1966 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu 2 Door Sport Coupe on 2040-cars

The 1966 & 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle is in my opinion are the most muscular looking of the all the Chevelle models. On the street and at car shows these cars command a lot of respect just from their clean and powerful looking lines. They also command a pretty high price due to their popularity, clean examples are difficult to find keeping this model out of the hands of many average musclecar enthusiasts.

The car featured in this auction is moderately priced and is very clean rust wise featuring original floor boards and trunk, mechanically very strong, looks great and is ready to cruise. This car garners a lot of stares and thumbs up, and if you’re stopped, someone will come up to talk to you about it and admire it. I know because that’s what happens every time I drive it. The car has not been heavily modified and essentially stock so it is a great car to further restore, and it’s “Plain Jane” origins make it a great candidate to further modify into a real Street Machine Terror.  

Mechanically this car needs nothing so if you are not much of a mechanic you are all set. As you read through the write up you will see most everything has either been rebuilt or replaced. This is a great driver and ready to go. Now I should qualify that usually "driver" quality on eBay usually means piece of crap. Let's be clear this is a really nice car, but by no means a trailer queen either, hence a great car to drive, and will show well at most local car shows and probably win a trophy.  As I mentioned the car collects lots of attention whether it's cruising down the street or parked.

Finish -- Grade B-: Black and silver paint is a 12-14 year old enamel paint job. There are some minor scratches chips through out the car; however shine/luster is very good and looks as good in person as it does in the pictures.  The red pinstripe is tape with Corvette emblems on the fenders to tip the hat to the Corvette powertrain. There is some minor rust bubbling on the deck lid, and on the lower front fender quarter panels which are all original sheet metal. Paint looks good at 10 foot. Very good driver quality and shows very well and honestly representative of most cars seen at local cruises or car shows. When this car shows up at your house you won't be disappointed.

Body -- Grade B: It features a brand new steel cowl induction hood, with new hinges and springs. The car has had the passenger side rear quarter repaired with some minor fiberglass repair, and the rear driver’s quarter has had a patch panel installed. The trunk floor is solid and all original. The rear wheel wells and floor pans are also clean rust free originals. One bummer is someone had trimmed the rear quarter panel inside lips to fit some bigger tires at one time. The little bit of bodywork I have found looks good, there is not a lot of filler in the car except the rear quarters where it was repaired. While not laser straight the panels look as good as they do in the photos. Every panel opens and close like new, however the rear trunk lid will not stay up. The car was probably sanded down and simply painted with no real finish work done. I would guess this is the 2^nd coat of paint over the original finish.  It looks good as I said at 10 feet and the body panels line up well and it looks good and is outstanding driver quality. It may not be Bloomington Gold quality restoration, but you won't be made fun of either at the local shows. I have all new weather-stripping for the car and I am happy to install it or I will included it in the sale if you plan to re-paint it right away.

Trim Code info:

      O5D
ST 66-13617  BF 15702 BDY
TR 728                             CC

                             078388

05D = 5^th week of May

66 = 1966 13617 = 2 door sport coupe, 5 passenger hardtop BF = Fremont CA  15702 = seq. #

TR 728 = Dark Blue Renville cloth with medium blue faux leather interior CC = Ermine White

VIN Reads 136176Z149220

1 = Chevrolet

36 = Malibu, 8 cylinder

17 = 2 door Sport Coupe

6 = 1966 model year

Z = Fremont California
 
149220 = sequential number

Frame -- Grade A: Is straight and free of any rust or scale, no signs of any metal repair

Bumpers - Grade A-: Bumpers are straight with high quality re-chromed finish

Bright work -- Grade A/B : Rocker, front grill trim, rear tail panel trim and Malibu emblems are all brand new. All other trim, front windshield, rear window and side window molding is original and free of dents but will require polishing to restore luster.

Glass Grade C- : Front windshield is free of chips or cracks but has some light scratches and some light shadowing. It’s clear and safe for driving. Side windows are also free of chips, but have some light scratches. All weather-stripping and window "fuzzies" are original. I will include new door, window and trunk weatherstrips and if you want them installed will do so; otherwise they are ready for you if you repaint it.

Interior B:  The interior looks really nice inside and has had some restoration work and looks clean and fresh. New items include: Dash pad, Wood Steering wheel (Factory reproduction unit), dash lens and related chrome trim, floor mats (reproduction "Chevrolet Factory Mats"), new door and window handles, and front and rear chrome arm rests and pads. The carpet, seat covers, headliner, package tray and door panels have had a previous low end repair or replacement. Carpet looks great but is not the loop factory style, headliner is a black reproduction but the fit and installation are not show quality with some slight wrinkles. Vinyl seats have been recovered with a low quality hand stitched covers; they look pretty good but have a few small holes. The foam is pretty soft, and you sink a little when inside, but it’s comfortable. Dash features "idiot lights" with  Auto-Meter temperature and oil pressure gauges. Radio is brand new Custom Retrosound AM/FM with optional MP3 auxiliary plug in. Front Custom Retrosound Dual Kenwood front speakers but no rears installed. Radio has good sound quality, professional installation. The speedometer currently does not work.

Wheels Grade B: I love the look the Factory Chevrolet Corvette 15 X 8 Rally steel rims with new mid-year Corvette factory center caps, and new trim rings give this car. The stance is really tough looking.

