Went to look at a '65 Malibu SS last night, and the body was in excellent shape except for one thing that worried me. The guy who has it now has owned it for the past 22 years and the last time it was painted was in 1980. At the time the car had been hit right behind the drivers side door and it was fixed (you cant notice it with the door closed) except when you open the door and the panel that the striker pin bolts to is a little bent up (??maybe hammer marks??). The door gap is perfect and the door closes with a very solid click so i know everything lines up well. Should i let this bother me? Or am i just being too picky? Also would this scare a body shop when it came time for paint? I'd have bought the car aready, but i thought i'd ask about this before commiting. thanks.

As long as everything lines up, sounds Ok to me. I just did a 65 Malibu SS that was a one owner car for 33 years. The car looked really straight looking down the sides. The second coat of lacquer was hiding some dents (minor) almost everywhere on the car. I don't think anyone should expect a 37 year old car to have a perfect body. Kind of like expecting a 60 year old Gal to have the body of an 18 year old, huh?

I think Raquel Welch is 60 and she's pretty hot! http://www.chevelles.com/forum/wink.gif So is Cher come to think of it...lol

Gord

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May the Force Be With You
1972 Chevelle Malibu (http://www3.sympatico.ca/gord.coburn)

IMO. If gaps are even front rear bottom, and the lowere body line is straight.
Then it's fine and dandy in my book

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by elass0wyp0:
I think Raquel Welch is 60 and she's pretty hot! http://www.chevelles.com/forum/wink.gif So is Cher come to think of it...lol

Gord
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I think they have both had some 'body work'.

Eye down the side of the car to see if both sides match. I will tell you, I bought my Skylark from the original owner. It had been hit about 1968 right where your did. The door fits very well including opening and closing. But the door post is still in about a half an inch! If you look down the side of the car, about two feet from the door it makes a bend and the front of the quarter in. I forget about it most of the time but every once and a while I see it and it bugs me.

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1965 Buick Gran Sport Convertible
1965 Buick Skylark H/T
"Fan of most anything that moves human beings"