I have a 1972 Chevelle MALIBU Convertible in my possesion for today that I am thinking about buying. It is red with black stripes, AC car, non matching numbers 350 engine & 350 trans I think the 10 bolt diff is correct. Diff casting number is 3969277NF. I would say this car is a good driver. I would also call it a 5 footer. When you get close and look at the paint you see slight orange peal type cracks that are still under the paint surface in a hand full of spots. There are small bubbles here and there in the paint... there are more than I would like to see. Frame and floors look pretty solid. There is an issue with the top going up and down because of a minor wireing issue. I put power to the pump and it is trying to work but it wont move the top because the pump needs to be topped off with fluid. It is an "H" code vin car so it was a 350 cid from the factory. The convertable top has been replaced but the top dosent seem to be fastened to the frame very well on the passenger side. It is slightly lifted and there is a 1 inch tear on the top.There is no build sheet with the car and no protecto plate... Please give me an idea of what price range I *Should* be in... If you need better pictures let me know. It is inside my shop right now and the pics posted are the best I can do right now because it is raining outside...

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee72/rsdbucket/HPIM0900.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee72/rsdbucket/HPIM0901.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee72/rsdbucket/HPIM0896.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee72/rsdbucket/HPIM0895.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee72/rsdbucket/HPIM0893.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee72/rsdbucket/HPIM0898.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee72/rsdbucket/HPIM0899.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee72/rsdbucket/HPIM0903.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee72/rsdbucket/HPIM0904.jpg

Hard to get the cracks under the paint pics...
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee72/rsdbucket/HPIM0902.jpg

Cowl Induction Hood
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee72/rsdbucket/HPIM0905.jpg

Engine
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee72/rsdbucket/HPIM0907.jpg
I just noticed on that it says "Hencho en Mexico" above the block casting number on the rear driver side lip between the engine and firewall ???? The casting number is 3970010.

obviously not a true SS. besides the sweep speedo the grill of an SS doesn't have horizontal chrome strips as this car does. BUT i'd drive it depending on the price. any of the defects can be fixed. as a local autioneer says "there is nothing wrong here that money can't fix."

BUT i'd drive it depending on the price.

What would you consider paying for something like this ? What would be your approach as for a value ?

What would you consider paying for something like this ? What would be your approach as for a value ?

As was said, its not a true SS car- So just compare the price to a similarly equipped condition Malibu convertible, as that is really what is it. If you like the SS badges and hood, then those are just a bonus.

I'm not totally up on what convertibles are brining right now, but i would just guess $15k-20k-

Higher side of that range if things like the exhaust & suspension are all new and redone, lower side of the range if those aren't done, and lower still if there is noticeable rust bubbles popping though the paint.

Just my thoughts, but again, i don't follow 71-72 values that much.

it looks like a nice clean car though...

Edit- I just re-read and saw the notes about the top being ripped- not attached right, and the top not working right...
that would drop the price quite a bit in my mind actually... that would drop the price range in my mind down to $12-18k.
Its gonna cost you ~$2k to have the top replaced, maybe more if you have to replace the motor or hydraulic lines.

I'd say $12 - $14K.

is it just me or are thoes stripes on the hood too far apart;)

is it just me or are thoes stripes on the hood too far apart;)

They are, And... they are also painted on.

12-14? That cheap?

Since its sitting on lift check it out well from below. Use a lot of light. From what I'm seeing I would be hard pressed to 20 and especially more. It needs a lot of details and I can tell you from experience whatever you think you can get it where you want it expect it to be about double or triple unless you have done a couple. I say 15 to 18 since its a vert but only with no major sheet metal repair.

Try this: http://www.manheimgold.com/

15k tops....only thing it has going for it is the paint, hood and vert top..

Nice car, however it needs lots of detail work. There are some incorrect items on the car,it also needs bodywork(whos knows whats under the blisters), and paint. $14,000 tops.

Depends on the underside also, you need a good strong light to look at the floor supports where the floor pan is fastened to it, its hard to detect, but if you see any build up in that area, its probably full of rust.

Its in the midwest, and if it hasn't had new pans or rockers it might need a lot. Look real close at some other areas, open the trunk and look behind where the inside trunk latch is, the area would be close to where the outside top of the bumper is, but looking from the inside of the trunk.

Look for rust build up where the floor supports are welded to the rockers, also look at the inner wheel houses where the trunk is spot welded to it.

I know I sound skeptical, but thats where the money comes into play, the sheet metal work, then you end up doing the whole car over, a $15,000 to $18,000 midwest car, even if it looks decent could cost you a ton of cash, I wouldn't give him much for it.

Once you get these cars home and they set in your garage, rust keeps showing up under the car when you drive it out.

I thought I knew the deal on these until I did a frame off, you really need to get somebody in that has done a frame off to look at it.

As far as what its worth, I'd say under $10,000 convertible or not, unless the underside is really good, then I would go the $15,000.

It wouldn't hurt to take about ten minutes and read this, http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=230948&highlight=restoration+cost anyway just trying to make you aware of what your getting into, or might be getting into

The wheels and the steering wheel have to go IMO.

$15K does not buy much of a convertible but that being said like others have posted, a lot of wrong things. One that will be expensive will be the rear well molding that someone destroyed by putting snaps on it. The color is right for resale and AC is a big plus.

Thanks for all your help guys !!! I decided to take a pass, save my money, and look for something better. The body & paint is definitely something that is going to get worse and develope into something major and I don't want to get into something like that. It is definitely a "driver" and for somebody who dosent care about details who just wants to leave the top down and cruise it (Which is what the owner does). I feel bad for the owner... it probably looked much better when he bought it 4 years ago but he paid $17,500 for the car. He hasnt changed or fixed a thing since he bought it and just didnt keep it up as good as he could have and it shows...

***EDIT*** I forgot to mention that the owner dosent know a thing about these cars. He is just a guy who likes to drive and when he bought the car 4 years ago he was told it was an Original SS and it was a Numbers Matching Car. He was also told it had a th400 trans... which it dosent have either. When I first spoke to him and he told me all about the car he he repeated what he was told from the original seller. When I saw the car I knew right away... I realised that he didn't know what he had bought. When I told him what I found on the engine and trans/not matching and told him about the Malibu dash and all he was very disapointed...