Although some people may immediately dismiss this 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu because they believe that it has too many doors, it is a project candidate worth a closer look. It has sat for a few years and will require revival before it can return to active service. However, it is a rock-solid survivor featuring a 350ci V8 under the hood. It is also very affordable for those who wish to adopt a tentative approach to their first restoration project. The seller has listed the Malibu here on Craigslist in Anderson, California. They set their price for this classic at $5,500 OBO.
Launched in 1968, Chevrolet’s Second Generation Chevelle range remained on sale until 1972. The company offered a wide selection of body styles and trim levels, with this Chevelle’s first owner selecting the Malibu four-door Sedan. The seller indicates that this survivor has sat for a few years, and the Californian sun has heavily baked its Mulsanne Blue and Antique White paint. There is visible surface corrosion, but the seller states that there is no penetrating rust. It will require many hours of sanding if the buyer plans to return the car to a presentable state, but they won’t need to do any cutting or welding. The trim looks like it would respond to a high-quality polish, and the glass seems to be in good condition beneath the dust. The first owner’s decision to order the car with Rally wheels adds to its visual appeal.
Although manufacturers were beginning to feel the impact of tighter emission regulations by the time this Malibu left the line, its mechanical specifications provide scope for the buyer to extract improved performance with a bit of tweaking. This Malibu features a 350ci V8, a three-speed Hydramatic transmission, power steering, and power brakes. It is unclear which of the two available versions of the 350 this is, but it would have delivered at least 165hp and 280 ft/lbs of torque in its prime. With so many aftermarket parts available “off the shelf,” boosting those figures would be pretty easy. The seller admits that the Malibu doesn’t run, and hasn’t done so for several years. However, they suggest that breathing new life into the small-block won’t be hard, and that returning the car to a roadworthy state would involve a typical fuel system clean, a thorough inspection, and the replacement of some perishable components.
It’s disappointing that the seller doesn’t provide any interior shots, but glimpses from the outside suggest it is trimmed in Blue vinyl with a bench front seat. Given the state of the exterior, it may have been damaged by UV exposure. Whether a retrim is needed is a great unknown, but the dry dashpad and sagging headliner suggest it will need TLC. One known factor is that the first owner ordered this classic with air conditioning, and with the compressor belt intact, it may still have blown cold when the car was parked.
Different classics will always appeal to different people, and I acknowledge that many enthusiasts prefer their cars to be two-door. However, this 1972 Chevelle Malibu deserves a closer look, especially if you seek a practical vehicle. The listing suggests that returning it to a roadworthy state should be relatively straightforward. Its lack of rust and relatively low price means that someone contemplating a first restoration could take on this classic without a high initial outlay. It has been on the market for a week, which may provide potential buyers with some bargaining power. Do those thoughts tempt you to pursue the Malibu further?
Overpriced. It may not have the type of rust you find from a car that spent its life in an area that salts their roads, but it’s clear this has spent years sitting outside which is never a good thing for a car with a vinyl top. It’s a non-running project that likely needs everything with an asking price of $5,500, which might be viable for a 2 door, not so much for a 4 door. How much back registration is owed, what does the interior look like, where is the brake master cylinder? Unless this is someone’s dream car, it’s better to kept looking.
Steve R
I agree!
Master cylinders are cheap and the entire brake system will need redone anyway. If it’s taken out of state there will be no back registration fees owed. It’s still over priced for a more-door car though.
Complete Chevelle here but I see the right front turn lens is a 1971 and the master cylinder is hard to see. 2500 is a better price but at least it has rally rims on it. No pictures of the interior. It is a A/C car.
You are correct, that is a 71. I own a 71 sport coupe. The turn signals tell the tale.
Me thinks the booster and Master cylinder are MIA
Brake booster and master cylinder are long gone. Brake lines just hanging in the air, studs on firewall where booster once was.
The whole brake system would have to be gone through anyway. Boosters and master cylinders are cheap compared to a lot of other stuff this car needs.
More like $50.00. This one is a parts car at best, and that’s stretching it.
4 door hardtops were far less popular in the Chevelle line than the 2 door and the 4 door (post) sedan, when new I suspect most buyers of the style spent a bit more on either a Caprice or an Olds Cutlass. Now it falls between two options again, being either too rough for the money or too pricey for the condition.
Seems like an excessive price. It’s weathered, not that desirable of a body style. Seems like a bit of an over optimistic amount, from what I can see in the photos.
This ’72 Chevelle could use a new paint job. Otherwise, it’s a sharp looking design ! Somebody will want it , but it will require some work to fix it up .
Offer 3500, bout right
Patina,clear coat.
Rims, shock, brake treatment!!😱
Gut it, make her for light to light 🚦
Pull mouse 🐭
Crate 454 sleeper, you be laughing at Tundras!😎😂🏁
I’d love to own that 4 door classic ,build it together with my 17 yr old son who graduated from HS . Something we can spend time building together. I live way out in Indiana . Price is very ,very fair . Keep it original n in our family as a potential heirloom .
Go get it, Victor. Excellent idea, creating memories. And saving a classic. Don’t let the distance deter you. “Carpe Car”, lol
I am a Buick guy, but this one needs to be inspected in person, as I do see a nice ride if you can do most of the work yourself, and on a modest cash outlay.
Yes it is a four-door, but in using common parlance, it is not a sedan but a hardtop, an important distinction. Some of us have long appreciated the unique look of many of these offerings. Think of the classics of the 50’s that wore the look very well, in fact sales of four-door hardtop versions nearly equaled two-door hardtops in 1957, and stayed pretty close through 1960. Yes, they were a little heavier, but then consider that a two-door post is lighter than a two-door hardtop. Most of us would prefer the aesthetics of the latter. Then park a well done four-door hardtop of many models next to a two-door post of same and you have something to debate.
Not sure about the ask on this Malibu, and questions abound about condition. But if someone had the gumption, it could be transformed into a very attractive driver that has the added practicality of those rear ports.
another crew cab Chevelle. these are popping up all over the place for sale. be a lot easier to sell if it were running and had some shots of the interior. if the metal is solid could be used as doner to somebody.
Since the weather strip is missing from the right side glass we may have a idea of how the interior is. Seems to me there were fewer 4-door 350s. I used to notice that kind of thing.
Looks like a 1971 to me.
’72 grille and left turn signal. ’71 right turn signal.
I actually prefer 4 doors in a car like this. First of all 4 doors really are more practical. Secondly, more people saved 2 door versions as opposed to these so unless 2 door version is exceptionally outstanding to me, I’m bored of seeing them. 2 door versions were saved to the extent by comparison that they are almost a dime a dozen. I don’t want to blend into the background. Truthfully I’d rather stand out whether a person likes or dislikes my car.
350…more likely a 307. 72 Chevelles with an optional 350 had “350” emblems on both front fenders a couple inches from the front marker lights. I can’t quite make out the code on the emission label, but it might be “LC” which would be a 307.
The 71 front marker/parking light assembly on the right and the 72 marker/parking light on the left is a nice touch.
The original listing says 6 cyl. It may possibly be a 350 transplant.
For those complaining about no interior pix, click on the link provided & you will see 22 pix, 9 of which are interior.
Chevy lost me when they started dropping the taillights down into the bumpers.