[burrodebo]

Seems like everyone wants or has an "SS" -- whether real or fake (many fake). Some of these "SS" owners even refer to their cars as "The SS."

I actually think a Malibu is cooler. Seems like there are less of them on the road (because of so many fakes.) When's the last time you saw a really nice Chevelle restored as a Malibu? You rarely see this. Everyone slaps SS badges on them. lol.

They made fewer SSs from the factory and they had big blocks. Is that the appeal? I don't get that either. Because you can build any car (SS or Malibu) to a much higher standard now than they ever came from the factory. And If any of us had a choice to have any motor, the 396 would be WAY down the list. So in that capacity, a true SS is kind of limiting/disappointing. And if you're going to pull the boat anchor 396 and put in something else, why not start with a Malibu to begin with?

If it is a true SS, low mile, pristine survivor I guess I get it if you are a collector, but not really for any other reason.

If you have a 136 car why not just build a nice Malibu? Is it somehow less of a car? Not in my eyes.

Like I said, I don't get it. Please enlighten me.

 

[Keith Tedford]

We had this unrestored, original paint, drivetrain and interior Chevelle a few years ago. 327, automatic, with air. It seemed to get as much or more attention than any of our SS cars ever did. I wouldn't have dreamed of turning it into a clone. It was too nice. One look at the VIN would tell the true story anyway.

 

[Bunz-T]

I would love to find my 70 L34 I bought new 6/70. It would smoke any untuned 70 325 HP 396 . Mine was heavily modified..................Craig 8 Track wired thru headphones and the hubcaps pulled off.

 

[Neal Wright]

While I have a feeling your asking for the sole reason of stirring the pot, and causing hate and discontent ...

Many considered the SS a more desirable model when they were new ... and many consider them more desirable now. Plus, the price of any SS (real or fake) has reached levels beyond stupid!

I'm happy with Malibu's ... but I do like the added trim features of the SS. Chevy designed the cars with SS package to have more appealing trim features.

Thanks, Neal

 

[davis95]

You have a point as far as the Malibu insignias not being used much now days. I think that most people who have these cars (real SS cars or not) just love the down and dirty look of the SS badges on the grill and tail panel and the Super Sport and big block emblems on the sides. No foul here as long as these folks don't try to pass the Malibus off as SS's. I would like to see more correct restorations done on the Malibus and not always just the SS's though. On a side note, I'd like to see more 300's and wagons done up correctly!

 

[Derek69SS]

Whatever floats your boat...

"SS" chevelles are legends. They had better looks (hoods, blacked out grilles, sleeker trim, etc), better performance (bigger engines, HD drivetrain parts) and are what people remember as being the "hot" car to have when they were new.

Malibus were pedestrian plain vanilla cars at the time. They were not special, with some exceptions, most of them were transportation appliances like the FWD junk we drive today.

Build whatever you like... you don't need to "get" why someone else wants an "SS", and they don't need to "get" why you don't.

 

[O'Man]

Seems like everyone wants or has an "SS" -- whether real or fake (many fake). Some of these "SS" owners even refer to their cars as "The SS."

I actually think a Malibu is cooler. Seems like there are less of them on the road (because of so many fakes.) When's the last time you saw a really nice Chevelle restored as a Malibu? You rarely see this. Everyone slaps SS badges on them. lol.

They made fewer SSs from the factory and they had big blocks. Is that the appeal? I don't get that either. Because you can build any car (SS or Malibu) to a much higher standard now than they ever came from the factory. And If any of us had a choice to have any motor, the 396 would be WAY down the list. So in that capacity, a true SS is kind of limiting/disappointing. And if you're going to pull the boat anchor 396 and put in something else, why not start with a Malibu to begin with?

If it is a true SS, low mile, pristine survivor I guess I get it if you are a collector, but not really for any other reason.

If you have a 136 car why not just build a nice Malibu? Is it somehow less of a car? Not in my eyes.

Like I said, I don't get it. Please enlighten me.

Boy do I agree with this post. I could see it if the cars really were different down under the skin. The reality is that the cars are more or less the same with the exception of a few options that can't be had in a given combination (A/C and Solid Lifters as an example).

People lament GM's (and other companies) platform engineering where the same platform is re-skinned or whatever and offered as another car. The SS / Malibu difference is simply IMHO "Badge Engineering" with the real difference being the badges and to some degree the option combinations.

That distinction between Malibu and SS cars is not justification for the insane premiums the SS cars demand. Malibu = the same fun for much less money.

 

[burrodebo]

While I have a feeling your asking for the sole reason of stirring the pot, and causing hate and discontent ...

I'm happy with Malibu's ... but I do like the added trim features of the SS.

Maybe stirring the pot, yes, but no hate and discontent. We are all Chevelle guys and have to stick together ...

I agree the trim package looked great on the SS cars. Blacked out grill especially.

 

[davis95]

Hornets Nest In Progress!:yes:

 

[Keith Tedford]

If you want a sleeper Malibu that will put a long face on quite a few people, find or build a '67 or '68 L79 car. Most people thought they we just 327 275 hp...........until they raced.

