Malibu/Chevelle ?

[Pmpin71]

I'm hoping you maybe can help me with my "muscle car" situation? I recently acquired a 1971 Malibu convertible and I needed to ask you a few question on the subject of Malibu/Chevelle ?

# 1. Is my convertible a true Malibu, Malibu/Chevelle or did Chevelle have a convertible alone?
# 2. If I put Chevelle emblems on my car will that then make it a Chevelle clone ?
# 3. What's the differents between SS Malibu & SS Chevelle ?
# 4. What's makes the differants in a true Malibu and SS Malibu ?
# 5. Can a Malibu ever be cosidered a muscle car ?


Thank you helping me with my delema I appreciate you tacking the time out to answer my questions have a nice day .


D.B.
New to Street Roding and loving it

[MrPbody]

I can't answer specifically, all your questions. I may be able to help you sort it out.
"Chevelle" is the base model of the Chevy version of the GM "A-Body" in the '64-'77 era. Buick Skylark, Olds F-85 and Pontiac Tempest round out the company's offerings for A-Body.
"Malibu" was a "sporty" option package, that would also contain some "luxury" optons. It had the same option list (at least through '72) as Chevelle, for engine, transmission and suspension/brake equipment. Most Malibus had small V8s. The '64 and '65 Malibu DID offer an SS package. The base engine for that (believe it or not!) was the 230 CI straight 6. By '66, SS was a model package in itself, on Chevelle. From '66 through '71, all SSs were 396 or bigger engines. I've seen some '72s with the 350. The '73-'77 models had some different lineups. The SS was still around, at least through '74. I've seen a few that had 454, but most I've seen were 350s. Then there was Laguna and Laguna S-3. An "upscale" Malibu, for the lack of a better description. The S-3 was the "performance" version, but by '74, "performance" was becoming a dying breed at Chevrolet, at least with the larger cars. Most were 350s. Lastly, the familiar "Malibu Classic" arrived during this era, and replaced the plain ol' Malibu.
By '78, when the down-sized G-body arrived, SS was long gone, and so was Laguna. The Malibu Classic was all there was. While an excellent chassis for modifications and a modern performance build, not much from the factory G-bodies to talk about, performance-wise. 305s just don't cut it...
Roughly speaking, Malibu is like LeMans or Cutlass, and SS is like GTO or 442. Both are optional upgrades to the base Chevelle. There was also the "Deluxe" series. These were the base Chevelles, with no frills. One of the more popular street racers was the Chevelle 300 Deluxe. Most of these came with the base 6 cylinder, two door "post", and not much else. All the good stuff from SS fits, so a big block and TH400 were a shoe-in and a very good performer. That the coupe body (or 2-door sedan, depending on who you talk to) is the lightest of the three, explains the popularity for racing.
I have seen pics of, but no actual cars, of '66 and '69 "Malibu SSs". They were alledged "mistakes" from the factory, where the SS package was inadvertently applied to Malibus. I HAVE seen three Olds Vista Cruiser wagons with the 442 package, lending credibility to the story. Apparently about 85 of those wagons got out.
Hope this is helpful. Understand, much of it is based on memory, so some of the years or offerings could be incorrect. None of this is intended to be taken as "bible".