Malibu 350 V8 Project: 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle

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Chevrolet’s entry into the newly created mid-size marketplace of the 1960s was the Chevelle. It was born in 1964 and would continue through 1978 after which the Malibu nameplate carried the car forward. But the Malibu was part of the lineup from Day 1 as the upscale version of the automobile. This 1970 edition looks to have been idle for some time, trapped outdoors among other cars and a variety of stuff. It doesn’t run and will need both mechanical and body work. Located in Los Angeles, California, this project is available here on eBay and optimistically priced at $34,999 (or you can make an offer).

The second generation of the widely popular Chevelle debuted in 1968 and would remain in production through 1972. Annual updates to the styling would occur with 1970 models being the last of the generation with dual headlights. More than 443,000 Chevelles and El Camino’s were produced in 1970, with more than 300,000 copies being the Malibu Sport Coupe, like the seller’s car. So, this auto had plenty of company on the assembly line and there are quite a few remaining, except those that have been cloned as SS 396 or SS 454 editions, a popular activity.

We’re don’t know much about the history of the seller’s car. The odometer reads about 11,000 miles, but that has likely turned over. The Chevy has the popular 350 cubic inch V8 under the hood, paired with a TH-350 automatic transmission. Some of the motor’s parts are missing, such as the carburetor, but aftermarket ignition components reside there now, suggesting some work has been done on the car.

The photos provided show a car trapped in its surroundings, so it’s hard to view the car as a whole. The white vinyl top may be okay if cleaned up, but the light blue paint is showing its age and there is some red primer in places where some dents or rust have been attended to. Don’t be surprised if there’s more lurking. On the other hand, except for one tear in the driver’s seatback, the interior may be just fine.

The seller’s asking price might be reasonable if the car didn’t require all the work that it does. By the time you bought and restored it, you’d have a $50,000 “regular” Malibu, putting it into the same kind of monetary territory you might be able to buy a Super Sport.

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Comments

  1. Bluetec320 Bluetec320

    35K, for an entry level Chevelle that needs a complete restoration! If someone actually pays that for this, they deserve what they get, I guess. In the next few years when inflation is so high that this crazy bubble breaks, this will be a 3K car again. SMH.

    Like 17
  2. CadmanlsMember

    Is that a typo? The collector world going crazy, no way that’s worth that kind of money. I don’t think all the lipstick in LA could make this pig worth that.

    Like 9
  3. John Mangum

    Way over priced. Maybe 10 or 15 in current shape at most. That kind money get big block SS

    Like 5
  4. ed the welder

    take the 3 off the front of that price and it’s a deal .

    Like 8
  5. CCFisher

    Ok, I’m going to join the “the seller is nuts” chorus on this one.

    And what’s up with that first photo? The weird angle combined with the wide-angle lens makes the car look like it’s wearing a football helmet.

    Like 4
  6. George Duran

    I have no problem with the price as long as the log lighter is included!!

    Like 1
  7. Bill W.

    Totally nuts. Asking done money for a project. Good luck with that.

    Like 7
  8. Melton Mooney

    I want some of whatever dat dude is smokin’, cuz he is freakin’ HIGH.

    Like 6
  9. bull

    Optimistically Priced???

    You are way to Kind!!!!

    Like 3
  10. Greg

    Wish in one hand & crap in the other, seller has Lost it !!

    Like 2
  11. Don

    This seller must have the “George Washington Slept Here once” syndrome. Because the only way that car would be worth that money is if it had a tie to a celebrity.

    Like 1
  12. Retrocartoon RetrocartoonMember

    This is a tell tale sign that the wife is making him sell it. I did that once to a ’59 Impala so I could keep it. I kept telling my wife “it’s a fair price, people just can’t afford it” lmao! I kept my car.

    Like 1
  13. Glenn Hilpert

    This is why it is still for sale.

    Like 3
  14. Paul

    $35K??? Why on earth would Barnfinds even entertain this with a post?? Go to the most recent Mecum or Barrett Jackson auctions and see what you can buy for $35k and compare it to this seller’s hallucination.

    Like 1
  15. ken Michaels

    i paid $1,100 for my 71

    Like 0
    • T. MannMember

      Ken, show us a picture of when you got it.

      Like 1
  16. T. MannMember

    I like all 1970 Chevy Sport Coupes :_)

    Like 2
  17. Tommy T-Tops

    Hmmm 35k for this or a 2012 Challenger SRT with a 392 and 32k miles…tough one…lol…they have basically priced all of us normal collectors out of the market. Who can spend this kind of money on a car that needs 50k to get it decent. I agree the bubble will burst eventually, maybe..hopefully?

    Like 1
  18. V12MECH

    The first picture with the primer spray on the right side, looks I could have taken it in my driveway, circa 1977, of any one of several $375 Chevy 2drs. I owned back then, all V-8’s,. Just needed a little body work. Oh well……

    Like 2
  19. gearjammer

    Correction, Russ: The Chevelle nameplate was dispensed with after the 1977 model year, and 78 was the first year for the Malibu.

    Sadly, this is another Chevelle that is in danger of being turned into another SS poser and, even more sadly, flipped for a tidy profit.

    Like 0
  20. Ken Barker Ken

    I have a matching #’s 71 big block. Needs comparable body work I’m selling for exactly 1/2 of this price. Seats are new.

    Like 0

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