California Black Plate: 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu
What we have here for review is the ever-popular 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle but it is not the uber-popular SS396 version. And that’s good as the non-performance versions are worthy cars in their own right. And, as the saying goes, “A rising tide lifts all boats” and a Malibu, like this example, is not immune to the rising tide of value. This very original, west coast originated Chevelle is located in Las Vegas, Nevada and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $10,600, reserve not yet met.
Never in short supply, there were about 404K Chevelles, including the El Camino, assembled in 1967. As for a V8 equipped, Malibu, two-door hardtop like our subject car, about 141K copies. And that number does not include the SS396 variant which added another 63K cars to the count, 60K of which were hardtops and about 3K convertibles. A simple, attractive, and reliable design, it’s no surprise that so many are still in existence.
This example is about as original as it gets. The Bolero Red finish shows evidence of years in the California sun and this is an original California product as it was built at GM’s Fremont, California assembly plant the second week of October 1966. The body appears to be straight and corrosion-free though the front bumper has one of those misjudgment boo-boos that the seller claims can be fixed for $160. The riveted Chevrolet badge is also missing from the grille but that’s a very minor matter. The rear valance trim is a bit banged up and one of the decorative spears is missing from the rear left taillight – they snap off easily as I broke one on my ’67 SS pushing it out of a snowdrift. Again, all of these components are easily replaceable. The trunk is surprisingly pristine and the underside of this Malibu looks how you would expect a dry-climate car’s underside to look. All in all, this Chevelle is pretty presentable as is; it could be acquired and driven as improvements are added.
This Chevy’s mileage is listed as 82K miles and that’s what the odometer displays. Is it original or has it been around once? Hard to say for sure. This much is known, maintained, and not abused (OK, abused a little bit) a 195 HP, 283 CI V8 small-block will run forever. In the durability contest, it’s up there with Mopar’s venerable slant-six engine. And this Malibu’s powertrain includes Chevrolet’s ubiquitous Powerglide, two-speed automatic transmission. While hardly a dynamic duo, the 283/’glide combination powered millions of Chevies from ’57 until ’67 with nary a complaint. How does this Malibu run? The seller states, “Numbers matching 283 engine that purrs like a kitten, recently rebuilt the carburetor, new brake master cylinder, and fairly newer tires”. The number matching aspect is nice but it’s overhyped and irrelevant in a car like this, but it is a nod to originality. And what’s notable is that this Chevy still has its California Air Resources Board (CARB) mandated Air Injection Reactor (AIR) pump. High performance or not, AIR pumps frequently got the 23 Skidoo early in their existence.
Inside is a welcome find, bucket seats and a center console as opposed to the standard bench seat. The seats and carpet appear to be faded but in relatively good condition. The dash pad is shot, and as I recall, changing one of these on a ’66 or ’67 Chevelle is a hassle, you have to take the dash apart to get to the attaching studs. The dash is also discolored and there is an ugly aftermarket radio in place. The rest of the interior checks out pretty well, however. Again, everything inside is like the exterior, it’s mostly all replaceable. You can almost build a new ’67 Malibu from a catalog, almost.
The price is trending strongly for this Chevelle, it will be interesting to watch the bidding over the next four days and see where it goes or if it hits its reserve. While a nice car style-wise, this vintage Chevelle has taken on an outsized popularity; it is, after all, a commodity car, one of the 141K examples that were bought, driven, and then sold or discarded. Beauty (and value) is in the eye of the beholder, right?
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Comments
Just what I would want. Back in the day, I looked at a red SS396 at night, but in the light of day, my lust for it wilted; it didn’t look nearly as good as it had the night before! Buy this one, drive it, fix-up along the way! GLWTA!! :-)
I can relate, I was once told I didn’t look as good as I did the night before.
rofl!!!! :-)
Looks to be a very nice original car that you could drive now or make into a nice restomod. But the price is nuts for a common car with a 283 and powerglide.
The price is being driven by the rust free condition of the body and the bucket seat interior. The factory bucket seat and console will save a future owner a couple of thousand dollars in parts versus tracking down the parts on the secondary market. That doesn’t even consider the savings when it comes to bodywork or rust repair. It’s expensive, but will save someone a lot of time and money on the back end. This is exactly the type of car an experienced builder will start with, if their budget allows, rather than a rusty rolling project for 1/3 the price.
Steve R
Bucket seats and console’s are now bringing a couple of thousand dollars ? Man I need to haul my inventory out to the west coast.
That’s only part of the conversion, you forgot instrument cluster, 67 only floor shift steering column, console wiring harness, bucket seat braces for the floor pan, console mount and whatever other miscellaneous small parts are needed. The 67 specific bucket seats and nice consoles aren’t cheap either. The days of finding those parts in a wrecking yard or for cheap at a swapmeet are long gone.
Steve R
This will probably end up being an SS clone… I would build up the 283 and put a manual in it. It will never be worth big money.
The next “big money” better exceed 19K.
Don’t know what your idea of “Big Money” is but “Amateur – But Nice” – Resto without Mods will enable it to bring $35K+! However, if it indeed brought $19K “As Is”, one would have over $35K in it.
