This 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu may not feature the most desirable of engine and transmission combinations, but it is on the market, and its listing here on eBay appears to have generated some pretty solid interest. Located in York, New York, the car has so far received a total of 35 bids. This has pushed the price along to $5,400, and with the reserve having been met, this is a project car that is set to head to a new home.
The owner says that the Chevelle is completely original, and the only real rust that he mentions is in the trunk pan, which sounds like it will need replacing. Still, that’s a pretty common problem and not one that’s particularly difficult to address. As best that we can see from the photos, it appears that the worst of the external rust is confined to the driver’s side of the car, and none of it looks to be particularly bad. There is rust around both the front and rear wheel arches, but it looks like it could be patched rather than replacing entire panels. The same is true of the rust in the bottom corner of the driver’s door. The owner also says that the rear window will need to be resealed, and except for the fact that there is no evidence of chrome trims or the holes for them, I would almost be inclined to say that the Chevelle has had a vinyl top at some point in its life. Regardless of whether it did or didn’t, it must have been an attractive car when it was new, finished in Sequoia Green.
The interior of the Chevelle is said to be original, and by and large, it has survived quite well over the past 47-years. It looks like the upholstery on the seats and door trims might come up quite nicely after a clean, while the dash and pad are not only original but in really nice condition. The only aftermarket item I can spot is what appears to be an FM converter under the dash. The carpet has definitely seen better days, and it does potentially have one worrying sign on it. The carpet on the passenger side looks like it is either currently wet, or it has been in the past. If this is the case, then I would really like to get a look at the floor on that side of the vehicle. The original owner ticked one or two boxes on the option sheet when he ordered the car because the Chevelle features a factory radio with a rear speaker, a rear defogger, tinted glass, and cruise control. That’s quite an interesting combination.
The Chevelle’s originality extends to under the hood, and this might potentially explain the interest that it has generated. What you get here is the 250ci 6-cylinder engine, Powerglide transmission, power steering, and power brakes. That combination could never be described as potent, and the Chevelle would cover the ¼ mile in 20.9 seconds. However, either there are people out there who are really seeking a basic Chevelle to restore as something a bit different, or there are people out there who view this car as the basis for something far more potent. The owner does say that everything is original, so maybe there are potential buyers who are planning on a faithful restoration for this car. One really intriguing aspect of the Chevelle’s specifications is that in spite of its pretty mild state of tune and performance, the original owner actually specified a Posi rear end for the car. I find that rather interesting.
While it might be a long way from being perfect, this 1972 Chevelle Malibu looks like it is quite a solid car. Its mechanical components are said to be original, but it is not a vehicle with performance that would set your pulse racing. My belief is that the people bidding on it intend to make some pretty significant changes under the hood to breath some serious performance into the car. Of course, I could be completely wrong on that front. What do you think?
A New England car with a six and positraction connected to snow tires will get you there a lot faster than trying to man handle 400hp through snow. The six really looks out of place in that car though.
True. The best car I had in the snow was a Mazda 323 hatch with automatic and pencil thin Michelin all weather radials. Didn’t make sense, but it worked.
This car will probably resurface next year with a big block and SS stripes,
With a new SS vin and new barn scenery 😜
It’s a surprise that it lasted almost 50 years with the straight 6 not being pulled.
A friend in high school had a muscle looking Chevelle like this with the six cylinder engine. I’ll tell you he simply hated his dad for it. The car like this had mag wheels and looked the part of a real bad ass. Dads buy sensible cars that they like however don’t know the peer pressure. In my school teen boys were all into cars. What you had if you were lucky enough defined you. A nice car put you in status that would somehow lead to greatness.
Mornings before school was a parade of loud muscle back in the late 1970’s. They would rev and circle around sometimes when the cop wasn’t around those that had a line lock would light them up. Several guys I knew that stood out 68 428 CJ Torino (he paid $700) 69 GTX 440 a lone 70 GS 455 and the King Kong a kid that could pull the front wheels in a very clean but bad 69 390 4 speed AMX.
Back to my buddy who had the clicking six Chevelle. He would roll into the school lot unassuming with the buzz of weakness. He would park in the back lot and mope in to school. No self esteem. Ended up having a tragic life. He was a great guy too. Man, if dad only ponied up for a big block his life may have been different!
I don’t know about his Dad buying him a big block AMCFAN. I also attended high school in the late ‘70’s. If you wanted a hot car you got a job after school and/or worked on your summer vacation. If you waited for your folks to buy you a car you would be doing a lot of walking.
