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Some of the greatest names in show business are known for moving about within the citizenry, cloaking themselves with everyday normalcy. John C. Reilly could easily be positioned within that number, especially when you consider the oh-so-everyday ride he has owned since 1992. Many notables move around, preferring to make their presence known with flashy cars or shiny bits. John, a Golden Globe Award-winning actor, preferred to use this unassuming 1968 Chevy Malibu convertible. John shared screen time with many greats, including Will Ferrell in Step Brothers and the always-funny Talladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby.
While any 1968 Chevy Malibu convertible will make many enthusiasts sit up and take notice, this particular car doesn’t use trappings such as a high horsepower engine or a raucous exhaust to draw attention.The perfect vehicle when you just want to drive and not draw attention.
Powered by the lowly, and underappreciated 307 cubic-inch V8 engine, this drop-top has enough power to work its way around traffic without making a scene. That two-speed Powerglide transmission just adds to the ordinariness of the entire package.
While the condition of John’s drop-top Malibu is remarkable for its age, it looks right at home and ready for the streets of today.
Beyond that, John’s Malibu does have the option of a direct connection to the sun, which can be had thanks to the manually operated black convertible top. Once opened up, the car’s black interior comes into full view, including those bucket seats, console, and horseshoe-style shifter. While the interior (and the rest of the car) is remarkably nice for a vehicle that is over half a century old, there still remains little that would draw your eye if it were in a showroom full of big-block Chevelles back in ’68.
The inside of the Chevelle looks like it would fit like a glove. There is no air of pretense and the car looks well cared for but enjoyed as intended, with many more miles to go on the odometer. 
One thing that has proven itself through the test of time is the car’s color, Tripoli Turquoise. The car was originally painted Ash Gold when it left the factory but John had the car repainted when it underwent refurbishment earlier in his ownership. If the comments accompanying the car’s auction hosted on Bring-A-Trailer are any indication, his choice to change the color was a good one.
John has owned and cared for the car since 1992. He recently decided to pass it along to its next owner.
While this car may not have the flash-bang many may seek when going out into public, what this car does have in spades, is the “feel” you can only get from a car that has been cared for but enjoyed. Sometimes a car of this sort can “speak to you” in almost imperceptible ways. Signs of use could easily be misread for those seeking an almost-unusable perfection. This car makes no such statement or pretense. Those factory GM-branded seatbelts are used. Also, those oh-so-cool poverty hubcaps show signs they’ve been removed a time or two.
Do items such as these take away from the car’s value? Only to those who care. For us, it just shows this car knows what it’s like to head out on the open highway. And that’s where we like to enjoy our cars. If you’re such a person who understands that beer and the highest-priced champagne are both liquids, then you may want to jump in on the auction action before this car finds a new owner. As of this writing, there are five days left on the auction and when it’s done, we’re pretty certain that this car will make its new owner quite happy.
