53k Original Miles: 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu Convertible

Chevrolet introduced its Second Generation Chevelle in 1968, and depending on the buyer’s budget, they could order their new car with a drivetrain combination from pretty sedate to genuinely muscular. Some buyers chose to tread the middle ground, which is the case with this 1970 Chevelle Malibu Convertible. It features a V8 under the hood and has a documented 53,000 miles on the clock. The buyer may treat the car to a restoration returning it to its former glory, although preserving it as an original survivor would seem viable. The seller listed the Malibu here on eBay in Stockton, California. They set a BIN of $45,000, which has generated enough interest that ninety-five people are watching the listing.

Chevrolet performed a facelift on its Second Generation Chevelle for 1970, with the exterior appearance fully embracing coke-bottle styling. The changes weren’t radical, but the buying public immediately accepted them. Sales figures told the story, with 635,558 buyers handing over their hard-earned cash to park one in their driveway. The story becomes interesting when you analyze the sales figures for V8-equipped Malibu Convertibles. With only 7,141 cars rolling off the showroom floor, the figure represents only slightly more than 1% of total sales for that year. Our feature Malibu is one of those cars, and the seller indicates it is an original and unrestored survivor. Its Black Cherry paint shines well for its age, but there are issues for potential buyers to consider. Chief among these is the presence of rust. The state of the floors and rails is unclear, but if the trunk pan is an accurate indication, the Convertible could be structurally sound. Externally, the buyer faces repairs to the rear quarter panels and lower front fenders, although the doors and rockers may be okay. Most trim pieces should respond to a dose of polish, and the glass looks fine. The other unknown is the state of the power top, although replacements are easy to find and inexpensive if it has deteriorated beyond the point of no return.

Chevelle buyers in 1970 faced a wide selection of engines to power their new purchase, with this car’s original owner selecting the 307ci V8. Its 200hp is fed to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission, although they elected to forego power assistance for the steering and brakes. If buyers wanted a genuine high-performance Convertible, they could order an SS with a big-block under the hood. However, with this car capable of romping through the ¼ mile in 16.9 seconds, it probably offered enough power to satisfy most people. For potential buyers, this aspect of the Malibu needs little more than detailing to present well. Its excellent mechanical health means they won’t be sinking precious cash into rebuilding drivetrain components. It is a numbers-matching survivor with a genuine and documented 53,000 miles on its odometer. It runs and drives well, and the included original Build Sheet confirms its specifications.

Assessing the interior of this Malibu leads me to describe its condition as serviceable. It has no immediate needs, and there’s no evidence of abuse. However, a few items require attention to present at a higher level. The Black vinyl seat upholstery looks good, and I believe the carpet might be new. The dash pad sports a couple of cracks, and someone has swapped an aftermarket radio/cassette player for the factory AM unit with the optional rear speaker. The rear seat trims are sun-damaged, and the driver’s side one is beyond repair. It is worth noting that several suppliers sell reproduction panels for around $120 per set, so addressing that flaw won’t be expensive. The front kick panels are the other item begging for attention, but since they are intact, there are plastic dyes that would return them to as-new condition.

With winter fast approaching, now would seem the ideal time to secure a project car that will occupy the cold months. That is what this 1970 Malibu Convertible offers, with the added benefit that the finished vehicle will be a desirable drop-top that will provide enormous enjoyment once the sun shows its face again. The sticking point with this project could be the BIN price. The originality and odometer reading could justify the cost if the vehicle were virtually rust-free. However, the buyer faces significant exterior rust repairs, with the floors an unknown quantity. Searching the current market reveals a reasonable selection of 1970 Chevelle Convertibles, but most seem to be either the SS variant with a big-block under the hood or those the owner has treated to a restomod build. I can’t find any of similar specifications to our feature car, and perhaps that point of difference may be enough to prompt one of those ninety-five watchers to hit the button. What do you think?