Here’s a surprise, a 1964 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu Super Sport (SS) that is in original, not messed-with condition – what a rarity! These, along with GM A-body cars produced from ’64 to ’72, are a hot ticket and are usually found restored to the nines (with a matching price!) or heavily modified, done professionally, or often in a shade-tree manner. Other than some Pep Boys-style seat covers, this Chevy looks untouched and quite worn but it does run. It’s located near Corona, California and is available, here on craigslist for $13,500. Thanks are due to Tony P. for this tip!
This ’64 Malibu SS, being a first-year offering, was available with power spanning the range from a six-cylinder engine to a stout 327 CI V8. The SS option meant trim, badging, and bucket seats with a center console. That trend continued in ’65 with the SS396, one of Chevrolet’s best-known performance cars, becoming a regular production model in ’66. The VIN isn’t disclosed, but being an SS model, the second and third digits should be “38”. That numbering convention continued through the ’68 model year. In ’69, the SS model became an option package for the Malibu and no longer it’s own model.
The white finish of this Chevy is deteriorated but the body appears to be sound with perhaps some surface rust but nothing that appears to be more egregious than that. And that’s good to know as these A-bodies are generally rust magnets. The seller mentions that the original California black plates are included so it’s a safe bet that this car has been a Golden State resident for some time. One thing I did notice are the wheel covers, they’re “SS” badged but I believe they are from a Nova and not correct for this car – a small matter really.
Power is provided by “old reliable”, a 195 gross HP 283 CI V8 operating with another old reliable, a Powerglide automatic transmission. Neither are the items of performance dreams but they are stout and will provide years and miles of trouble-free driving. The seller states, “runs and drives“. The odometer of this Malibu SS has rolled over so the actual mileage is either unknown or not disclosed.
Back to the interior, the cheap seat covers are a distraction and probably cover tattered red vinyl upholstery. The rest of the interior is tired too but the good news is that almost all of the components are available from one of several different suppliers – a nod to this car’s popularity.
It would be nice to see the next owner clean this baby up but leave it in stock form as opposed to tearing it apart and hot-rodding it. But that’s just my suggestion, what’s yours?
What a find!!! The ‘64-65 was the PERFECT Chevelle IMO. With a lesser silhouette but room for any SBC they ruled all the oval tracks we had nearby and all the weekend runway/dragstrips (sanctioned) in their class.
In Looking back, if only the crystal ball would’ve just said “keep it!” when our ‘64 two door wagon went up for sale..
We’re in the same gear here, Nev, the ’64 Chevelle changed everything. Sort of a Chevy ll on steroids, it was exactly what America wanted. A base Chevelle 300 6 cylinder cost $2231 with an option list a mile long. This car, of which almost 60,000 were sold, cost a mere $400 more. As neat as this car was, amazingly, it was the 6 cylinder that was the biggest seller, with almost 64,000 sold, compared to 7,000 V8s.( source: 1964 Chevelle Options). It was a great car, still is, back then, a really nice car, something anyone with a job could afford, in true Chevrolet fashion. Today,,,not so much.
Howard:
Your numbers are a bit light. There were 339K Chevelles, of all stripes, produced in ’64. 196K came with either a 283 or 327 CI V8 (the 327 was a late model year introduction), while 142K were powered by either the 194 or 230 CI in-line six. “Automobile-Catalogue” is the source and my experience with that site is that it rarely misses.
As for the Malibu SS, such as our subject car, it’s one of 67K V8 equipped models that rolled off of assembly lines in Atlanta, Baltimore, Fremont, CA (now the Tesla plant), Kansas City, and Los Angeles (Van Nuys).
JO
and even the SS could be had with the six!
Thanks Jim, that’s why you’re on that side and I’m here. I’ve used that site too, but is confusing due to just so much information there. Thanks again for great posts.
Thank you Howard!
JO
I am curious about the engine..The valve covers raise a issue for me …My old eyes say that they are the wrong color.Is it because of wear or is there some more senister here?
Either way the car has endless possibilities
Nevada, not meaning at all to say “told you!”, but your ride would be an attention getter at any show.
Who sees a wagon these days, let alone a 2-door? And the value.
I have a little sellers remorse myself with my ’84 Cutlass Brougham, especially when the last time I saw it it had been turned into a low rider! EWWW!
Who remembers the slogan, “Something new, Chevelle!”
And the across the whole line of Chevies, “See the U.S.A. in your Chevrolet!” I think Dinah Shore sang it.
If any of you are familiar with a radio show called Hot Rod Radio, the host, Wings Callahan, plays a lot of old time car radio commercials. Fun listen!
His P.O.box # happens to be 454, too!
