Pick of the Day: 1967 Chevrolet Malibu L79

Performance enthusiasts will love it Giant killer. Mopar fans love their 340 small block. People who love Ford blue wax poetic about the Boss 351. Our daily pick is for Bow Tie fans: a 1967 Chevrolet Malibu convertible powered by an L79 327. It is listed on ClassicCars.com by a private seller. In Grand Junction, Colorado. (Click the link to see the list)

When the Pontiac GTO was launched in 1964, the new Chevelle couldn’t do much about it. Although the Corvette’s L76 327/365 was rumored to be on the market, the Chevelle’s top engine ended up being a 300-horsepower version of the smaller engine. By 1965, things would change.

Introduced for the 1965 Corvette and Chevelle, the 350-horsepower 327 (code L79) was a high-revving screamer that helped make the Chevelle more competitive with the GTO. The 11.0:1 L79 is only available with a manual gearbox and is surprisingly simple thanks to hydraulic cams that find the sweet spot between hip and ease of use. Still, considering that over 70,000 GTOs have been built (versus the 6,000 or so L79 Chevelles, from the Chevelle 300 to the Malibu SS), it’s clear that this is a big-block world, and the L79 doesn’t cut it, even though it is a What a liar. Of course, Chevrolet recognized this and built 201,396 Malibu SSs as a preview for 1966.

However, the L79 moved on. In 1966 it was available for the Corvette and Chevelle II, but it skipped the Chevelle (probably to focus on the new SS 396) before returning in 1967. Chevelle’s L79 is now rated at 325 horsepower. This was done so as not to encroach on the SS 396’s territory, as its standard engine was also rated at 325 horsepower. It was a big-block world again, and only 4,048 Chevelles with the L79 engine were produced in 1967. The engine lasted until 1968, with the main difference being the cast iron manifold, when it was discontinued.

This restored, numbers-matching 1967 Chevrolet Malibu is one of the rare convertibles built with L79 327. Although a three-speed transmission was standard, this L79 was equipped like most models built: an M20 wide-ratio four-speed, plus a 12-bolt rear with 3.73 gears and Positraction. Other features include a heavy-duty clutch, heavy-duty cooling, F40 suspension, power steering and brakes, tachometer, clock, AM/FM radio, deluxe seat belts, power top, bumper guards and side mirrors. The seller added a Gardner dual exhaust system for optimal breathing.

The seller states that “all original documentation on this Malibu has been lost,” meaning the L79’s pedigree is difficult to verify. However, it is registered with the national L79 registry, which won’t accept any ol’ submissions. “Additionally, I have included a number of photos showing all powertrain numbers and dates to verify that all the numbers match. If you are familiar with the L79 option, you will see in the photos that this Malibu is correct.” The coveted Bowtie comes in Tahoe Turquoise with a mid-turquoise split bench seat, allowing you to compete with the underdog for $79,500.

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