 

[O'Man]

If you want a sleeper Malibu that will put a long face on quite a few people, find or build a '67 or '68 L79 car. Most people thought they we just 327 275 hp...........until they raced.

Oh yes indeed. Loved those 67 L-79 cars. On the L-79 issue. My buddy had a 66 L-79 Nova. Bought it new. INCREDIBLE...except for the front end and the brakes.

 

[O'Man]

Maybe stirring the pot, yes, but no hate and discontent. We are all Chevelle guys and have to stick together ...

I agree the trim package looked great on the SS cars. Blacked out grill especially.

Agreed ..no hate or discontent mean. Just my point of view.

 

[Bunz-T]

Malibus were pedestrian plain vanilla cars at the time. They were not special, with some exceptions, most of them were transportation appliances like the FWD junk we drive today.

Disagree. Mine was Red/Red, 4 speed with console and buckets, 12 bolt and disc brakes. Not too plain and you do not see many like it. It would stack up the oohs and aahs at any location today.

 

[droptop396]

:boring:

 

[Hiline51]

OK sonny, in 1964 there were no big blocks in Chevelles and the Malibu was simply a 2 door hardtop. You could get the SS option which was basically a trim and interior package. My '64 MALIBU SS was originally a 6 cylinder Powerglide.

 

[busterwivell]

Hmmmm.........my 66 Malibu is just that........a Malibu. It has no emblems. I don't need them, I know what it is. The factory built it with buckets, console and a 4 speed. I put in the 350 (from a 283), and added power (disc front) brakes and power steering, added Vintage Air, and ralley wheels.........I did it my way. No badges. When I take it to a show, I list it as a 66 Malibu........it works for me.

 

[71'bu]

BO, im doing a 71 Malibu right now. I wanted to make it an "SS" but my buddy made a great point. He said "steve how many "SS's" do you see at a show?(a lot) how many Malibus do you see?(none) that changed my mind right away

 

[vetteman_72]

Well, here's my two cents worth:
First, if you were old enough to own a brand new '70 Chevelle back in the day, and if you were a single guy, or gal, more than likely, you would have wanted something to set you apart- would you want a car like your next door neighbors-let's call them Mr/Mrs Smith's, new "family" car: a cloth/bench seat, drum brake equipped, single exhaust,white sidewalled, hubcapped 78 series tires, 307 cu in or 350 "turbo-fire"?

Or, would you have gone for the sleek, 70 series, SS style wheels, with disc brakes up front, positraction equipped, bucket seats, floor mounted 4 speed shifter behind a "turbo-jet" 396 (and yeah, it is a slug by today's standards, but in the displacement wars of the 60's- early 70's "396" exuded power- just by the arrangement of the numerals....) As a person who grew of age during those years, I didn't want grandma's car- or the family sedan, or a Honda, Yamaha, or anything else.

To me, the '70 Chevelle was the pinnacle of the horsepower era...... and we build "tributes" to those cars, or at least I am- mainly cause there's NO WAY I can afford a "true SS"....and as far as showing it at a car show- I can say "I built that- from the ground up"

Okay, so I'm a bit proud, but not boastful....

Point 2: Which would you rather have- a "Tempest", or a GTO? And if you couldn't afford to buy the GTO, then you have to do the next best thing in "your" mind-

I'm not knocking Malibu's,Tempests, or anyone who builds, restores, maintains them and any other collector car. I just thought I'd offer another opinion from someone who's old enough to remember those mid 60's Chevelles and the respect and envy they caused and deserved.

 

[Robinls5]

My first new car was a 1965 Willow Green full size ( Imp.) SS 4 speed with a grey Bucket int. AND YES the Mighty Mouse 327 would smoke the 396s in the full size cars, 99% of the time with a Mighty Mouse you could " HOLE SHOT " a big engine, Just NEVER LIFT shift well, along with Atlas Bucrons.
A few months after have my new 65 Imp. SS 4 speed, My buddy Jack Pompeo from Monaca,Pa. had the same 65 SS. His seats were white, The exterior was Maroon, So we traded, My grey seats for his White seats.
NOW,,, 20 years later some guys fighting over a Willow Green 65 SS with White Buckets and saying " They were never made like this, They had Grey Buckets " And the other guy saying " HEY, I bought it from the org. owner". The White must be org. The following year I bought a Aztec Bronze 66 SS 396 / 4 Speed, It was a high option 66, It had a AM radio.
Lasted almost 4 months and I totaled it.
Bob
Do what makes " YOU " Happy, Screw you friends. It Aint their MONEY !

 

[davis95]

Hmmmm.........my 66 Malibu is just that........a Malibu. It has no emblems. I don't need them, I know what it is. The factory built it with buckets, console and a 4 speed. I put in the 350 (from a 283), and added power (disc front) brakes and power steering, added Vintage Air, and ralley wheels.........I did it my way. No badges. When I take it to a show, I list it as a 66 Malibu........it works for me.

Just out of curiosity, if it were an original SS would it still be de-badged? I'm not picking a fight here because mine is originally a Malibu. I just want to know what someone else would do as far as ridding an SS of the emblems.