This 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu demonstrates that there are still plenty of wonderful classics hidden in barns and sheds, begging for liberation. It has occupied this spot since the original owner parked it in 2001 on medical advice. It is an essentially original and unmolested classic awaiting its chance to return to its rightful place on our roads. The seller has listed the Malibu here on eBay in San Francisco, California. It has struck a chord with potential buyers, with fifty-three bids pushing the price beyond the reserve to $20,100.
Chevrolet performed little more than a cosmetic refresh on its existing Chevelle range for the 1971 model year, with the grille, bumpers, and lights as its primary focus to differentiate it from the previous year’s offerings. The original owner ordered this ’71 Malibu in Rosewood with a Black vinyl top, creating a classy look. The car saw active service until they parked it in this shed in 2001, and it hasn’t moved an inch since. The car’s location and history are both good news for potential buyers, allowing the Chevelle to avoid the underside rust issues that often plague these classics following long-term exposure to adverse conditions. The seller claims that this beauty is rock-solid, although there is a downside that has left its mark. The garage is pretty dry, but there has been a water leak that has impacted the roof, hood, and front bumper. It seems to have cracked the vinyl and lifted the bumper chrome. However, with the rest of the exterior appearing to need nothing but a wash and a polish, addressing these areas while leaving the remaining surfaces untouched might be viable to protect the Malibu’s survivor status. Alternatively, performing a cosmetic restoration should be fairly straightforward.
We’ve recently seen a few classics where the seller has supplied no engine bay images or information regarding mechanical specifications, and this Malibu continues that trend. The VIN decodes for a V8 under the hood, but its capacity is a mystery. Malibu buyers had a choice of several powerplants, ranging from the entry-level 307 to the 402. What I can confirm from examining the listing images is that whatever engine the first owner chose, they teamed it with a three-speed Hydramatic transmission. It is worth noting that even if it is the 307 under the hood, it still delivered a very healthy 200hp and 300 ft/lbs of torque. Naturally, those figures climb significantly as the capacity increases. Whatever the truth, this Malibu should provide respectable performance when returned to active service. Please don’t grind your teeth, because the seller indicates that this classic ran when parked. Twenty-four years of inactivity will leave the winning bidder with the task of performing a revival, but the Chevrolet V8 is so robust that it might not take much work for the engine to roar back to life.
This Chevelle’s interior sends mixed signals because it appears to be a candidate for a deep clean that would make an enormous difference to its presentation. The Black vinyl upholstered surfaces are free from rips, and the dash and pad are excellent. There are no aftermarket additions, with this car retaining its factory radio. However, I am struggling to work out what the story is with the back seat. It appears to be missing, and this fact doesn’t rate a mention in the listing. It is a question worth posing, because it could be the only thing that stands between the interior in its current state and one that presents exceptionally well for a survivor-grade classic.
This 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu is far from perfect, but the seller’s claim that it is structurally sound bodes well for potential buyers. The bidding action has been quite frantic, which is unsurprising for any classic that is as desirable as the Malibu. It would be a prime candidate for a faithful restoration, but could just as easily serve as the perfect foundation for an SS tribute. The world will be the buyer’s oyster, but what path would you choose if this Chevelle eventually found its way into your garage?
The car has a rear seat lower cushion, it may have something lying on it, but it’s there. If you look at the passenger side rear arm rest it comes within a few inches from the top, if there were no lower cushion it would have been near the level of the floorboard.
Due to the rust on the front bumper and the admission there was a water leak into the garage I’d want to see it in person before bidding anywhere close to its current level.
I can’t see anyone restoring this car or doing a “sympathetic restoration” or even a clone, it’s too expensive. I think it will be used for a high end restomod, you want to start a complete rust free car that doesn’t need a lot of bodywork after tear down that will suck up time and money.
