Unfinished Convertible: 1971 Chevelle Malibu

This 1971 Malibu convertible is a project that hasn’t been completed across its last two owners. It has an older repaint that may need help and we’re told it runs well, which is always a good thing. The current owner bought it to make an SS clone but has too many other things on his plate. That may be best since production numbers were relatively low and they’re only stock once. Located in Scottsville, New York, this Chevy drop-top is available here on eBay where the bidding has reached $15,400 and there is no reserve.

Seeing Ford’s success by downsizing the Fairlane to an “intermediate” size, General Motors went that route, too, for 1964 and the Chevelle was Chevy’s answer. The Chevelle would become one of the division’s best sellers and the name would be used through 1987, after which the Malibu moniker (the top grade Chevelle) would be used across the whole product line. The second generation was produced between 1968-72 and perhaps became the car’s most popular, especially in terms of muscle car editions some 50 years later. For 1971, the Chevelle switched from dual to single-beam headlights and used different taillights, the most notable changes from 1970. 368,763 Chevelle’s were built in ’71 (including the El Camino), and yet just 5,089 were Malibu convertibles like the seller’s car.

The seller of this ’71 drop-top “project” has only owned it so a few months and doesn’t have the time to see it to a conclusion. As the story goes, the prior owner stripped it for a paint job about 40 years ago but didn’t finish putting it back together after that work was done. This is a shame because it mostly looks like hanging trim and some other minor stuff. It sat in the garage after that until the seller bought it a few months ago.

Due to age and the quality of the work done in the 1980s, it hasn’t held up all that well. We’d agree that it looks good except up close where there are a few chips and scratches, but it shines up nicely.  Considering that the seller was going to replace the quarter panels and fenders with OEM, there may be problems that aren’t readily seen. We’re told the frame, floors, and trunk are good and there is evidence of a few prior repairs having been made.

The top, hardware, and power controls are all fine apart from the rear window that has fogged up. The interior is pretty good, though the door panels are off (and provided), and the carpeting is not attached to the floor. The only missing piece may be one of the rear bumper guards. We don’t know which Chevy V8 is under the hood, but my guess is a 350 that would have put out 165 hp net with a 2-barrel auto (remember, ’71 was the first year these cars were detuned to run off unleaded fuel). A console-mounted shifter for the automatic transmission takes care of those duties.

We’re told that the engine runs fine with no smoke or strange sounds and the only mechanical work the seller may have done is to install a new master cylinder for the power brakes. The tires look new but are 40 years old and should be replaced before doing much driving. The odometer reading is said to be just 45,000 miles. If you’ve been wanting a convertible from that era, this ’71 Chevelle may be the kind of project you can drive while you work on it.