift, SS hood, stripes and more. The parts, interior work and paint are expensive. Has anyone priced bucket seat cores, console, floor shift column, SS dash, tach cluster, wiring, SS hood, emblems. You’d be looking a price tag well into five figures. A small block “SS” clone is going to have a hard time pulling $40,000+, since the engine code in the VIN will lock in in a price level. The 69 and 70 Chevelle’s were all big blocks, which is what the market would value in a clone, the VIN won’t doesn’t verify anything as long as it was factory equipped with a V8 and built and sold for the US market. Those model years hold higher values and make more attractive starting points for a clone.
Steve R
Very clean Chevelle! My 1971 doesnot have the bumper bolts in the center of the rear bumper like this one does.