The seller identifies this car as a Malibu SS 454. But in 1969, it was called the Chevelle SS (based on the upscale Malibu) and the 396 cubic inch V8 was the top engine. The new 454 powerplant didn’t come along until the 1970 model year. The seller’s grandfather bought this Chevy new in San Jose, California, but the motor has no doubt been replaced and we’re not sure if it’s a real SS or a clone. Located now in Las Vegas, Nevada, this sharp Chevy is available here on craigslist for $26,000 (firm).

Chevy’s Chevelle SS 396 was so hot that it was a series of its own from 1966 to 1968. After that, it reverted to option status. That doesn’t mean it had become less popular as more than 86,000 copies were produced in 1969, most being Sport Coupes from the Malibu Series. If you assume this is a real deal SS, there were plenty of them out there back in the day, and they’re not exactly rare today, either. The seller has put this car on the market not because he/she is looking for something else, but because medical bills have added presented the need for cash instead.

Grandpa no doubt thought a lot of this car and it has stayed in the family forever until now. The Chevy has 44,000 miles, but we don’t know how many of those may be associated with the 454 engine. An automatic transmission is part of the occasion, likely a TH-400, but was it changed to go along with the V8? We’re told the Malibu runs well, thanks in part to a rebuilt carburetor and a tune-up. When not in use, this car lived in a temp-controlled environment.

We wish the seller had provided better photos as the ones provided may not do the car justice. The exterior shots show more asphalt than car. But if the automobile is what the seller says it is, the asking price doesn’t sound like crazy money, even if not numbers-matching. Thanks for the interesting Bow-Tie tip, T.J.!