Steve R
Pics are not that great, but could be a pretty cool car to get back on the road. Rare exterior shade, rosewood. Original blue plate California car, so hopefully little to no rust. Where the current bid is, that’d be about all I’d feel comfortable paying. There’s going to be a decent amount of money needed to be spent to get the Chevelle back on the road. And that is if you’re doing the work yourself. If you’re paying someone else to do the work, one could get in pretty deep before you ever cruise the car down the blacktop. Good luck to the next caretaker, please keep it a base Chevelle.
More than a few came with a 4 bbl 350 in front of the auto trans like my ‘72 El Camino I still often long for. Pretty much bullet proof.
I’d bring this back to decent and drivable if it were an opportunity at a fair price just to celebrate it for what it is/was.
A cover was put over the back seat for the 3 pit bull terriers to stand on when going to the park???
Looks like rear seat removed and a speaker box was made out of plywood to replace it
The air cleaner is for a 307 but it looks like it had a GM Goodwrench crate 350 transplanted into it at some point. With 71,000 miles on the car I’d wonder what led to a complete engine replacement.
I wondered about this when I saw the black valve covers before I saw the 350 Goodwrench. Who knows what happened in this cars history.
May be the owner didn’t do basic maintenance like changing oil and the 307 failed. Again, who knows?
Some owners aren’t very bright. Years ago I bought a 1968 El Camino they had a rebuilt engine installed but couldn’t get it started. So they let it sit, after 5 years they put it up for sale. I paid $500 for it. It was a mess, sat under a pine tree and rusted the roof and cowl, but it was a 4spd, 12 bolt, factory tach/gauge car. After I made the deal and was waiting for a tow truck I asked the owner some questions as to what troubleshooting they had done, including if it had gas, to which they said yes. After I got it home I charged the battery, it would turn over, but not fire. I added a couple of gallons of gas and it instantly fired and ran. There are a lot of people that don’t understand the basics of troubleshooting, they dismiss things out of hand, especially those that are the simplest and cheapest things to check.
Steve R
If you’re asking that kind of money, at least back it out of the garage and give it a wash and vacuum.
A seller should always do that, when possible, but the seller doesn’t have an ignition key so they can’t move the shift lever. You probably aren’t familiar with the geography of San Francisco, it’s built on hills, many driveways, if there is one, are sloped, once out, you can’t push it back
This is a no reserve auction with a $1,000 opening bid. The pictures in his ad are likely saving the future buyer money.
Steve R
Get that, but at least bring out a bucket of plain water to wash with and throw a couple buckets over it to rinse.
Some people’s kids.
I agree, I have a friend with a AAA tow contract with a small town near San Francisco, he deals with several realtors who want cars cleared out when an estate is being settled. Nearly every house in the area is well over 1 million dollars, most approaching 2 million or more, an old car in the garage is an impediment rather than hidden treasure. I wouldn’t be surprised if this either came with the house or is being cleared and the seller didn’t realize the auction would attract so much interest. He keeps adding more information and pictures.
Steve R
I’m from that area and the sea air, that salty air, brings rust to chrome, paint surfaces faster than living in a dryer area.
We replaced lots of engines with less than 100k back in the day, mostly from little old men and lady’s that only short trips to church and grocery, they would be so sludged up they would not oil, always check numbers,we replaced lots of 307s with 350s…
Someone didn’t do their homework when installing the front and rear bumper guards. They should be closer to the license plate both front and rear. I’d also say they have them switched from left to right as well. Rosewood was a nice color for these but I’d have gone with a neutral interior. The first car I ever drove at age 12 was one like this. My Dad bought it brand new for my older sister when she graduated high school. It was Sandalwood with the neutral interior and dark brown vinyl roof. Dad let me drive it around the parking lot at the shopping center across from our house, back when stores were closed on Sundays. 71’s have been my favorite Chevelle ever since.
