I found this 72 Malibu, 350 2bbl, THM350. The interior is shot, full of mold, needs a complete redo. The body is solid, quarters are solid, no rust on the quarters or in the wheel well, a couple of minor dents in the quarters, I am concerned about the vinyl top rust, is bubbling and peeling. Front fenders are good, plastic inners (cracked out so body bushings a must). Doors close and open fine, looking underneath the floor pans are solid but the trunk pan has a big hole above the filler neck (bottom picture). Engine and tranny are original and complete, both very greasy, I have not heard it run. The bumpers are straight, grill is cracked out. Frame has surface rust. A/C is complete, has power disk brakes, power steering. The sweep dash will need to be replaced because a radio was cut into it. The owner wants $3200, what do you all think?

http://inlinethumb54.webshots.com/43509/2671279490103886947S425x425Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2671279490103886947XKySWO)

http://inlinethumb21.webshots.com/41876/2401072070103886947S425x425Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2401072070103886947gYtHjk)

http://inlinethumb17.webshots.com/43344/2529939420103886947S425x425Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2529939420103886947cjvPJX)

http://inlinethumb26.webshots.com/41497/2329473270103886947S425x425Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2329473270103886947PPOBRh)

http://inlinethumb35.webshots.com/45922/2743895630103886947S425x425Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2743895630103886947ooxXff]http://inlinethumb35.webshots.com/45922/2743895630103886947S425x425Q85.jpg)

http://inlinethumb11.webshots.com/45002/2121076060103886947S425x425Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2121076060103886947wGGawf)

[IMG]http://inlinethumb61.webshots.com/28476/2665531360103886947S425x425Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2665531360103886947vUXRfN]http://inlinethumb61.webshots.com/28476/2665531360103886947S425x425Q85.jpg)

[IMG]http://inlinethumb18.webshots.com/43857/2240630140103886947S425x425Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2240630140103886947EiQeUk)

looks good ad solid but that seems high to me for a plain malibu......but I don't know much about what they sell for......ask yourself what it will cost to fix it up to your standards, and then how much do you think it would be worth when your done.....I didn't build mine to make money I built it because I wanted it, so resale value wasn't a concern for me, but to many it is. The amount of work you can do yourself will obviously dictate how much it costs to bring it back. I do my own body and paint work so that helps.

From what I have seen some cars sell for in my area thats not a bad deal. Who knows, show up with cash and you may get it for 2800.00 or so.:hurray:

For what it's worth, I have the exact same car but in opposite condition. It was in very good condition inside (less the rear packacge tray from a leaky rear window), but like most rust belt cars, it needs quarters amd has the usual surface rust. It was a 71,000 mile survivor which I drove home for 1400 bucks in 2001. Based on my experience I wouldn't give much more than 2k for it.

You mentioned the vinyl top was bubbling and peeling and the interior is full of mold. That to me says it was sitting outside and leaking around the rear window. When that top is peeled off, you will find very little metal reamaining around the rear bottom window channel. Mine had enough space to put two fingers through on left and right side of the car.

Good luck, I hope you can save this one.

With what you will have into that thing when it is done,and what the current resale market is right now, I would not pay over $1,500 for that car.

Man, I wish we had cars that looked that solid around here for that kind of money, Not sure what they bring aroud your parts but I would think 3 grand would be fair.

LK

Make him an offer $1500.00 it is still a malibu by the time you do the interior,top,paint etc and any other restoration / engine,suspension,brakes,trans you will be up to $10,000.00 very easily

Make him an offer $1500.00 it is still a malibu by the time you do the interior,top,paint etc and any other restoration / engine,suspension,brakes,trans you will be up to $10,000.00 very easily

I agree, and the 10K don't count your labor

Is it possible to hear it run? I don't think the price is bad at all if it is that solid. How bad is the rust around the rear window? Does it have a 10 bolt? Is that the original paint?

On 99% of chevelles in that price range you're going to have to redo the interior anyway, so I don't think that's a big deal. Most people will swap to buckets and a console anyway.

Can you do the work yourself? If you can I think it will be a great project

I talked to the guy who owns it and I can hear it run, it needs a tune up at least he said. I can do the work myself, not a problem there and the car looks to be completely original. If I get the car it will be a complete frame off project, completely media blasted and restored.

