Vehicle Description
1964 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu SS Convertible -- NUT AND BOLT
RESTORATION -- 6.2 liter LS2 V8 power, overdrive transmission, Cold
A/C, power everything, and upgraded suspension and brakes make this
a Chevelle that looks nasty and backs it up with thrilling
performance. Cost-is-no-object were the words used when the
previous owner began this build. State-of-the-art tech combined
with one of the best-looking convertibles of the '60s makes this
beast do everything perfectly. Per the previous owner's
description, the Malibu was already a gorgeous classic when the
last build started, but two years later, it was completely
transformed into the brutal pro-touring cruiser you see here. 6.2
liter LS2 V8 power, overdrive transmission, Cold A/C, power
steering and upgraded suspension and brakes, makes this a Chevelle
that looks nasty, drives insanely smooth and tight while being
comfortable yet still gets down to business with just a flick of
the accelerator. The shape its designers conceived has aged
incredibly well and the super clean flanks and simple shape of the
Malibu makes it stand out in a sea of over-chromed '60s cruisers,
few look better than this black ragtop. Stripped down to the
essentials, it looks like it has been honed to a razor's edge. The
high-gloss black paint is miles deep, applied exceptionally to
perfectly smooth body panels, presents as flawlessly as it looks in
the pictures. I assure you that it is every bit as nice as it
appears in the photos. Check the gaps, the reflections, and the
straight lines that are visible across every surface of the car. A
cowl induction hood is the lone deviation from a stock bodythey
left all the trim, the chrome bumpers, and even the Malibu SS
emblems on the quarters, so there's no question about its identity.
But between the stance and those screened air inlets that took the
place of the high-beam headlights (high-beams still work on the
remaining bulb), there's no question this car is deadly serious.
This car nails it in every possible way! Inside there's an all-new
Alcantara and leather interior designed to match the black bodywork
and installed to the tune of about $8000 (and bear in mind, the
interior was already restored when they started!). Factory buckets
were re-covered, new carpets were installed on the floors, and
custom door panels were fabricated to match the seats but still
emulate the originals. Factory door handles and armrests, plus
original-looking stainless trim, keeps the connection to 1964
alive, but it was filled with modern tech: a carbon-fiber dash with
Auto Meter gauges (including a functional air/fuel ratio meter),
ice-cold A/C, power windows, a tilt steering column, and a custom
center console that uses the original shifter to manage the 4L60E
4-speed automatic overdrive transmission. Everything is in like-new
condition with under 1000 miles since it was completed. Equipped
with a factory-style ALDL connector under the dash for doing
diagnostic work on this LS engine (which uses factory fuel
injection) if ever needed. This car was built to take no prisoners,
but it was also intended to work in the real world. Overhead
there's a new black convertible top that fits beautifully (we might
have been the first ones to actually put it down) accompanying the
car is a fitted boot. The trunk was custom-trimmed to match the
interior with rigid bulkheads to hide the battery and computer
wiring. Power comes from a 6.2 liter LS2 V8 installed by Phelps
Motorsports in Addison, Michigan. With L92 heads, it makes right
around 500 horsepower, yet remains totally docile and
user-friendly, which is all thanks to the wonders of factory engine
management. Custom fabricated Wilson Manifolds, aluminum intake
with a billet throttle body, polished stainless air intake that
uses the driver's side high-beam hole for cool air, as well as a
set of high-flow fuel rails and injectors. Most of the hardware was
polished, and to conceal the factory coil packs, there are those
gorgeous finned faux "vale covers" from Billet Specialties. A
block-hugging serpentine belt drive system makes the LS a neat fit
in the vintage Malibu's engine bay, even with a gigantic electric
cooling fan and a thick aluminum radiator upfront. It's worth
noting that the power brakes use a Hydro-Boost system to make
stopping effortless. The firewall was smoothed and everything that
isn't polished aluminum was painted gloss black to make it an ideal
showcase of the potent V8. Doing a frame-off re-restoration of a
restored car is one heck of an undertaking, but you'll note that
nothing was overlooked. The entire chassis was finished in gloss
black and you can see that rust is a non-issue. The transmission is
a 4L60E 4-speed automatic with overdrive, and it feeds the original
10-bolt rear end with what feels like 3.73 gears inside. Thanks to
that deep overdrive gear, this thing just loafs along at highway
speeds, but it offers lightning-quick reflexes on the street, so
you can forget about the automatic transmissions being a liability.
Those gorgeous long-tube headers feed a custom stainless exhaust
with X-pipe and Stainless Works mufflers, giving it a wicked cackle
that doesn't drone at highway speeds. There's also a giant disc
brake at each corner, borrowed from a C5 Corvette along with the
aluminum spindles that hold them in place, so handling is sharp.
Braided stainless brake lines, a chrome rear end cover, and a fresh
stainless steel gas tank round out the list of freshly installed
hardware. You'll also note a cut-off switch and charging lugs below
the rear bumper so you don't have to disassemble the trunk to get
at the vitals. Handsome 18-inch Budnik billet aluminum wheels fill
the fenders and carry staggered 235/40/18 front and 55/45/18 rear
performance radials. Beautifully built, completely sorted, and
stunning to look at, this is a car that was built up to a standard,
not down to a price. It works like it should, drives like a far
younger machine, and given the growing popularity of the early
Chevelle's, it will always be a celebrity, no matter where it goes.
Offered for far less than the cost to duplicate, this is a car that
would be at home in the finest collection.
