Each division of General Motors (except Cadillac) got a mid-size product to offer in 1964. At Chevrolet, it would arrive in the form of the Chevelle, and the Malibu would be its top model. Sales were good but took a nice jump when the cars were redesigned in 1968. This ’68 Malibu Sport Coupe has been in storage for years, but the seller thinks it could be running again in a weekend or two. It has some cosmetic issues, but nothing seems anywhere near terminal.
The Malibu Sport Coupe with a V8 engine comprised 38% of Chevelle sales in 1968. That number would be higher if you included the SS 396 which was a separate series from 1966 to 1968. This car may have been a typical example on the dealer’s lot. It has a 307 cubic inch V8, 2-speed Powerglide automatic transmission, power steering, power drum brakes, and factory air conditioning. The medium green original paint is complimented by a vinyl top and interior, either green or black.
Because the vehicle has been in storage for ages, the claimed mileage of 32,000 is thought to be legit. We were told the car was running when it was parked. The original tires are still around, but not on the Chevy. The sheet metal isn’t rust-free but may be mostly in the lower rear quarter panels. The vinyl top appears to be peeling away from age. The seller refers to “fiber optics” but I’m not sure what that implies.
The seller acquired this car many moons ago in a trade and stuck it away in the garage. Stuff began to accumulate around it as the photos show. It comes with its build sheet and Protect-O-Plate and can be found in Serena, Illinois. $16,000 is the asking price for this Malibu here on craigslist. If you were to restore this Chevy, would you stick with the current setup rather than create another SS clone?
The automatic gear shift must be stuck in drive otherwise looks like a three-on-tree.
The shift lever could also be in neutral so the car can be pushed around. I don’t think you could get a column shift manual with a tilt steering column.
As for fiber optics it’s called Viglite and was a light monitoring system similar in appearance to the Mopar fender mounted turn signals. You can see one on top of the passenger side front fender, the drivers side would have gad one too, there would have been one at the base of the rear window or on the package tray for the rear taillights. It’s rare, but not sure how much value it brings.
It’s a cool car, but so far the ad hasn’t been resonating with potential buyers in the 24 days since it was listed.
Steve R
Steve R – The GM Vigilite system was rare, in addition to being technologically more advanced than Chrysler’s system. Chrysler used. a repeater bulb, while Chevrolet used fiber optics to transmit light from the backs of the various lamps that were monitored. Monitors for low-beam headlights, high-beam headlights, and parking lights were on the front fender. Monitors for rear lamps were mounted in the headliner over the rear window on closed models, or on a bracket just above the rear seatback on convertibles.
CC, thank you for the explanation. I know they are different. I said it was similar in appearance to the fender mounted turn signal, not that it functioned in the same manner. I’m not familiar with them enough to try and explain to anyone how they work and didn’t try. All I know about them was that when you saw the at the junkyard when cars of that era were cycling through you grabbed whatever components were there. We’d also grab any A or B body Mopar fender mounted turn signal including its wiring, but only if it was complete and the chrome and lenses were in good shape.
Steve R
I’d fix what’s needed, and enjoy it for what it is, a nice original car with interesting options. Do we really need yet another ridiculous SS clone, now that we probably have more than were ever made?
This car is too original not to deserve a restoration. I guarantee once all these originals are all bought up, people are gonna look at some of these cloneys VIN’s and restore them back to what they were in their beginning. We’re not quite there but it’s coming.
The fender-mounted ‘Light Monitoring System’, option U46, cost $26.35 for which 2,757 buyers checked off on the order sheet.
The clones are never going to be returned to original. Day 2 cars will remain popular as ever. When you can’t afford the SS, you built your own. Real ones are much too expensive these days