Continuing its trend from prior years, the Malibu Sport Coupe would be Chevelle’s most popular model and body style in 1970. It represented two-thirds of production, excluding Monte Carlo’s and El Camino’s. That large population speaks to why so many of the survivors today have become SS clones or tributes. This well-used ’70 Malibu has seen better days and is a non-running project which will need a lot of work. From Everest, Kansas, this Chevy sounds like it’s being offered by a dealer here on eBay where the bidding holds at $6,600. Thanks, Jamie, for the heads-up on this find from the days of our misspent youth!
Back in 1970, Fisher body code 3637 designated the Malibu Sport Coupe with a V8 engine (also the foundation for the SS 396 and 454 options). Since more than 289,000 were built, a lot of them were running around in those days. I remember taking Driver’s Ed in high school that year and the white over green Malibu the dealer provided was popular with us teenagers. The seller’s car was in this mix, and it came with a 350 V8, automatic transmission, factory air (long gone on the seller’s car), power steering, and power front disc brakes. Pretty standard stuff in those days. Add to that a vinyl top on the seller’s Astra Blue car which probably matched before it was peeled off.
We don’t know how long this car has been off the road, but my guess is it wasn’t yesterday. While the seller thinks most of the paint is original, everything is going to have to be taken back down to bare metal to assess rust, which is there in places. The seller concedes that at least the trunk floor and quarter panels will need some work, along with the Dutchman panel below the rear glass where a leak under the vinyl may have spread.
The interior is populated with two bucket seats that look like the kind you’d find in a dune buggy, so they must go. The dashboard may be okay, but the plastic steering wheel is falling apart. The seller admits knowing nothing about the viability of the drivetrain, saying it “may be decent or junk.” The transmission is a TH-350 automatic and the rear end is a 10-bolt. One of the best features of the car, which looks to be sitting too high off the ground, is its Rally wheels, Unfortunately, they don’t go with the car and the seller will provide rollers instead. Restore as stock or do another SS clone?
Are those swivel seats from a later 70’s GM colonaide car?
When carpeting looks that bad!!, taking it out would not only look better, but would tell you what’s happenin underneath! Many times old carpet carries odors & who knows what germs too.
Ahhh , the old bait and switch ! I was actually wondering about the tire/wheel set up and half expected to see the set of old hubcaps in the trunk. I’m wondering id the seller didnt also put spring spacers or something in it to make it look less worn out .
What was said that indicated to you that there is bait and switch involved?