Geeze Jon now I’m really beginning to feel old but fortunately my mind is somewhat still in tact. There was a slogan also like baseball hot dogs apple pie and Chevrolet. My Sloan is eat dessert first.
I have a Non SS Chevelle Malibu with the 230 (150 ponies) convertible , full seat with three on a tree (manual everything and AM radio.
The car runs good … original family owned car.
These are good size boats but smaller than the big as a whale Impala.
The 230 will cruise at 75-80 and rides decent.
Good luck on SS 283 Automatic
My brother had the exact car only it was red with the red interior.
He went through 2 powerglide transmissions and a rear end but that old 283 just kept on going. They were definitely good motors.
It’s hard to find a 283 even today that doesn’t run. And this Chevelle doesn’t seem to have rust in all the wrong places. I don’t think I’d give five figures but whoever buys it should give it a genuine and authentic restore.
Personally I like the look of the 65’s front fenders and grill more, but that wouldn’t keep me from being happy to own this 64.
I owned a 64 in the late 70’s. I inherited it from my aunt when she passed away. It was a nothing special base striper 300 two door post with the 194 6 cylinder, a Powerglide and an AM radio. It was 14 years old when I got it and only had about 18,000 miles on. I don’t think she ever left her town, or ever drove further than 5 miles. I kept it a couple years and eventually sold it to a family friend who’s son was getting their license and needed a car.
Your aunt’s car just reminded me of the next door neighbor to my parents. He traded his bare bones ’55 Chev. for a ’64 300 2- door. His also had the 230- 6 but 3 on the tree. Lots of people outside the car circle wouldn’t know what that means. 300 & 300 Deluxe came only in sedan form.
Brings a smile to my face whenever I hear someone grinding it into first! 😁
Should’ve said “came only in sedan and wagon models, no hardtops.”
What’s not to like. A nice original mildly optioned unit that isn’t rusted away or hee haw ‘ed to death. I would buy this before some 200,000 clapped out electronic nightmare which seem to cost just as much today. I’m good as I have plenty like this and live in a great area with a very short run to work. I love it and whoever gets this one will be fine. You can make a super nice, enjoyable ride from this one.
First new-car I remember seeing as a kid was an ice blue metallic `64 Chevelle “SS” my Godmother had as a demo–they owned a Chevy dealership. Matching vinyl buckets, and oddly enough, even power windows! That car made a tremendous impression on me at that age (not quite 5 at the time)
My first car wht 64 Malibu 327 power glide School auto shop project lucky 2. Be alive with that thing
Wow, my first “hot rod” was a ’64 Nova 283/4speed that I bought for $800 when it was 2 years old. I’d love to fix this one up, I’d keep and beef up the original block and tranny but I’m up to my ears in projects and short on time…
Restore this one back to stock. It would be refreshing to see a ’64 Chevelle the way it looked when it was driven off the assembly line, even if it is with the base 283 and Powerglide.
Well Jo, at least it’s not a “bubble top” right Jim.
All in good fun.
What a find. Original start, hopefully for someone who will do a factory rebuild.
Nice write up Jim.
Thx Billy! This one is close to my heart as I owned a ’65 Malibu SS with a 283 engine and a four-speed manual transmission – it was my first car and I had a great time with it.
JO
When I lived in San Diego 25 years ago there was a 1964 malibu/chevelle? convertible in a storage facility that i knew about that the manager was trying to talk me into buying before it went to the crusher. I was gun shy because there wasn’t a title but he said he could get one.
It was a manual transmission but wasn’t running which was the other drawback. The car was complete but needed everything gone through. He seemed to know about the rarity of this car but I didn’t. It haunts me to this day what I might have missed out on especially since California has a reputation of crushing cars that don’t meet smog requirements.
You could buy one of these which had the 283 Power Pack 220 HP engine.
with only an AM Radio and three on three for about $2600-2700. They were light and would run very well on the street. It is surprising how many street drag races were won with that combination before the era of the muscle cars.
My oldest brother bought a ‘65 Malibu sport coupe when he got home from Vietnam in ‘69.
Light blue with a white painted top, and blue interior. 283 with a three on the tree and overdrive. He still talks about how much he loved that car, and he’s owned some nice ones! ‘64-‘65 Chevelles were close to perfect in the ‘60s!👍🏻
Note to author: The wheelcovers are 63 Impala units.
I also believe the wheel covers are from a 63 Impala SS. I had a black, 1963 Chevy SS and they sure look the same to me? I could be wrong, of course?
Nice find! I believe it should be put back as original as possible.
I haven’t seen one of these cars since forever. They sure look better than the seventies models.
Just my oponion!
After all of our comments, the ad has been deleted for some reason.
But it’s been fun!