'68 L79 Malibu survivor

[augy]

I've been asked how this L79 Malibu was found, so thought I'd update this post with a little history about it.

A little backstory to begin with. Way back in April of 1967 and 19 years old, I ordered a new '67 L79 Malibu 2-door hardtop. 327/350 hp, M22 4-speed, 4.10 posi, Deepwater Blue, black bench seat interior. It was delivered to the dealer in late June. As a 4-door hardtop! Everything was as ordered, but it had 2 extra doors! Dealership screw-up. I refused delivery and they ordered another one. In August I was informed it was too late in the year, as the factory was changing over to the new-body-style '68 models. No one knew what they would look like (big secret), so I cancelled my order. Sept '68, same dealer calls and says they have something to show me. So I drive over and hidden in the back room is a new '68 L79 Malibu, exactly as I ordered the '67. 327 now rated at 325 hp, same colors, but now called Fathom Blue. I had first look and first chance at the Malibu. This was before the first public showing of the new '68s in Oct. Decided to buy it after a couple days of thinking it over, but couldn't take delivery until the day of first showing, Oct 25, 1968, IIRC. Took it home that day and had a lot of fun drag-racing it until Uncle Sam called in Dec of '69. Sold the car and then it was totalled a month later by the new owner. I always wanted another one.

Fast forward to Nov 2014. After finding THIS car about 10 years earlier, I was finally able to purchase it from a gentleman right here in MN. It had been sold new in Oklahoma and then taken to Las Vegas, where it spent it's first 35 years of life in the dry desert. Then brought to MN in the early 2000's and stored by the guy I bought it from. Never driven in salt, so it's rust-free. Technically I'm the 3rd owner, although the 2nd owner never drove it.

This car is almost identical to that very first one. Same color, interior, and engine. But with an M21 trans and 3.73 posi rear. This one has the factory mag hubcaps and factory A/C, which the first did not have. It also has a build sheet stuck down in between the front left fender and inner fender. I can see it with a flashlight, but have not tried to remove it for fear of destroying it. There may be more build sheets since the car has NEVER been apart. Some day......

So that's it, thought maybe you folks would enjoy the history.

[novadude]

Originally Posted by augy

I ordered a new '67 L79 Malibu 2-door hardtop. 327/350 hp, M22 4-speed, 4.10 posi, Deepwater Blue, black bench seat interior. It was delivered to the dealer in late June. As a 4-door hardtop! Everything was as ordered, but it had 2 extra doors! Dealership screw-up. I refused delivery and they ordered another one

Wonder where that car ended up? Would be neat to see.

I didn't think the was offered with the L79?

[augy]

Originally Posted by novadude

Wonder where that car ended up? Would be neat to see.

I didn't think the was offered with the L79?

That '67 L79 4-door hardtop (Sport Sedan) sat outside on the dealer's lot for 2 years before a young farmer with a family bought it sometime in 1969. I never knew the guy's name. It disappeared, but I've tried to find it for many years because it has to be rare, right?

The rest of the story: A couple years ago I was at a small car show about 10 miles from the original dealership. I had my '67 El Camino there and a guy walked over to look at it. He mentioned that his Dad had bought a brand new '67 Chevelle 4-door off that dealer's lot in 1969. And it had "some kind of high performance engine with a 4-speed in it". I almost fell over backwards! Turns out the car is still on the family farm about 30 miles away, parked in a shed. Very rusty now and settling into the dirt floor. It was purchased for his mother in '69, but she only drove it for a couple years because she didn't like the 4-speed and heavy-duty clutch. So the car was parked and they bought her a new '72 Impala with auto transmission. I asked to look at the Chevelle and possibly buy it from them but no deal. They won't show it to anyone because "we're gonna fix'er up some day" Where have you heard that before? I'm about 99% sure it's the same car without having seen it. I've kept in contact with the family and offered to help get it back on the road. No luck yet on that either. But there's always hope. At least now I know where it is, and no, I ain't tellin'......

To answer your question.....all '67 Malibus could be ordered with any of the available 327 engines for that year, including the L79 engine. I have even seen two '67 Chevelle station wagons with the L79 option.