In the 1950s, most car companies offered just one size of automobile. By the next decade, compacts and then intermediates were added to the lineup of traditional full-size products. Chevrolet’s entry in the mid-size arena was the Chevelle in 1964 and the car got its first redesign in 1968, the year the seller’s Malibu Sport Coupe was built. It’s in beautiful condition and may be largely original with 85,000 miles. Though some may be thinking it’s an SS clone opportunity, we hope this one remains as it is.
The 1968-72 era of Chevelles is likely the most popular for the marque. And especially with customizers who want to emulate an SS 396 or SS 454 with what used to be an ordinary Malibu. This is a Plain Jane Malibu Sport Coupe with a 307 cubic inch V8 (numbers matching), an automatic transmission (Powerglide?), and power steering (doesn’t look like it has power brakes). While we don’t know if the paint is original, most of the interior is (the front bench seat and door panels have been redone).
This car has had one owner for the past four years (we don’t know before that) and it’s used mainly for weekend cruises and outings to car shows. It’s said to be a solid runner, and we assume that the hardware under the hood hasn’t been opened up. Unlike an SS 396, the car is relatively easy on gasoline, at least by the standard of the day. The seller has a new dash (dash pad?) in a box ready for installation if you so choose.
An assortment of wheels will go with the deal. It’s wearing regular steel rollers with covers, but you also get a set of Rally wheels from a Camaro and a set of American Torque Thrust wheels. This Malibu is one of 180,000 produced in 1968, yet they’re not plentiful today due to 56 years of attrition. Let’s hope this car stays original and it can be found in Aldie, Virginia. It’s available here on eBay where $17,300 is the number to beat.
Look at door jambs. you can tell there that its been repainted. i never seen that green on gm back in the day except on a 69 firebird convertible hot wheel i had when a kid.
For another $50 he could have gotten a green one!
Power disc conversion, duals, the Rallys and some modest handling and steering upgrades and I’m done.
I’ve said time and again, all we see today are fire-breathing wheel standing Chevelles, when probably 95% were just like this. Clearly repainted looking at the rockers, and perhaps a newer GM green. I read, this car cost $2669 with no options. The307 V8, new for ’68 replacing the aging 283, added $189 bucks over the 6, the Powerglide, about $195 bucks over the stick, P/S, $94, and P/B, $42, not checked. A list of options a mile long, nickel and dime stuff, but could easily take it to $4grand. Not this buyer, however, who I speculate a woman, in a host of “women only” at the time jobs, nurse, librarian, flight attendant, secretary, all bought cars like this. I practically gagged on my coffee seeing the price, these people really think they have something valuable, when in fact, it’s just an old 307 Chevelle. I suppose they feel the fact it’s NOT a hide burner, makes it attractive. Hate to pop their bubble, but anyone wanting a ’68 Chevelle is going to want a big block.
I think people will want a Plain Jane Chevelle because they want a clean starting point to convert it to a muscle car. The question is how much does one want to pay for the car to start their project?
Catch up, Howard, Anyone who buys this will put an LS in it, Big blocks in 2024 are boat anchors
$4999.99 would be more like it. Not a penny more.
Nice Malibu. As has been pointed out there were a lot just like it in the day but not so much now. Surely a great candidate for a restoration or molestation project. Either one will come at a cost. Guess you have to buy it first.
Ooooh, I would love to molest it. It’s just asking for it!😊
I was curious about the color, since it doesn’t match any of the standard Chevelle colors for 1968. I seem to recall that there were dealers who would order a bunch of rather ordinary cars in special order colors just to offer something different than the Chevelles offered by other dealers in their area. However, after checking the photos in the eBay ad, it’s clear this is a Grecian Green car that’s the victim of a bad respray or a color change. It would look better restored to its original shade of green.
A clean, plain 307 Chevelle. You never see them anymore as everyone wants a clone SS.
Here is the problem with that. At one time, an SS Chevelle was a special car, even at a distance because you tell a real one from something just put together with a hood scoop and SS badges. Today’s SS clones that you see everywhere (I have 1 down the street from me and at least two others I see drive up and down my street every nice weekend), make me not even look at an SS anymore real or not. They are now officially boring.
Nice to see an original 307 car, real 1968 GM green or not…
Catch up, Howard, Anyone who buys this will put an LS in it, Big blocks in 2024 are boat anchors
Some shades of green are very attractive, that one is not, it’s awful.
Could not agree more. Looks as though the owner is color blind.
Green but about 5 shades off.
Sold for a high bid of $18,700.
Steve R