SS Project: 1964 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu

Chevrolet, along with the rest of General Motors (except Cadillac), joined Ford in the mid-size market in 1964. The Chevelle debuted, and it was instantly successful, selling more than 338,000 copies that first year, excluding the revitalized El Camino built on the same chassis. The seller’s car is a Malibu Super Sport, which was probably a looker back in the day. But the passage of time and Mother Nature have done a number on it, so a restoration seems the only route to go. Located in Foley, Alabama, this incomplete Chevy is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $3,000.

Nearly a quarter of all Chevelles produced in 1964 were Malibu hardtops and convertibles with the Super Sport option. Like the Impala, the Malibu SS came with bucket seats, a console, and any engine in the Chevrolet portfolio. The seller speculates this SS has a 350 cubic-inch V8, but that motor was not available for at least three more years, so it could be a 283 or 327 if original to the car. Someone began to work on it (it’s seized), so parts may be missing.

We’re told the undercarriage of the SS is good, but we’re not sure about the sheet metal. What may have been off-white paint to begin with (per the listing) now seems to be old burgundy paint flaking off and going beyond what many would define as patina. This car could have been driven one million miles as the placeholder indicates, but maybe one less zero is more likely. If this car was loved by its prior owners as the seller indicates, they lost the feeling at some point, and not recently.

This Chevy has an automatic tranny whose shifter is in the trunk along with the SS console. The seller has spent some time cleaning up the old Malibu (so he’s a flipper), but feels the vehicle is solid enough to be resurrected at least as a driver. Someone added a moonroof at one point (and we hope it doesn’t leak). Since the asking price isn’t in the stratosphere, a restoration would be more likely. Kudos to Chuck Foster for the tip!