Garage Find: 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu Project
In 1971, Chevrolet sold nearly 200,000 Malibu Sport Coupes. And the Super Sport was an option, not a series of its own (as was the case in 1966-68). This garage find is a mystery car in that it begs the question is it a real deal SS or an older clone? What engine did it have when it was new (350, 402, or 454)? None of that is revealed and may not be known by the seller. From Chicago, Illinois, this roller will need loads of work in addition to sourcing another engine. It’s available here on craigslist for $10,000 and is another tip from Gunter Kramer.
The second-generation Chevelle (1968-72) is perhaps the most cloned muscle car out there. Without documentation like a build sheet or MSRP sticker, it’s hard to tell an SS 396 from an ordinary Malibu that’s been dressed up to look like one. Because the Super Sport was an option, any of the Chevelle coupes, convertibles. and El Camino pickups could be ordered that way, as long as a V8 displacing at least 350 cubic inches was involved. And to confuse things further, you could buy a “Heavy Chevy” in 1971-72 that looked a bit like an SS but without some of the appearance items.
This ’71 Chevelle looks as though it was pushed into the back of a garage and forgotten about. The engine is long gone, but we assume the automatic transmission is still in place. The odometer reading is 62,000 miles, but it’s rolled over at least once. It’s come into contact with the rust bug which has had its way with the automobile. The seller says that the floors, trunk pan, and rear quarter panels have all been affected. The Chevy has an SS raised hood, but the color doesn’t match, so is it original to the car?
The interior is another area that will require a lot of time and energy. The bucket seats don’t match the era or the color, and I don’t recall if you could get red carpeting with a black interior in those days. The Chevy is wearing 1970s-vintage Z28 wheels which certainly help the car look the part. Is there enough information here for you to take the plunge on a restoration?
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Comments
If it’s cloned they didn’t leave much out. The hood obviously doesn’t belong but the few and I mean very few pics, have the right stuff in the right place. The one shot of the header looks to be big block but that means nothing as this vintage could have come SS and small block and in my experience most were.
The round instrument cluster is present.
Lots more information needed but it looks like a definite maybe…
Chrome rocker mouldings were on Malibu’s only,I personally wouldn’t add them if the car was a SS
Just because it’s a Chevelle someone will pay way too much. A shell that needs literally everything. Basically just buying a VIN. At $3k you’d be overpaid. Sometimes they just need to be let go.
Again there’s a reality that to make even just a nice driver you’re looking at a minimum of another 30k…. So starting 10k in the hole …. Yikes
Is it, or, is it not? That is the question. I don’t know enough about Chevy’s or this car to opine but it sure seems like there are many more SS’s compared to Malibu’s (Nova’s too) in the wild these days. Post-internet – clones, tributes, faux faux 2’s, whatever you call them, they are overdone, and oftentimes not done near correct. I get asked if my 70 442 is real all of the time. If it had been bought as a Cutlass, it would still be a Cutlass – at least under my care. I am a big proponent of leaving a car with the badges it left the factory with and being proud of what it is, not envious of what it is not.
Excellent point!!!
Having owned a 70 442 ragtop, at least you can confirm a real 442 by the VIN.
Chevelle SS, nope!
Was one of the best rides we ever had….
More bubbles in that rf fender then a Lawrence Welk rerun tv show.10 k no way.2500 tops imo.Money pit.Seen many a better roller for a lot less.glwts
Always a matter of perspective. To someone from Michigan or Illinois, this might look like a good project car. Someone from California or Arizona would just sit there and laugh.
Lovely looking car. I’ve always loved the 1970 and 71 Chevy Chevelle. If only more pics were posted on craigslist. I’m of the opinion that the more pics can be posted, the better. I like to see as much of a car as can be shown, Engine, Interior, Gauge cluster, Trunk, etc. Given its condition, I’d pay between $5000 and $7000 for it. I’d still have enough money on hand to do some resto to it, some upgrades as needed.
Chicago.. I wouldn’t trust it due to the rust I’m seeing. This is the salt capital on the map besides Ohio an new york. 1000 dollars is all I see for someone needing a parts car..not a really ss. Aftermarket hood not functional. Big block had a Cowell hood that worked.
The domed hood, often and mistakenly called cowl induction, was standard equipment on the 70-72 Chevelle SS and El Camino SS. The functional cowl induction hood, RPO ZL2, was an option. It was not available with the small block in 1971/72.
Looks like a functional ss hood? I’d buy anything that looks like this for 5000 but that’s tops
I’ve cut up better for round track racing, most cases $250 tops with no motor!
Too far gone the rust you can’t see makes me think NO
People all wanting the golden egg. It’s a good protect that needs a lot. I’m in at $6000. That numbers matching stuff is for the big guys.