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This project started in November of 1991. I had been looking for a Chevelle since 1988 and found a variety of different things that were good deals, but I needed a running car at the time. I wanted a 69-72 Chevelle and the search was on. The first one I found was a 69 SS 396, with a bad 4-speed. The elderly lady that answered the phone said that the first guy who called offered her more than the $500.00 asking price to hold it and it was now gone. What a deal someone got. The next was also a 69 SS 396, which was perfect other than the engine had been taken apart and the missing parts were just that, missing. I still regret, to this day, not buying that car anyway. Next came a 67 SS 396 that ran except for one problem, some fool welded and Olds 307 in the engine bay. I was tired of looking. So after 6 to 8 months I finally bought a 79 Firebird. (Which I still drive everyday).Then out of the clear blue in November of 1991 a friend of mine, who owned an auto parts shop, was having a huge garage sale. He printed up some flyers and had them laying on the counter. I looked and on the bottom of the list was a 72 Chevelle for $300.00. I asked him what it needed "Just an engine and transmission plus some TLC". "Sold". I told him, sight unseen. I went the following weekend to see my prize and possibly tow it home. It was not tow-able, however. It had been sitting, ironically, since 1988. The polyglass radials were very dry-rotted and had no brakes. (I had 40 miles to tow it). The following weekend it was finally delivered to me. And the great parts hunt was on. Every vacation was spent sightseeing and junkyard looking. I have parts from all over the USA. Anyone restoring a 71 or 72 Chevelle knows how hard tail light lenses are to find. Well, I found the mother load in Alabama and bought them all (along with many other parts).
This car is a 72 Malibu. It was a 350 4BBl, bench seat, column shift, and a/c with only 70,000 miles on it.
The body was in good shape other than the outside was covered in undercoating. I guess to protect from rust. It worked , but I had to use a razor blade and a lot of patience to scrape it off.The original color was baby puke green and I was not going to put that back on. 70-72 Chevelles are meant to be red and black. The only outside changes I made were the front and rear bumpers (I didn't like the bumper guards) and the front parking lights (orange or clear were both used in 72) I used clear covers. The interior panels were dyed and reused. They were in perfect condition. I added buckets, floor shifter and console.
A 454 was put under the hood (which is a functional cowl) and a TH400 with a B&M manual valve body. The engine pulls hard to 6500 RPM with stock exhaust manifolds and stock mufflers. Finally 1980 Corvette red was applied and it hit the road in early 1995. I love this car. I could go on forever. I have probably 200 or more pictures from start to finish. The first trophy I won came on the same day I had quite my much hated job. Cars can heal any wounds.
Jeff Glover
Screen Background of Jeff's '72 is available here.
