1969 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu 350 turbo-hydramatic Serious Investors

1969 Chevrolet Chevelle

This is arguably one of the finest restorations you will ever see of a 1969 Chevelle. No rock was left un-turned and massive research and manpower were expended to make sure that every possible item was professionally (no home restoration) rebuilt or restored to factory 1969 condition over a five-year period. The entire body and frame were stripped to remove rust and every square inch of metal was coated with POR-15 sealant. Rust will never again be a problem with this car.
If you're looking for a 'nice' Chevelle you can drive on the streets, look elsewhere. This is an immaculate restoration and will only be of interest to the extreme collector/investor, one who appreciates the history, authenticity, and attention to detail invested in this car. This is truly one of those 'must see to appreciate' cars.
On its first outing it took first place in class at the 2017 Darryl Starbird show in Tulsa. The two times I've had it out since then have both resulted in first place in class trophies.
Over $200,000 invested, must sell for a reasonable fraction of that due to family issues.
If you are looking for a SuperSport or a muscle car, move on. This is a restoration of the classic medium-power, well-appointed luxury car that many Americans bought and drove from coast to coast in the late 60s. With factory air-conditioning, radio, vinyl roof, a roomy trunk, and extremely comfortable seats, this is a great example of upper-middle-class elegance as it was known at the time. Following is a full description of the car with details of the restoration. Contact the seller for more photos or questions.
Shipping is either free pickup in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area or buyer pays for commercial shipping by bonded carrier. Buyer must place a $1000 deposit within 48 hours of completion of auction. Balance must be paid by certified check which must be verifiable at time of pickup, or prior to shipping, or by wire transfer. There is no reserve.
1969 Chevelle Malibu VIN: 136379A324655This car is a rare example of the 1969 Malibu as Concours d'Elégance. In the late 60s the Malibu was one of Chevrolet's most elegant models, and this instance is a remembrance of those days. Most restorations from this period focus on high-performance 'muscle-cars'. These are exciting and beautiful, but they are not the cars that the everyday person drove. Another car show staple, the custom car, produces a beautiful vision yet is unfaithful to the past. This restoration strives to recapture the simple and straightforward elegance that was the Chevrolet Malibu of the American Highway. 
Ownership HistoryFrom its VIN number, 136379A324655, we know this Malibu was built in the Atlanta GM plant. From the Fisher data plate, the date code 02A indicates the car rolled off the assembly line in the second week of February, 1969. The car was purchased by George Lehmann in December, 2010 from Collins Brothers of Wylie, Texas. The owner was Michael B. Hoops, who had owned the car since 1987, having purchased the car at some unknown date from Charles P. Terrell. The verbal history indicated the car had been in storage 'in a barn' for ten or fifteen years. A copy of the bill of sale and the Texas title showing these two owners is available as provenance. A visual inspection found the body to be in good shape with little rust and a solid appearance. The motor started easily, and drove around the parking lot with no problems. The car was returned to Oklahoma on a trailer where minor maintenance was performed on the suspension.
The car was driven on the street until the summer of 2011, when restoration was begun. Restoration proceeded at two different shops until completion in February, 2017.
Initial Body RestorationRolling Art, a sole proprietorship operated by William Johnson in Tulsa, Oklahoma, began restoration of the body in 2011. All components and interior items were removed, and the body was taken off the frame. Frame and body were separately cleaned and coated with POR-15 rust inhibitor as different sections were cleaned down to bare metal. The rear sections of the roof around the rear window and package tray were especially damaged by rust, as the vinyl roof had apparently allowed moisture to be trapped under the vinyl. Sections of the roof were rebuilt with new metal and lead filler while the package tray was rebuilt with sections of package trays from other 1969 Chevelles.
When each repair was completed, the bare metal was coated with POR-15 to prevent a recurrence of rust problems. Similar treatment was given to other areas including the underside of the dash, roof, floor panels, trunk floor, and interior panels of doors. All bare metal was treated with POR-15 to prevent recurrence of rust problems.
The frame was similarly cleaned and treated, and the body was rejoined to the frame with all new mounting hardware. New brake and fuel lines were run with new clips mounting all lines to the frame. The body was primed and initial paint work was begun.