My son wants it for a father son project. My only concern is that when I bought my 69 he did not really help much. When I pulled the frame and did an under body restore on the 72 last year he helped some. He may be ready now knowing the car will be his. If I get him anything I would rather it be a 72 because one day he will get my Midnight Bronze one and he will need to know how to work on it.

I will hit the owner up for $1500 and go from there. Thanks for the advice.

I love that color combo!

That's the problem with asking for a price on a car on a forum site; allot of it depends on where the car is located so you will get allot of different opinions as to price. For example in Nevada all the cars are mostly rust free but the interiors are sun burnt unless they have been stored inside and mold in not something you see here. If it was in Reno it would be worth about $1000 to $1500, but in a rust area it could be worth $3000 or more because the body is clean as you state. I would find out what other cars are selling in your area and go from there. Also you have to remember most of these “what its worth” answers are from people who have no attachment in buying this car so the prices will be low. Good luck on your purchase.

I think that they do make roof sections now. so, there is a fix.

Make him an offer $1500.00 it is still a malibu by the time you do the interior,top,paint etc and any other restoration / engine,suspension,brakes,trans you will be up to $10,000.00 very easily


$1500 is just to lowball. If it is a running driving car. If it is not then ya try it. In the past when i had things for sale and people write me and im asking 10k and they offer like $4800 i dont even write them back. I know thats rude to do but get a feel for the guy before you offer.

I always drive my chevelle to go look at a chevelle for two reasons.

one to make theres look worth less than what they are asking (im talking project chevelles) generally they ask how much i have in mine and i tell them it takes a lot to build them and give them a figure on what it took to build mine.

two when they see that there old beat up ride has a surviving chance they tend to be more leniant on the price.

so get a feel and offer what you think he will take $1500 would be nice tho i agree

Now that is a good idea.... I may drive mine up there to look at it. The car runs and drives, hasn't been on the road for years. The hole in the trunk came from a bag of fertilizer that was left in it. Hopefully I will look at it more tomorrow or Thursday night.

My son is so excited, he is 10 and wants his own Chevelle. He knows that he will be doing a frame off on it if we get it and since he has 6 years before he can drive it we have plenty of time.

He is so much like me, I started doing stuff on my 72 when I was his age, unfortunately my dad wasn't into cars then so I learned on my own.

Now that is a good idea.... I may drive mine up there to look at it. The car runs and drives, hasn't been on the road for years. The hole in the trunk came from a bag of fertilizer that was left in it. Hopefully I will look at it more tomorrow or Thursday night.

My son is so excited, he is 10 and wants his own Chevelle. He knows that he will be doing a frame off on it if we get it and since he has 6 years before he can drive it we have plenty of time.

He is so much like me, I started doing stuff on my 72 when I was his age, unfortunately my dad wasn't into cars then so I learned on my own.
Now that's a cool story.... None of my family was into cars when I was young and for that matter I'm the only one. Best of luck to you and your son; all I can say is start them early....:beers::thumbsup:

you might want to watch my 72, see what it goes for. give you an idea of value.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320424717526&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMESELX%3AIT

Well I stopped by, heard the car run and talked to the owner. It is an original Arizona car with minimal rust. It runs good and is very original. The dampness from sitting outside has affected the interior some but is very restorable.

The car is owned by the owner of a very reputable shop in town. He took it in as part of a repair. I met the person who traded with him and he is getting the title. I put a deposit down on the car and as soon as the title arrives I will pay the rest. As I said the owner owns a well known shop, he gave me a receipt.

3rd Chevelle in the drive very soon!!

From what I have seen some cars sell for in my area thats not a bad deal. Who knows, show up with cash and you may get it for 2800.00 or so.:hurray:

I agree with Johnny. Heck, I would scoop that up in a heartbeat for that money. So what if its a Malibu? Its all original and complete and if you desire, can be cloned....its up to you.

Original and complete and not a lot of rust like that are big at least in these parts...:yes:

3rd Chevelle in the drive very soon!! You lucky dog :D

Good to see some more chevelle people in NC, and I think that is not a bad price at all for that car here in NC. For some reason the odd colors(not say bad colors) survive better than the popular colors. I have a 70 4 door this color combo. Kinda grows on you.

The vinyl top is not a factory top, the moldings are not correct, I think it was dealer installed.

I always liked the white vinyl roofs.