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
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.