Final Body RestorationThe car was transferred to A-1 Auto Body in Broken Arrow in 2015 to complete the restoration. Additional body panel straightening and smoothing was performed as necessary prior to beginning the final paint work, which was done in A-1's high temperature paint booth to properly cure the urethane-based paint. Upon completion of the paint work, A-1's mechanical team took over and began the process of turning the painted shell into a completed restoration.
Mechanical RestorationThis term covers everything from chrome strips on the outside to carpet on the inside. Great attention was given throughout this process to make sure that the car is as close to the 1969 standard as is possible. All the parts used are either the original parts repaired and refurbished, original off-the-shelf GM parts from the period, or when original parts could not be found, replica parts that duplicate those parts as closely as possible. Some of the items in particular that exactly match the original include the cloth upholstery, being the blue Rior cloth. This is not only the same pattern but was actually new-on-shelf cloth from the supplier that was used in manufacturing the original GM seats in the late 60s.
The hubcaps are all 'new on shelf' items that have been sitting in boxes in a storeroom for fifty years. The aluminum brightwork on the roof is held on by metal studs as were originally used, not screws as is often the case in restorations. It was during this phase that the Parchment White vinyl roof cover was acquired and applied to the top of the car. In various stages over the months, the car acquired its drivetrain and all the associated pieces required to make the car move.
The interior embellishments that make the car look and feel like new on the inside include a working AM/FM radio, new carpet, new seatbelts, all instruments and lights, and all trim and brightwork both inside and outside the car matching original specifications.
EngineThe engine in this car is 'numbers correct'. The components are all period correct with proper date castings for the build date of the car. Unfortunately, the original engine delivered with this car was permanently lost to the sands of time. Therefore, the engine now in the car is termed a 'restoration' engine.
The first engine was built in the fall of 2016. The block used in this build eventually failed due to poor machine work and was replaced in a complete engine rebuild, with new .060 over pistons, in early 2018. The new block, p/n 3956618, has a casting date of December 17, 1968 ('L178'), placing it appropriately about 60 days before completion of the entire car. The block is stamped with a partial VIN from another car ('broaching' to re-stamp the block with this Chevelle's VIN was considered unethical) and has a product stamping of 'V1220HV' indicating it was assembled December 20th in the Flint engine plant, with the 'HV' suffix indicating it was built for a 255hp, 4-bbl engine coupled with a turbo 350 transmission. Because the car came with a 2-bbl, the engine was rebuilt as a 250-hp engine befitting the 'HD' suffix.
The heads are 3932441 heads with date castings of I-9-8 and I-6-8. These 441 heads are correct for the 250hp version of the 350 engine, assembled with the two-barrel carburetor. The exhaust manifolds are castings 3932376 for the right side and 3942529 for the left side, which shows to be correct for 1969 350 engines according to www.thecamaro.com. The intake manifold casting 3916313 again shows as correct for the 1969 350 2-barrel engine according to www.thecamaro.com.
Since no build sheet was found with the car, these intake and exhaust manifolds along with the 2-barrel carburetor and turbo-hydramatic transmission, all of which were period correct and found on the car when purchased, were significant factors in deciding that the 250hp version of the 350 engine was indeed the version delivered in this car. Other details of the engine and the engine compartment were similarly researched and refurbished or replaced as necessary to meet 1969 specifications. The one exception is the air-conditioning system, which was updated to use the newer refrigerant mandated by the EPA while using hardware that maintains the original look of the older units. 
SummaryThe final result is a car that comes as close to an original 1969 Malibu as is possible without the use of a time machine. The attention to detail, both seen and unseen, used in this restoration places this car at the top of its class - a true Concours d'Elégance.

• Condition: Used
• Make: Chevrolet
• Model: Chevelle
• SubModel: Malibu
• Type: Coupe
• Year: 1969
• Mileage: 129,000
• VIN: 136379A324655
• Color: Blue
• Engine size: 350ci, 250hp, 2-bbl
• Number of cylinders: 8
• Power options: Air Conditioning
• Transmission: Automatic
• Drive type: RWD
• Interior color: Blue
• Drive side: Left-hand drive
• Vehicle Title: Clear
Want to buy? Contact seller!