While in high school, a friend of mine’s dad bought him a new 1974 Olds Omega. Had a 250 six with a 3 speed trans ( at least had a floor shifter). he just couldn’t stand having a six, so I traded the ’59 (I think, had staggered hole valve covers) 283 out of the ’55 Nomad I had just bought for his new 250 six. We swapped engines one weekend while his parents were out of town. I don’t think they ever found out. I put a mildly built 350 in the Nomad and planned to put the basically brand new 250 in my ’39 Chevy sedan delivery. My friend and his passenger died about a year later when he hit a bridge abutment at 100 mph+ in his newly purchased ’64 GTO.
OK my bad. So I should have said if you were lucky enough to have parents first. Then you were even more lucky that they had average income and could “help” you get a car. If so you rarely got a choice. It was what your parents thought you should have.
My dad would have helped me but I chose to buy mine myself. My dad worked for the government (and had money) I saw what happened to my friend with the Chevelle and didn’t want it to happen to me. I worked at a printing company delivering newspapers when I was 10. Started out on my bike. When I was 16 and got my license three weeks later they gave me a truck. Learned more about people and life in general with that first job. Place is long gone now. Good times.
Why not? Since when does a car have to be powered by a V8 engine to be fun to drive?
Actually, since always………….
All a matter of perspective, I guess. One of the most fun-to-drive cars I’ve driven (aside from being a snug fit) was an ND Miata.
Probably bought new as someones’ ‘sensible’ commuter who never had any intentions of ripping the streets. A posi at the rear will help alot on slippery winter roads; actually my DD C5 Blazer came like that and proved to be a more than adequate winter vehicle back in the day. I think I put on the snow chains at a couple occations only.
I’m sure it will be born again with the typical 350/350 combo, which is no bad driveline choice. I think it’d be cool to jazz up the six, but I don’t think many care for that in a Chevelle.
Personally I like the Skylark in the background even more!
Another ready to build clone!! I’ve only seen one othe Chevelle with a straight 6!! I think this is a rare vehicle!!
I had a 67′ Chevy Belair 4 door w/283-V8 and powerglide. Ones’ first car does not have to be a 6 cyl. to be underpowered. It was big, yet still fun. My second car was a 4cyl. 74′ Opel Manta with modified cam and weber carb that kept up with 70’s v8 Mustangs of the time due to its high rev’s. Traction, rev’s, low weight and excellent handling can make for a very very fun car. I learned early on that cubes are over-rated.
This was just the start of the gas crunch, and I bet many Chevelles were equipped this way. That was then, this is now. It has a snowballs chance in Hades of remaining stock. Like others said, posi was not a performance thing, just better traction, which, if that was the case, not much rust for a car that came from an area that needed extra traction.
Wish I still had mine. A 71 Chevelle coupe, 307, automatic, but no A/C. Bought in 1978, sold in 1981
After the memorable hot summer of 1980, I sold it spring of 81 and bought a 77 Impala with A/c
For that price at $5400, it’s great. It looks straight and rust free, but you can’t see under it. I’d clean it up and drive it while looking for a 350 for it. I’d still leave it stock and get different wheels…
I want this car.
Heave the six out.
Put in a small block chevy 400 in it with all the go fast goodies.
Paint it Viper yellow and get some new Chevy Rallye wheels circa 1972
Zingggggg
There’s nothing wrong with that car…. that a blown big block wouldn’t fix.
Went for $5600. A steal if you ask me. He will have a badass Chevelle for under 10k.
A rare car to be sure. This year Chevelle is fast disappearing in any body form, but the original 250 in a two door body will gather tons of attention at any car show. People have gotten very used to a 350/350 combo in so many cars, they tend to walk past them. I presently own a 63 Impala convertible with the 250/pg combo. Around 5400 were produced. Original 230 is gone. I think someone in 63 just wanted a cheap convertible. Keep the six and enjoy its uniqueness if not the value or speed.
I was lucky enough to purchase a ’71 Chevelle Malibu from an elderly neighbor’s estate back in 1987 (Senior Year). Thankfully, it had the turbo-fire 350, and moved along really well! I still own it, and was driving it just yesterday afternoon…..To me it, the car is priceless…..!
One of my high school beaters was a 1970 Chevelle 2 door hard top like this. Inline 6, powerglide, power steering but manual drum brakes. The previous owner was a friend who inherited it from the original owner, his grandmother. Gold & rust with a black interior. He put Camaro buckets in it. Looked kinda dumb with that column shifter lol. Had the puppy pan hubcaps. I really liked that car! Thought I was bad to the bone. What a dork I was lol!