I don’t know, I’m just not feelin’ 20K for this car. It’s a long way from being any of the things that it could potentially be, whether that’s restored, mildly hot-rodded, full-on resto-mod, or an SS clone. I’m pretty fond of the ’70 / ’71 Chevelles, but I just don’t see the value in this one.
original car with papers and low miles. different color combo than usual.20k is what a plain malibu goes for in 2025 that’s just the way it is. these use to be 5k cars. that’s long gone. needs a few bucks pumped into it and you’re on your way
I just don’t understand non-SS Chevelle prices. Already at 20K for a car in not very good condition will need at least another 10K put into it.
This car was nothing special back in the day. People may look back fondly on an SS, so maybe every single one of these is destined to be a clone(?)
Meanwhile, a decent ’71 Corvette can be had for 20K and it will be in more than acceptable condition.
Steve R, as always you get it!
Growing old can be so sad sometimes. I am glad I am still fully capable to drive, but it is possible that someday my sons will have to have that difficult conversation with me. I hope I do the right thing like this person did. I really believe that a geezer past his driving prime, is mile per mile, the worst driver on the road. No one is even close, except maybe the drunks. Kids have a lot of accidents, for all sorts of reasons, but they drive so much more then the past their prime elderly. As much as I personally do not want it, I feel after age 65 you should have an annual behind the wheel driving test.
I don’t think it’s worth the $20k ask in this condition it probably has rodent damage but I would love the opportunity just to get it running and driving again. Almost makes me want to toss out a cash offer drag it home get it running and driving nice detail then flip it for profit
Troy, that’s the problem, no one is asking 20K for this car – it is what it has been bid up to, and I just don’t understand how a car that was considered plain jane can be bid up so high. Imagine what that 20K could buy in a really fun, and way more attractive, set of wheels.
While snow and the salted roads that come with snow isn’t part of San Fransisco’s climate, the salt air isn’t the best for preserving sheet metal and if water dripped on the vinyl roof, I’d like to get a good look at the metal underneath that vinyl. Repairing any rust under that vinyl top won’t be cheap or easy. Having the bumpers repaired and re-chromed is straightforward, if expensive. How much longer you will be able to get that work done in California is an open question though, as proposed restrictions on the use of hexavalent chromium may put most metal plating shops out of business, as pentavalent chromium, the proposed substitute, offers a dull, grey finish in place of the shiny silver finish most of us have come to associate with chrome-plated brightwork.
Correction: The proposed substitute is trivalent chromium, not pentavalent chromium (see link below):
https://calmatters.org/environment/2023/05/hexavalent-chrome-plating-ban/
I didn’t my love in San Francisco but have a lot of friends that do. Salt air often only reaches a few blocks and typically not the bay side of the city,it depends on the terrain, after the first hill it’s probably not an issue, especially if a car is parked in a garage.
I have a friend that lives in Pacifica, it’s the town just to the south of San Francisco. He lives less than a block from the ocean, it’s foggy almost every night, he parks his daily driver in the driveway and typically gets 7 years before it’s so rusty he junks it. In his garage he has a 57 Nomad and a couple of mid-60’s big block Corvettes, they don’t have any issues with rust, the salty moist doesn’t penetrate into the garage. Most of San Francisco is the same way, the vast majority of garages make up the ground floor of the houses, they are built and sealed of better than suburban or detached garages. I’d worry about this car because pipes were leaking not its location.
Steve R
Yes, the leaking pipe could be a significant issue, especially of it was that sewer pipe in the picture leaking on the roof instead of just water. Household effluent is murderously corrosive! So that’s another reason to get a good look under the vinyl!
This car can be a drivers for less money than they are asking. It does have a GM replacement engine with what looks like the original intake setup. Like other comments documentation would be nice about the engine replacement and why The interior looks like it just needs a good cleaning and no one has cut up the dash.
To clarify the engines displacement, the seller can easily provide the head and block numbers, cast and stamped to ascertain its correct c/i capacity…
Sold 4/29/2025 with a high bid of $20,800.
Steve R
$20,800????? PT Barnum was right.