In my case, I’m within 2 – 4 Weeks of finishing a 67 I bought New Dec., ’66. Nice Paint Job cost me $6600.00. Not Concours but very Nice. Had original 327/275 Engine Bored and Stroked to 355/400. Swapped PG to TH350. Added Vintage Air Sure Fit Gen IV. Kept ALL Factory Parts. Hagerty has Insured for $35K – Full coverage. Willing to increase to $50K when I finish. By “Amateur”, I mean – I took to Body Shop for Paint. They Pulled Engine for me to take to Builder. He Pulled PG Off and I Picked up TH350 Core and had Built for 500HP with 2800 Stall. I – with the help of Friends – am putting the Easy Stuff on; Full Length Hedman Headers; New Alternator; Conversion Linkage for PG to 350 Conversion so I can keep original Floor Shifter. Strato Buckets and Center Console came originally. Will my car be worth the $35K I have spent. I don’t know. But I’ve had for near 54 Years and Wife and I went on Honeymoon in it 7 Months after I bought it! “Memories Are Made of This”! Enjoy what You Enjoy!!!
19k is big money by my definition! Wow.
It’s definitely a decent beater however no air conditioning is going to be brutal if it remains in Lost Wages…
In 1968 I bought a 67 Malibu that had come back to the dealer after a 1 year lease. It was butternut yellow with black buckets and a console. What made it unique was it was a 283 – 195 hp with a 4 speed and manual steering and brakes. Doubt they made many like it.
Friend of my dads has his original 67 Chevelle 283 4 speed bucket seat console car with 3:55 posi and disc brakes!!!
He ordered it that way and still has every part he replaced on it over the years. Has over 300k on the odometer (yes, it rolled over a few times for the critics). Same colour combo as this car too, red- red interior. I’ve tried to buy it a few times but it’s going to his daughter when the time comes. Rare combo indeed
Friend of my dads has his original 67 Chevelle 283 4 speed bucket seat console car with 3:55 posi and disc brakes!!!
He ordered it that way and still has every part he replaced on it over the years. Has over 300k on the odometer (yes, it rolled over a few times for the critics). Same colour combo as this car too, red- red interior. I’ve tried to buy it a few times but it’s going to his daughter when the time comes. Rare combo indeed. Him and my father ordered their cars at the same time, except my father ordered his 67 Malibu with 327-275hp, 3 speed column shift, black bucket, 3:55 posi, butternut yellow, also with disc brakes.
The sale has ended on this one at $19K. Having owned a 67 Malibu, there were some questions I had on it. I also had a 283, but unless there was more changed for a Calif car other than the air pump, there are some subtle differences I noted. Also if you look at the rear end, I suspect it had some body damage there: also some subtle things going on there from what I can tell.
Would I like another 67 Malibu – you bet. Will I get one: probably not as most are rusted out badly and I’m getting too old for this.
86_Vette. I agree with you on one BIG Thing!! I’m getting too Old for this! I Posted above as 67Restomod. My Restoration was extremely Stressful! Although many People – Shops and Individuals – helped me out so I could afford to “Relive the Day”, our agreements were – “They would ‘Work on it as their schedules allowed” and I would order ALL Parts so they didn’t have to invest the time doing this. Not being a Motorhead, you wouldn’t believe how many Parts I ordered that were incorrect but unfortunately could not be returned as they had been opened and boxes thrown away, torn up, etc. Don’t misunderstand – I appreciate EVERYONE’s Help – and I could Never have afforded a Custom Shop doing this Project. But it has been 13 Months Last Week. And I’m still at least 2 Weeks away – Probably a little more. And there were a few misunderstandings regarding what I wanted that cost me extra even though with my OCD. I put “Most Everything” in writing. Wife has an 84 Camaro She bought New. I was going to do it next. I have changed my mind! It’s always been garaged, one Pro Repaint Years ago, need to Freshen up Interior, AND – If I wish – I have a Friend who has a Freshly built 350 He offered to GIVE to my Wife rather than Freshen Hers Up. Hers still runs fine even with 100K + on it so She doesn’t really want his Engine. And at this Point – “I’m OK with That!!! LOL!
Nice car possibly going overseas or the east side of the continent.
Just to speak on the reliability of the 2 speed powerslide..my grandfather gave me his Chevy II which had the inline 6 and the 2speed. I drove the car for well over 1000 miles after a tune up and oil change not giving thought to the trans yet..I finally decided to service the transmission..started to drain the fluid and only maybe a quart came out 🤔..I refilled it and drove some more with no problems! To this day I’m still amazed
A PG is like an Anvil! Although I just changed my PG to a TH350 for my 67 Chevelle Resto, my Best Friend is installing it into his 500 HP Chevy II Drag Car. (It remains mine if I ever want it back! LOL!)
Did you know you can push start a powerglide?
Only if it has a rear pump.
YAWN!!! Another Chevelle. Not impressed
The fact that it hasn’t been made into an SS , or is completely trashed , or has some crazy aftermarket rims, and the red paint is original and not resprayed over the original color is impressive to me, and I’m not a Chevelle fan !