This 1969 Chevy Malibu Sport Coupe looks to have been sitting for a long time. As the story goes, it was taken to the selling body shop for repairs, and the owner never came back. Perhaps, after the title was switched due to abandonment, this project is now available here on craigslist for $8,900. The engine has been somewhat dismantled, and the parts are in the trunk. With limited rust, this project (Super Sport clone wannabe?) can be picked up in Redland, California. Thanks for the tip, Tony Primo!
The Chevelle was in the second year of its first redesign in 1969. More than 286,000 copies were built as V8-powered Malibu Sport Coupes, including the SS 396, which was now an option. So, the seller’s car was part of a vast number on the street back in the day. From the look of the paint and interior, this machine hasn’t moved under its own power for many moons. It has a 307 cubic inch V8 and an automatic transmission (2-speed Powerglide?).
We don’t know why the Chevy was abandoned, but the owner may have reconsidered the cost of the restoration that may have been quoted. The indicated mileage is 69,000, but the odometer could easily be on its second time around. The floors and trunk appear to be solid, but corrosion has invaded the lower fenders. Two-tone paint adorns the car now, but it looks as though it was a solid color back when you could “See the USA in Your Chevrolet.”
Since the seller is a body shop, we assume the engine teardown was done before their time. Restoring this Chevy to 1969 standards won’t come cheap, and it looks as though a bear got at the interior. Perhaps this car has a future as an SS clone since the 307 motor may not be worth fooling with in its current state. The asking price doesn’t fit parts car territory. And we assume the seller got the title cleared after the owner walked away.
Ha! Don’t let those mag wheels fool ya’, this was moms Chevelle. We are so accustomed to see ’69 Chevelles as these wheel standing, axle twisting monsters, when in fact, this, is what Americans bought. No real glitz here, just a hum drum beater used to the max, meaning, 900 trips to the factory every morning, and discarded. It’s only salvation and not being some axle twister, was the fact it was in Cal.
Still,,,it’s a ’69 Malibu, and probably more desirable for the future, but not like this. Since most of the high performance Chevelles have been discovered, it’s refreshing to see one like this, but a snowballs chance in Hades of being restored.