Chevrolet released multiple versions of their Chevelle line. From all the models released from 1964 to 1978, the '64 Chevelle Malibu SS became the most notable as John Travolta drove it in the 1994 film Pulp Fiction.
The exact model used in the film belonged to director Quentin Tarantino. It saw multiple things happen to it in the 26 years since the movie aired. 56 if you want to include the years since the model was made.
Production of the Chevelle has totally discontinued forty years ago. It begs us to ask if the actual one used in Pulp Fiction is still alive. It's another one-off car to add to a film enthusiast's collection.
What happened to the car and where is it today? Let's talk about the iconic 1964 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu SS.
Looking Back At The Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu SS
The Chevelle Super Sport had three generations during its 14 years in the market. The 1964 and 1965 models were the ones with the Malibu SS badge.
The entire line was Chevrolet's entry into the muscle car market. It had a 283-cubic-inch four-barrel V8 that produced 220 hp, similar to the 1957 Chevrolet Power-Pak 283 engine.
Even back then, Malibu SS upgrades already cost $162. The upgrade package included a 14-inch Impala SS wheel covers, exterior brightwork, and SS emblems. The interior included vinyl bucket seat interiors and a floor console.
The Malibu SS models also had a four-gauge cluster which replaced engine warning lights. Chevy also offered an optional tachometer to give it a more roadster look.
The car gained more popularity when it came with an option for a 327-cubic-inch V8. It boosted Chevelle's benchmark to 250 or 300 depending on which model you picked.
Chevelles were so popular that it became a good movie car. Even Will Ferrell had it as his car of choice when he played Ricky Bobby and drove his 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle in Talladega Nights.
Chevrolet produced an instant classic that is decades in the making. The Chevelle muscle car came out three years before the first Camaro did.
In fact, it was such a classic that Tarantino lent his own pre-loved model to be used in one of his cult classics.
Quentin Tarantino's 1964 Chevelle Malibu Lost And Found
The 1994 film Pulp Fiction featured other classic cars. One of the notable cars present was the 1992 Acura NSX driven by Winston Wolf which was considered modern when the film came out.
Tarantino bought the 1964 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu Super Sport in 1989. He purchased the classic car with the money he earned from selling his True Romance script.
Surprisingly, Tarantino never rode his red Malibu prior to filming. He actually intended to get it totally wrecked during filming.
It almost disappeared from the face of the earth when the car was stolen the same year the movie came out. Tarantino reported it stolen while parked outside his Los Angeles home.
It took 19 years before the car was recovered after California police arrested a man on charges of auto theft in 2013.
Upon investigating, they found a link to Tarantino's '64 Malibu in Oakland. Although the police found out that its VIN number was changed, they still identified it as the one Tarantino reported stolen.
No person was charged for stealing Tarantino's Malibu. Authorities believed that the man they caught wasn't involved in the 1994 theft. It was also because the statute of limitations on auto theft has expired.
A Favorite For Customization
The Chevy Malibu is a favorite of classic restorers. In fact, a man named Bill Hemenez from San Leandro, California spent over $40,000 restoring one. Little did he know that it was already a collector's item before all the restorations made.
Hemenez had already driven the car to several shows in California when authorities called him asking about a stolen car found in his driveway. It happened to be the Malibu that he continuously invested money on to keep in pristine condition.
It was only then that Hemenez found out that the model he had was the exact one John Travolta and Uma Thurman rode in "Pulp Fiction." The same model that Tarantino reported stolen almost two decades already.
The avid classic car enthusiast first got the Malibu after trading in his pre-loved 1946 Chevy hot rod. Technically, he lost two cars he spent thousands of dollars on.
As for where the car is right now,
Potential Chevy Chevelle Comeback?
The Pulp Fiction Malibu may have returned to its rightful owner but will we see the actual line come back to life?
Muscle car enthusiasts were excited when Chevrolet came out with a Chevelle concept model at the North American International Auto Show in 2003. The car had sort of a futuristic design that will be appealing in today's boom in the electronic vehicle market.
The concept car looked like a gasoline version of the Tesla Model 3. It already had the signature aggressive posture and lines that were in the classic Chevelle.
It only needed the futuristic touches that come with such concepts. It should also give Chevy the inspiration to come up with their own pure EV in the future.
A new Chevelle Concept car is in the works to be introduced in 2021. It's said that they picked up where the 2003 concept left off. That means we might indeed see a Tesla-like Chevy.
The Chevelle line itself is a classic so it is expected to give the Dodge Charger a healthy competition.