Top-Down Performer: 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu
The Chevelle was one of Chevrolet’s best-selling automobiles from 1964 to 1977 (rebranded as the Malibu in 1978, the series’ previous most successful model). The second generation wound down production in 1972, including the seller’s car which was one of just 4,853 convertibles built. That was the swan song for the Chevelle drop-top as it was discontinued in 1973. The seller’s example looks like a real beauty, though much of it is not original. With a beefed-up 307 cubic inch V8, this drop-top can be found in Omaha, Nebraska, and is available here on craigslist for $19,900.
At first glance, this Malibu looks a lot like a Super Sport, but it’s not. The hood has the raised center of the SS hood, so perhaps it was added when the car was repainted. We don’t know if that’s the case, but the body and paint look too good to have come this way from the factory 52 years old. The Interior appears equally nice, including the SS-like steering wheel. We’re told her odometer reading is 2,000 miles, but is that more like 102,000 or just 2,000 since an unmentioned makeover was done?
The 307 engine has been refreshed, having been bored over in the process. An Edelbrock intake manifold has been added, so does that mean it has a 4-barrel carburetor now instead of the stock 2-barrel? Other mechanical upgrades include an Accel Super Coil and a Mallory distributor. Plus, an appropriate amount of under-the-hood bling that’s not been overdone. A TH-350 automatic transmission rounds out the mix.
The use of staggered Rally wheels with white raised letter tires really helps this Chevy stand out in a crowd. An aftermarket stereo system has been installed so you’ll have tunes to listen to while tooling down the highway. This may not be an SS, but it looks to be a reasonably priced Plan B. And the seller says that delivery is available, so perhaps this is a dealer sale. Hats off to Tony Primo for another “primo” tip!
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Comments
I don’t recall ever seeing one of these
in a convertible.
Looks like a pretty clean drop top chevy.
Don’t see much to dislike. Maybe a tad cheaper but priced decently for what you’re getting. Buy it and enjoy it in the warm air months 😎
as to the question asked in the write-up, yes I’d assume if they added the Edelbrock manifold it would now have a 4-barrel carb on top? I don’t think I’ve ever seen one of the Edelbrock manifolds for small block V8 motors designed to take a 2-barrel carb? (I’ve been shopping them for a Ford small block recently…) I could be wrong though. Just looking at the other modest upgrades they made, the overbore to get more capacity, MSD distributor, aftermarket K&N air cleaner, it would not seem to make much sense to put the more restrictive original 2-barrel back on?
but who knows… assuming the engine obviously came out to perform the overbore, I’m surprised that there’s no mention of anything done to the heads, or change of cam…as those are things that really make a difference? maybe there are more mods, just not listed in the ad.
Looks like I see headers also. To get any benefit from the bigger carb, it would at least need these and/or a cam upgrade.
Nice 307 non-SS car. Hopefully it is kept that way.
This has a 4bbl carb and intake. As for Edelbrock making a 2bbl intake, they currently make one (part number 2901) for a small block Chevy that’s designed for carb restricted circle track classes. During the 1970’s they offered several 2bbl SP2P intake manifolds.
Steve R
That battery ground cable is disturbing.
A neighbor of mine has a K5 Blazer that I help him work on occasionally. I helped him change the intake manifold and put on long tube headers (I’d have skipped that part, but it’s his vehicle). We got most of the work done and then he said he could handle the rest. Pretty soon afterward he started having to replace starters on it repeatedly, but it still started slow. He came by the house and I asked him to start it. I could see the ground strap from the engine to the firewall smoking. Apparently, he rerouted and/or did away with some ground wires in order to clean up the engine bay and the body ground strap was serving as the primary ground when you fired it up.
so is the leaky booster.
Nice balance of upgrades with the 15″ wheels, domed hood and sport wheel. Nice rare car that you can enjoy.
Bucket seats, console with a 4 speed and I’d be on the next flight out.
A fellow used to drop by and visit my high school in one of these. He used to run open headers on the 307. First manual top convertible that I had ever seen on a North American built car.
Gotta agree with Harvey. Grounded to the alternator bracket? I would be changing that PDQ. I wonder what happened to the original steering wheel? The present one detracts from the interior IMO. Don’t mean to be picky because this seems like a nice car for a fair price.
The manufacturer used the alternator bracket for the main grounding spot and it worked for them, so why would you change it now? Also, the steering wheel was available as OEM equipment, only the horn button call out is incorrect for this car.
I like it. I always liked the rear end treatment on these cars. I wonder if it’s the original color? Most cars back then were some sort of earth tone / garden vegetable / bodily excretion color. If I were going to warm up the 307, I think I’d just replace it with a 350, but keep the 307 in the shop on stands if it’s the original motor. I’d prefer a hotter motor and the original hood (less how more go), personally. Still, as it is, I bet it’s a fun car.