Magnificent Malibu! 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle
A 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle that’s not an SS whatever? Really? Oh, go on! Seriously, I’m not lyin’, this 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu is one beautiful specimen and it doesn’t need an SS badge to sing its praises. Listed as a survivor, this Malibu was with its original owner for 36 years before the time came to move it along. This Kankakee, Illinois domiciled two-door hardtop has been very well cared for and is currently available, here on Barn Finds Classifieds as well as here on VanderBrink Auctions for a current bid of $20,250.
The ’70 Chevelle SS has a tendency to suck all of the air out of the room. Yeah, I get it but the SS variant, according to Chevelle Stuff, made up about 61K units of the total 1970 combined Chevelle/El Camino production of 489K copies. The Malibu two-door hardtop, such as our subject car, was good for over 300K examples – it was the bread and butter model! Unfortunately, they’re not discovered in great numbers today because they were considered commodity cars, buy, drive, and replace four years later. And when one is found, it has usually been “messed- with” in an attempt to turn it into something that it originally wasn’t. Finding a ’70 Malibu in this pristine condition, especially one that is so well documented, is not an everyday event!
According to the seller, this 46K mile Chevelle was acquired from the original owner in 2006. It remains with all of its original presence except for the rally wheels which the current owner installed. Since they were a ’70 Chevelle option (albeit with different center caps), I still consider this Malibu to be a survivor, and the original wheels and wheel covers are included in the sale. The mostly original, two-tone Autumn Bronze/Classic White finish still shines beautifully over smooth straight body panels. Even though Chevelles of this generation are often subject to rust, there is no sign of that evil foible manifesting itself in the usual A-body places.
The original owner, fortunately, selected a 250 gross HP, 350 CI V8 engine over the standard and wheezy 307 CI motor. The seller adds, “Car runs, starts, and drives well“. Additional equipment includes A/C (needs a charge and probably a 134a conversion), power steering, and a three-speed, Turbo-Hydramatic automatic transmission as opposed to that hanger-on Powerglide that refused to go away.
Inside shows an environment that belies a half-century of age, especially considering its Ivory hue, it’s a shade that really magnifies dirt, wear, etc. The seller refers to the insides this way: “The interior looks like it came from the factory last week, clean, fresh, original, and pure“. From what can be spied, I’d have to agree, nothing appears to be out of place.
My biggest hope for this Malibu is that the next caretaker enjoys it as it is and doesn’t try some sort of hotrod/clone mash-up configuration. Of course, it will be up to the new owner, who has paid the big price, to do as they choose but don’t we have enough ’70 SS models in existence? A number that seems to “grow” with each passing year. This will be one to watch, it will be interesting to see where the price for a non-SS survivor goes, any speculation?
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Comments
Am I seeing things, or is that trunk lid badly misaligned? And if it is, why hasn’t it been fixed? That would be my first question if I was chasing this car.
Click on the Auction site its inline great shape
Certainly looks the part, and is refreshing that it has not been cloned/changed into an SS. Can we please stop with the “one owner” claim? Re-titled or not, it doesn’t matter. It clearly says in his description that he has owned it since 2006. Really nice, but don’t represent it as a one owner, because it isn’t. Rant over. Good luck to the THIRD owner(at least).
This was a one owner vehicle. I purchased the car from the original owner before she entered the nursing home in 2006. Since I am a car dealer (for 48 years) I am not required to re-title the vehicle in my name. The next retail owner of this vehicle would be the 2nd retail owner, just as if they bought it in 1971 from the original owner. This car was kept in my personal collection of 53 vehicles until sold at auction in 2021.
Sadly the buyer of this car was a dealer who is cutting the car up and putting a LS conversion on it and a SS clone to finish it off. Makes me sick because this car was like it was locked in a time vault in 1970.
Appears to be a Saddle interior, not ivory. And, the non-matching black seatbelts look out of place.
The standard belts came only in black w/black plastic buckles. To have color matched belts, the optional ‘deluxe or custom’ seat belts w/chrome buckles had to be ordered. If that box wasn’t checked on the order form, then the belts were black regardless of interior color.
Thank you for the extra info, Chuck.
Terry i think what you are seeing is an overcast of the trees on the trunk lid.
yes looks like tree and shade overcast
The car came out of the factory with an attractive shape that still looks great at age 52 in model years. I agree about not trying to make it an SS or tribute model..that means a fake to me. I would update the air conditioning system, upgrade to power brakes with discs all around and safe all weather tires but cosmetically leave it alone. A great barn find!
Please STOP with the “one owner” claims on everything…
Please read my reply above as to this still being correct one owner status.
Beautiful, its refreshing to see a stock Chevelle that hasn’t been molested in any way
Anytime chuckey
Perfect 500 horses 4 gear and 4.56, 6 point.
Big rubber, tubs. Race it every week.