I have what I believe to be a 1971 Chevelle SS. I have also been told it is a Malibu with the SS package. Here's the VIN 136371L127729.
What's the difference?
What's the difference?
whats the difference between a chevelle and a malibu
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Jim S
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I have what I believe to be a 1971 Chevelle SS. I have also been told it is a Malibu with the SS package. Here's the VIN 136371L127729.
What's the difference?
What's the difference?
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15,673 Posts
For 1971, the base Chevelle was called just that, a Chevelle. VINs started with 133xx (6-cyl) or 134xx (V8). Malibus were 135xx and 136xx. The Malibu was an 'upscale' Chevelle much like an Impala or Caprice is an upscale Biscayne. All 69 to 71 SS cars were based on the Malibu but there's nothing in the VIN or on the trim tag (except Canadian cars) that denote the SS option. From 65 to 68, the SS was a separate model (137xx and 138xx) and 64s were 457xx and 458xx.
Your VIN shows a 71 Malibu built in Van Nuys (Los Angeles) and only a build sheet, POP, some type of paperwork, or a matching numbers big block will tell you if it's a real SS.
Your VIN shows a 71 Malibu built in Van Nuys (Los Angeles) and only a build sheet, POP, some type of paperwork, or a matching numbers big block will tell you if it's a real SS.
Just a clarification. An oversight (I'm sure) in Dale's explanation.
In 1971 a Chevelle Malibu SS option could be ordered with an optional small block V8 (not a 307 as it was not optional, it was the base engine in the V8 Malibu model), no longer was the big block the mandatory engine like is was since 1966.
In 1971 a Chevelle Malibu SS option could be ordered with an optional small block V8 (not a 307 as it was not optional, it was the base engine in the V8 Malibu model), no longer was the big block the mandatory engine like is was since 1966.
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14,300 Posts
And even one more tidbit: in 1969 the SS396 package was available on the 300 Deluxe (2-door post body, not a hardtop). The 300 did not receive the Malibu trim even when gussied up with the SS package.
Some people use Chevelle and Malibu interchangeably and that's technically not correct. The line is CHEVELLE, one of the models in that line is MALIBU. For model years 1964-1972 all Malibus are Chevelles, but not all Chevelles are Malibus.
Some people use Chevelle and Malibu interchangeably and that's technically not correct. The line is CHEVELLE, one of the models in that line is MALIBU. For model years 1964-1972 all Malibus are Chevelles, but not all Chevelles are Malibus.
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12,343 Posts
And then, later in the 70s, the term Chevelle was completely dropped and it was just a Malibu.
Similarly, the Chevy II came out in 62. The upscale option was the NOVA. Several yrs later (after the body change of 68), Chevy II was dropped, and it was just NOVA.
So, I guess depending on your age, you came to know them originally as a Chevelle, or, if you are somewhat younger, you came to know them as Malibu. In the first years, there was the Chevelle Malibu SS, then Malibu was dropped and the SS became a Chevelle SS. I think 74 was the last year of an SS, and after that it was just Malibu or Malibu Classic.
Similarly, the Chevy II came out in 62. The upscale option was the NOVA. Several yrs later (after the body change of 68), Chevy II was dropped, and it was just NOVA.
So, I guess depending on your age, you came to know them originally as a Chevelle, or, if you are somewhat younger, you came to know them as Malibu. In the first years, there was the Chevelle Malibu SS, then Malibu was dropped and the SS became a Chevelle SS. I think 74 was the last year of an SS, and after that it was just Malibu or Malibu Classic.
Hi THANK YOU ALL I did this for two reasons, One I wanted to know the terms for myself, and second to prove to someone else that if you ask the specific question like what is the difference between chevelle and malibu you will get alot of some what different answers that basically say the same thing depending on how you interpret them. would this be a correct? again it was fun and thankyou, Jim
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and also the 69 yenko chevelles were actually trimmed like a malibu not a chvelle so we should start calling them yenko malibus hahahah same with the copo 427s too i believe
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I am actually getting info purchasing a project Chevell just don’t have an idea which would be the best for me to invest my time & money . Obviously down the road I want to pass it on to generations but I also want to drive a badass Chevelle - not be the “well there’s better versions “ what year do you guys think I should seek & buy ! I had a 4 door 1966 Malibu but wasn’t a huge fan . I didn’t know what I had . I made a huge mistake and sold it for cheap! I didn’t know better !!!
A 136 vin is a Malibu.
138 is an ss
Its a chevelle before its a malibu lol
And they were "chevelle Malibus " till 78 .
All malibus were chevelles till 78
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41,598 Posts
Not true on 69 and later Chevelles
What are the ss vins on 69 and later?
1970 El Camino SS396, VortecPro 467, ATI TH400, Moser 12 bolt /TruTrac 3:42, Hedman headers
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There were NO SS vins for 69,70 71,72, this is why the original paper on these cars so important today, to sort the real SS cars from the pretenders (or "Tribute" cars).
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And before 69, Canadian SS was a 136.
What?
A 66 chevelle ss could be a 136 ???
Why in the hell they ever did that is beyond me .
Makes it quite a bit easier to pass one over as an ss that never was an ss
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