1969 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu Hardtop Coupe
Observe: The next story was excerpted from the October 2019 concern of Collectible Car journal
Do you continue to need my outdated automotive? I’m on the magnificence store and it gained’t crank. If you may get it residence, it’s yours.” With that, Kevin and Kelly Sheehan of Harleton, Texas, grew to become the house owners of this 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu Sport Coupe.
The automotive was bought new by Kelly Sheehan’s grandmother. Actually, she was within the entrance seat when her grandmother drove the Chevelle out of the showroom. Her grandmother saved the automotive till it was troublesome for her to drive, and on that fateful day on the magnificence parlor she handed the automotive over to Kelly’s husband.
1969 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu Hardtop Coupe
The Sheehans drove the Chevelle for a number of years after which put it in storage. Then in 2004, the couple thought of shopping for a brand new Chevrolet SSR, a retro-styled convertible pickup. As an alternative, they determined to have the Malibu restored.
R&R Restoration of Longview, Texas, introduced the automotive again to authentic situation. Though a strong low-mileage automotive with little rust, the Texas solar had taken its toll. The paint, vinyl prime, and fabric have been changed within the authentic colours: Frost Inexperienced inside and paint with argent rocker panels and Midnight Inexperienced vinyl prime.
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1969 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu Hardtop Coupe
A couple of modifications have been made throughout restoration. The manufacturing facility rated the 307-cubic-inch V8 at 200 horsepower with a two-barrel carburetor. The 307 on this automotive gained a dual-exhaust system and four-barrel carburetor not native to the 307. The brakes have been improved with the set up of entrance discs, a set of Chevy’s acquainted rally wheels was rounded up, and energy steering was added. (Kevin Sheehan doesn’t know the way his spouse’s grandmother drove it with the handbook steering.) Nonetheless, “Mamaw” did have the non-compulsory air con to maintain her cool whereas wrestling with the steering.
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1969 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu Hardtop Coupe
Kelly’s grandmother didn’t stay to see her Malibu introduced again to showroom situation, however the Sheehans shocked her daughter with the restored automotive and there was “a whole lot of boo-hooing.” Kevin Sheehan says the automotive drives nice, however provides that again in his youth he drove the same Chevelle to 120 mph. “You couldn’t pay me to do this once more,” he says.
The automotive has its authentic two-speed Powerglide automated that Sheehan says “shifts easy as glass, it simply slides into gear. Underneath straightforward acceleration it shifts into prime at 35 or 40 mph. Stomp on it at 60 to 70 mph and it’ll drop right down to first once more.”
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1969 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu Hardtop Coupe
The Chevelle line was the most well-liked 1969 intermediate with 454,967 made. With the 1968 redesign, Chevelles used two wheelbases. 4-door fashions had a 116-inch span for added rear-seat legroom; two-doors, on a 112-inch stretch, have been lighter and extra maneuverable. Normal Motors styling headed by Invoice Mitchell acquired cleaner because the Sixties progressed, and the ’69 Chevelle is an effective instance. The 2-door mannequin’s shorter wheelbase gave coupes and convertibles higher proportions and a sportier look. That fashion not solely proved common with the muscle automotive crowd, but it surely attracted common People purchasing for reliable transportation in a classy, midsize bundle.
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1969 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu Hardtop Coupe
1969 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu Gallery
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