One Owner Survivor: 1968 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu

Chevrolet got into the mid-size automobile market in 1964 with the Chevelle. The Malibu was the top-of-the-line model and dominated sales. With a restyle in 1966, the Sport Sedan body style was added (Chevy-speak for 4-door hardtop). That offering continued when the cars were redesigned in 1968. The seller has a one-owner Sport Sedan that’s described as a great daily driver, so it’s rough around the edges, mostly with the interior. Located in Perris, California, the car is available here on craigslist for $6,700, with the inclusion of the wheels in the photos being in question. An attaboy goes to Tony Primo for another vintage tip!

The second generation of the Chevelle (1968-72) was perhaps its most successful. Although they sold a bundle of them from the Colonnade generation that followed (1973-77), too. Under the Malibu umbrella, the Sport Coupe was the best seller at 180,000 V8-equipped editions in 1968 (excluding the Super Sport). The Sport Sedan paled by comparison at 15,000 copies, so they come along in smaller numbers these days. Four doors aren’t always cool, but these Sport Sedan hardtops might change your mind.

This Chevelle was fairly routine when new. It has a 307 cubic inch V8 and an automatic transmission (2-speed Powerglide?). We believe this is a numbers-matching car where it counts at 85,000 miles. No factory air conditioning, and the valve covers have been painted black rather than orange/red, so maybe the gaskets have been replaced, and the seller got out the rattle can.

As a daily driver, some minimum rust is said to be here and there, and the driver’s side front fender looks to have a crease in it from a parking lot altercation. At the asking price, it’s unclear whether two sets of wheels or one come with the car, as the amount doesn’t change with the aftermarket wheels. And it looks like the front seats were reupholstered at some point, as the fabric is not the same color as the rear. But both sets need a makeover, as does the carpeting and dash pad.