Frame Up Restored Chevelle Malibu Convertible 350/350

During my time here at RK Motors Charlotte I've had the privilege of seeing some fantastic cars. National show winners, celebrity builds, rare option cars; if you can think of it, chances are we've had it. But at the end of the day, I still believe the most enjoyable part of this hobby is getting out on the road and experiencing the pure joy of driving one of these vintage machines. That's why it's always nice to see a car like this 1965 Chevelle Malibu convertible roll into our showroom. It's a low maintenance car that's guaranteed to bring a smile to your face without making your wallet sore.

A true V8 car, this convertible rolled off GM's Baltimore Maryland assembly line in March of 1965 and is the kind of car you'll enjoy washing and waxing on a Saturday morning and cruising down the street on a Saturday night. Last year, the car was sent to a professional body shop for adjustments to the doors and windows and some minor panel repair. Once those repairs and adjustments were complete, the interior was removed and the entire shell: body, jams and the pans under the interior, were then prepped and painted GM code D Mist Blue. While not the original color for this particular car, Mist Blue was an original 1965 Chevelle Malibu color option and looks great against this Malibu's flawless white top and Medium Blue interior. Once that Mist Blue was buffed to a brilliant luster, new wiring and headlight bulbs were installed up front in the super straight grille. And new mirrors, fender trim, rear valance trim and bumpers were added to complement the rest of the cars excellent looking stainless. The result is a nicely detailed car with factory quality panel alignment and a better than factory paint finish that looks great all the way from its cool chrome shark fin style hood ornament to its stainless exhaust tips.

Mechanically, this car is about as bulletproof as it can get. A new compression tested 290hp GM Goodwrench small block 350, complete with a 3 year/100,000 mile warranty is bolted into the car's engine bay on brand new motor mounts. A new Edelbrock carburetor mixes air with fuel from a new fuel pump and sends it to a new Edelbrock aluminum intake. A new HEI distributor utilizes new MSD Street Fire wires to provide power via new spark plugs. Cooling is handled by a new heavy duty side tank radiator, a new electric cooling fan, a new water pump and a new thermostat. Completing the motor install is a new period correct Delco battery, a new 75 amp alternator and all new belts and hoses. Finished in satin black, the clean engine block combines with the satin black engine bay to create a monochromatic look. The chrome carburetor, aluminum intake, silver alternator and a new gold brake booster add bright points that catch your eye while black GM Goodwrench valve covers complement a black Chevrolet air cleaner to keep things simple and appealing. Turn the key and this car fires up easily, idles with a pleasant V8 burble and drives perfectly.

The monochromatic look from the engine bay carries over underneath the car as it's not hyper-detailed and polished to perfection, which is a good thing. The GM black undercarriage highlights a custom welded true dual exhaust system. A new TH350 transmission bolted to new transmission mounts benefits from a new flywheel, a new torque converter and a new transmission cooler. The upgraded rear end features a familiar GM 10 bolt with new shocks, new brake shoes, new wheel cylinders and all new hardware. The front of the car has been completely rebuilt with new power steering hoses, a new 3 turn steering box, a new drag link, a new idler arm, new sway bar links, new tie rods, new shocks and new bushings and stops. New front disc brakes complete with new wheel bearings, benefit from a new dual master cylinder complete with booster and the installation of a heavy duty vacuum system. As you can see, the suspension is well done but it isn't a custom job that you'll want to lock away in your garage for fear of damage and it isn't so rigid that you're afraid to take things apart and tinker with them.

This Malibu features its original Medium Blue interior color on a stock imitation leather (that's 1965 Chevrolet speak for vinyl) interior that's in great shape. I can't find any splits in the seats, the door panels are good and the color is still very vibrant. The dash shows no evidence of cracking, fading or warping and the chrome on the dash is in great shape and shows minimal wear. A gorgeous new satin aluminum and wood rimmed steering wheel was just installed along with new shifter parts for the column mounted shifter. The carpet, normally faded in convertibles, is a replacement set that was probably recently installed and, when combined with the two tone interior, really looks great against the fresh exterior paint that was sprayed on both the body and the floor boards. Speaking of convertible; the white vinyl power top is in great condition with a crystal clear plastic rear window. The trunk is clean and tidy with a new trunk mat, correct spare, new spatter paint and jack assembly. Everything in this interior still looks nice and is 100% usable as-is for years of cruising and showing enjoyment.

Documentation for this sale includes a pile of restoration receipts, the original owner's manual, the original power top manual, the original maintenance book and the car's original protect-o-plate. Also included with this car is a 1965 Chevelle Malibu custom feature accessories book and 1965 Chevelle Malibu marketing material.

Not every car can be a flawless show winner, and that's a good thing because if that were the case, regular guys like me would have a hard time satisfying their old car addiction. This is a car you can spend a long time with, both in and out of the garage. It will always be ready, willing, and able to hit the road, but you can also spend your time tinkering with it and perfecting it exactly the way you want. This Malibu is a relative bargain and it won't be long before it's driving off into the sunset with another one of our satisfied customers at the wheel. Don't hesitate, call today!