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 body—they 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.
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.