Tires Grade B+: BF Goodrich T/A Radial Tires 223/70R15. Excellent tread, holds air, rolls down the road smooth, no idea on the age

Suspension Grade B:  The car really drives nice and feels tight. Front A-arm bushings and frame bushings through out suspension look to be recently replaced by previous owner. Steering components are all fresh and appear recently replaced. Car has a slight rake to it with the rear of the car sitting about an inch higher then the front, previous owners lifted it using spring bushings for what we call here in Michigan the “Waterford Rake” after an area off M-59 in southeast Michigan where the guys in the 80's would give the car a slight lift and put on oversized tires. Vehicle tracks straight, with a comfortable ride.

Exhaust Grade A+:  You will love the sound of this exhaust the first time you hear it fire up. It features brand new Pypes 2.5” Dual exhaust kit with “X” crossover, and, mandrel bent pipes, into StreetPro chambered mufflers and Pypes 2.5” tailpipes. Manifolds have been painted with Eastwood Header paint (gray) and the cross over valve has been removed out of the passenger side manifold.

Rear-end Grade OK : Differential contains an open 3:08 rear-end gear, free of any leaks or noises

Ignition Grade A : Stock appearing factory HEI style distributor updated with a new Accel cap and rotor, and  new Moroso spark plug wires with new AC Delco spark plugs.

Air Conditioning/Heater Grade B+: Non/A/C car, new heater core, new heater control panel, fan switch and blower motor resistor. The fan motor operates and works like new. Driver kick panel vent cable froze, will open but then sticks in open position.

Transmission Grade OK: GM 350 Turbo-Hydromatic Automatic Transmission is free of leaks and fluid is clear and clean. I have not run the numbers on the transmission so I am unsure if it is the Corvette mate to the engine, but it has a firm shift pattern and I believe it may well be a Corvette unit. Grips well in normal and heavy acceleration and the downshift/detent is the factory set up and works as designed by GM. Mat the throttle and the the transmission downshifts automatically, the four barrels open up, the exhaust sings and you will probably get a chub!

Brakes Grade OK: Manual Drum Brakes on all four corners, Brakes perform to factory specifications with no pull. I have inspected them, and the appear to be recently serviced with new shoes and hardware, I have been driving the car daily without issue and the brakes work very well.

Engine Grade A: Engine is clean with a nice "used car lot detail" making it cruise in ready. It starts right up cold, with an electric choke. Engine is a 1976 350 CID Block CKZ code, L-48 Corvette Motor.  It features a brand new Edelbrock Performer intake with a freshly rebuilt 1976 Factory Quadrajet pt# 17506502 (1976 Camaro with Auto Trans) which has an electric choke and the jetting has been recalibrated to match the mild engine and exhaust modifications. Installation is clean and professional with a retro or 60's period super stock appearance. Engine is equipped with brand new 60's style finned aluminum valve covers and factory style open air element with factory decals. Engine appears to be low mileage and the motor is clean inside (valve covers and intake removed for inspection) and is free of any noises or knocks, and there is no smoke upon start-up cold or warm, and is free of any oil or coolant leaks. Cam specs are unknown but the engine and the pulls 25 inches of vacuum and pulls smooth right off idle without hesitation through acceleration. Engine pulls hard under acceleration, no black smoke, and carburetor responds better then fuel injection. Engine features a new alternator, battery, radiator hoses, belts and fresh tune-up with cap, rotor, wires, and plugs. Brackets are all factory and installation is professional. Car also features a 7 bladed fan with new thermostatic factory style clutch. Oil pressure holds a steady 25 lbs of pressure when warm, and engine stays consistent at 150-180 degrees even in stop and go traffic on hot summer days.

Summary:

This car is “10 footer” that looks great driving down the road, and frankly, even up close, it is very presentable for most local car shows or cruises and when the trailer shows up at your drive way or you fly into Traverse City to drive it home....you will be very pleased with it. It is a very nice car to drive with smooth acceleration, and clean comfortable cabin. The idle through the chambered mufflers makes it a hit at the cruise in or at the stop light with it's subtle but deep rumble. The suspension and brakes work as designed and the driving experience of the car is comfortable for local cruising or for a long drive. (I have driven the car over 4 hours one way, and daily on a 45 minute commute with no issue) Operation is very reliable and without issue and the engine pulls hard off idle up to 5000 rpm. It is a lot of fun to run through the gears and the exhaust sounds awesome. The car as is would make a great reliable, daily driver that would be a blast to drive everyday to work. You truly could fly into Traverse City, pick up and drive this car anywhere home without issue and full confidence. It is really a fun car to drive with its throaty exhaust and excellent power. Sitting behind the big factory wood wheel and looking out over that long cowl induction hood is one of the best dashboard views you will ever expierence. The paint is very presentable as is but it should be noted a full repaint would really finish this restoration off nice, however the car draws quite a crowd as is and easily could be driven without shame and has already won a couple trophies in this condition. (It’s that nice!!) It's a perfect car for someone who has painting skills, but if you had to wait a year to save up for paint there is no shame in driving as is, it looks great! If you are a paint guy you could easily drive and enjoy this car now and then come winter repaint it yourself and be ready for the next season.

Other then that, this car needs nothing else replaced and is road ready for cruising. Mechanically it has been totally gone through and all maintenance items (battery, alternator, brakes, fluids, radiator, etc) have been checked out, are new or replaced! You can drive this car literally anywhere without issue. So if doing a full restoration or building a bad news street terror is outside your skills level but your looking a for a great musclecar this the car for you. When you consider the full restoration numbers matching cars run $25K plus and most of the cars below $13K, well let’s just say are in need of a lot of work. This car is very well priced and a steal at $15,500.

Questions.....call me at 231-350-3491 or 231-342-1572 ask for Reggie.