There is really no disputing the fact that the Chevelle Malibu is a classic car that is in high demand. Ever-increasing values perfectly reflect this fact, and when a relatively clean example appears for sale in a No Reserve auction, it is sure to pique some interest amongst enthusiasts. That is the story behind this 1970 Malibu, which is a vehicle that shows a lot of potential. It was initially listed with an opening bid of $5 but it hasn’t taken long for the bidding to become quite intense. It is located in Hesperia, California, and can be found here on Barn Finds Classifieds. The bidding has now reached $12,000, and remember, this is a No Reserve listing. That means that it is a car that is certain to go to a new home.
The Green Mist Malibu looks to be quite a tidy vehicle, with the panels appearing to be very straight. The paint has a few marks and blemishes, but it still seems to be very presentable as a driver-quality car. There is no mention of any rust issues with the vehicle, and if it has spent the majority of its life in sunny California, this could bode quite well in that department. I can spot a small area of rust just behind the rear wheel opening on the driver’s side, but the rest of the panels and the rockers look to be encouragingly solid. All of the external trim and chrome appears to be in good condition, while the tinted glass would seem to be free of significant flaws. The Malibu rolls on a set of Rally wheels and the tires that are fitted to these look like they have plenty of life left in them.
If the badges on the front fenders are to be believed, then this Malibu rolled off the production line in Van Nuys with a 350ci V8 under the hood. There is still a 350 there today, but it isn’t clear whether this is the original engine. There is evidence to indicate that the original transmission would have been a Hydramatic, but there is now a 4-speed manual in its place. The Chevelle also features power steering and power brakes. Whether the vehicle is roadworthy isn’t clear, but what we do know is that the engine runs and that the Malibu will move under its own power. I have included a YouTube video of the car running at the bottom of this article. The 350 sounds quite clean, and you can see footage that verifies the fact that it does actually move.
The Malibu’s interior is a bit of a mixed bag, but it does remain quite serviceable as it currently stands. The upholstery on the seats and door trims looks to be in good condition, while the same would appear to be true of the headliner, carpet, and the dash pad. The transmission shifter for the Hydramatic was originally column-mounted, but a Hurst item now pokes through the floor for the 4-speed. An AM/FM radio/cassette player has been fitted in place of the original radio, but it is the plethora of gauges that really catches my eye. With a column-mounted tach, a voltmeter, ammeter, vacuum gauge, water temperature gauge, and a gauge for oil pressure, nothing is being left to chance here. It really is going to be a matter of personal taste as to whether these remain as they are, whether the next owner chooses to mount them differently, or whether some or all eventually get removed. All of these gauges serve a very useful purpose, but if I was the person handing over their hard-earned cash for this car, I would probably relocate them to a panel below the dash and would use angled mounts to make them readily visible at a single glance. However, this need not be a priority, and they would certainly be okay left where they are, at least in the short-term.
There is no doubt that this 1970 Malibu ticks a lot of the right boxes for Bowtie enthusiasts, and if it is as rust-free as it would appear to be in the attached photos, then it is a car that is simply dripping with potential. It might not suit the purist who is seeking spotless originality, but for someone who wants to own a Malibu and put their own personal stamp on it, this has to be a hot prospect. It has aroused plenty of interest since it was listed for sale, so it will be interesting to see if any of our readers are willing to join the bidding party.
Clean, ordinary Malibu needing only a little TLC to really be sharp! Personally, although I appreciate the engine health gauges, I concur w/ Adam, as I find the execution less than desirable. I would ditch that horrid Grant steering wheel, replace it with a three spoke classic Chevy one, and perhaps source an OEM type console for the 4 speed. I can’t tell if the steering column was changed or not. Again, just my personal quibbles! GLWTA!! :-)
I wonder if it was an a/c car, there is no heater box of any kind on the firewall. Car looks sharp otherwise but not my favorite color.
Looks like a nice cruiser, the color gives it an almost conservative appearance.
Inside it’s a pieced up hot rod, a little of this and that, from a few decades ago.
None too bad of a car really I just can’t figure if someone became confused between building a sleeper or more of rod. I get both impressions with it.
My 1970 Chevelle Malibu has stainless trim from the top of the front fenders, along the door to the side window.
Was that an Option?
Nope, yours is correct. This one is missing it so I’m guessing it was removed and the holes were filled in. The wheel opening moldings were optional on Malibu models but standard on SS models in 1970.
IMO it’s exactly the color that draws me towards this Chevelle. Not a fan of the interior at all, but with that engine and that transmission this would make an extremely good starting point for a sleeper.
I really like the Chevy Rallies (actually have them on two of my rides too) and I can hardly think of any vehicle Rallies won’t look good. However with this Malibu I’d be very tempted to run steelies with poverty caps, lowered suspension with upgraded brakes and maybe source an interior to better match that beautiful, subtle hue. Great car, best of luck to the next owner! 👍
Wow!! As Charles Mann said, the car is missing the Malibu side trim. This was standard on all Malibus. The car appears to have an aftermarket heater as evidenced by the heater hose lines and such. The interior is a complete mess! Those terrible aftermarket seats would have to go! The dash is pretty much junk, as it appears to be cut up under the woodgrain gauge package. The astro ventilation dash vents are likewise gone. The wiring too, looks cobbled up and a mess. So all you need is seats, console, dash, original gauges, wiring harness, original heater, carpet set and a bunch more.. Oh well… at least it appears the original radio is in the trunk!
Not the original radio. It is a Corvette radio. Signed, Owners Daughter
I like the car and the four speed but the dash and gauge set up is just not my cup of tea!! It could be straightened out though and make for a really nice car!!
Sold for $31k
Sold for $31k to the owners daughter (ME!) who planned all along to keep it in the family. Dad had the car for 48 years. He bought it fro a co-worker after the engine blew. Dad replaced the engine and yes the transmission too. He modified it the way he wanted it. He loved this car! I was bid up over $11k for the car… I’ll let God take care of them, taking advantage of a daughter who wants her Dads car back in the family if that is what happened. Loser brothers who disrespected precious Dad sent car to auction through probate to see how much it would go for and we got a lot! I get a portion of my money back at the end of probate. Story is.., sons did Dad dirty. Never had a close relationship with him. Dad was amazing!! Raised me as a single Dad since I was 12. I paid the ‘ransom’ and now the car is where it belongs with the owner’s daughter and her adult kids and we will treasure it forever! For you Chevelle enthusiasts, my husband plans on changing a few of the things you mentioned above. At first I didn’t want to change a thing but I’ve come to accept that the car is the foundation and our changes will only build on what Dad started. Either way, I see the image of so many times before… Dad in his dark glasses driving away gunning the engine, with his arm resting out the window and a big grin on his face. Rest in peace Daddy <3