Having traveled just 36,000 miles, this 1977 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu Classic Landau Coupe appears to be an incredible survivor. Big bumpers or not, this car would attract a lot of attention at any gas station or Cars & Coffee-type event. The seller has it posted here on craigslist in Houston, Texas and they’re asking $8,000 or offer. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Rocco B. for the tip!
The last year for the Chevelle Malibu, as in the Malibu being a trim level of the Chevelle model, the 1977 Chevelle Malibu has the stainless steel full wheel covers shown here as standard equipment on the Landau model. Two fancier wheel options were available, but this car is about as bare-bones as it gets for such a fancy model, as you’ll see once we get to the interior. The exterior color scheme doesn’t exactly stand out from the crowd with Antique White paint and an Almond landau vinyl top. Flashy it ain’t, as no Chevelle Malibu Classic Landau Coupe owner said, ever.
The third-generation Chevelle was made from 1972 for the 1973 model year until the end of 1977. After that, GM downsized most of its cars. They were available in this two-door body style as well as a four-door sedan and a four-door wagon. Sadly, a convertible wasn’t an option, but I wonder what one may have looked like…
Our own Mike Stephens showed us a similar but much nicer and more colorful Malibu Classic Coupe with much better photos here on Barn Finds about a year ago. Oddly enough, that one also had 36,000 miles on it! What’s with ’77 Malibus and only having 36,000 miles? Weird. The interior looks great in this car, other than having to have “the club” on the steering wheel to keep worthless ne’re-do-wells from stealing this car.
The Buckskin vinyl seats look perfect, both front and rear, but how is this high-trim car so sparsely equipped? What were you thinking, Chevy? No clock and no radio? That’s like our basic cable TV package still showing every TV show that we don’t get on the guide, trying to entice us to upgrade to the $1,000,000 monthly fee for full cable, or whatever it is. “Here’s where your clock guts would have been installed if you had ordered one, tightwad. And, about that radio that you didn’t order…” This car does have optional air-conditioning, however.
And there’s the AC compressor, attached to this Chevy 305-cu.in. OHV V8, which would have been factory-rated at 145 horsepower and 245 lb-ft of torque when new. Power is sent through a Turbo-Hydramatic. The seller says it has a newer carb, and it runs and drives like new. The condition of this car looks outstanding to me, but I’d want flashier colors. Whether that’s worth a price premium is debatable, however. What do you think about this Malibu Classic?
Real bread and butter example here from 77′ S.G. It resembles the type I remember seeing so many of back in the day.
I agree with Stan. This is a nicely preserved “Bread and Butter ” Collonade Malibu. Wheel covers and all. We used to see these in town and in the shopping center parking lots when they were new. I’m truly hoping it gets preserved, wheel covers and all. I also like the period correct white walls. Those need to stay!!! Really nice find Rocco B, and a great write up too Scotty. I enjoyed it.
I had this beast as a youngster. It was a large auto, with power. Huge backseat. IYKYK. Transmission took a dump, sold it to stock car guy.
Why it’s ready for a LS swap obviously!
Mom had a new 76 Malibu Classic 4dr that I learned to drive in, and took my California drivers license road test in (1977 and you had to parallel park) our other car was a 71 VW Van, and 1: it was my Dads, and 2: I hadn’t learned to drive a stick yet (it was my Dads).
Dad special ordered the 350, with the towing package, (we towed the VW back east when we moved the next year) gauges, I was disappointed because it had the “Fuel Economy” gauge instead of a Tach, AM/FM Radio (but not Stereo), AC, but no power locks or windows.
Dad had a muffler shop remove the catalytic converter in 1980, and fixed the fuel filler where you could put leaded gas in, did seem to run better.
I finally got it in Med School when Mom got a 1986 Pontiac 6000, put a tach on the column, tinted the windows, put dog dish hub caps, did get it up to 115 once on I-65 (downhill and with a tailwind)
was my everyday driver until 1990 when I got stationed at Camp Lejeune and she wouldn’t pass the required NC State Inspection (no Catalytic Converter) finally sold it in 1992 with just under 200K for $200 to a local who didn’t care about no stupid Inspection stickers
No major repairs, did have to replace a few starters
Mom called the car “Louis” (you know, “Louis” Chevrolet)
Really clean survivor, probably not driven much because the owner discovered that long drives are boring with nothing to listen to. At least it’s an 8 with A/C, although the 350 would’ve been much better. I, too, hope it is preserved and enjoyed for what it is, a comfortable every day car. Most of these rotted away, or got wrecked in Endurance races and demolition derbies. My Aunt and Uncle had a 74 4-door Malibu in medium blue with a black top and black interior, 350 and it was the nicest car in the family at the time.
In a hot environment, triple white is hard to beat, especially with Aircon blowing icecold! I would keep it as is but hop it up a little. Headers, dual exhaust, electronic ignition and fuel injection work wonders on the late 70ies era cars. Perhaps swap some parts from a later Camaro? This would make it a great cruiser with long legs!
You already have an excellent electronic ignition on the car. All GMs from 1975 have HEI. As for FI, if you need to pass emissions, then I would agree. Otherwise any square bore 4bbl will give cars from the era excellent drivability, since they typically run much richer than the stock emissions carbs, which were the real issue with these cars’ performance at the time. Running headers, 2.5 inch exhaust w/X-pipe, aluminum dual plane and Edelbrock 600cfm carb w/stock cam (to support the tall stock gear) on the 305 in my Monte of the same year as this car and it runs like it has another 100 cubic inches.
Agree with everything except the carb & cam choice. I like the early non smog factory Q-Jet with tiny front barrels when cruising steady and the large rear barrels when it’s time to pass something! Nothing has the growl of those spread bores at WOT and when properly tuned get great mpg without the constant messing with them every time the weather changes a few degrees. My cam choice has always been the factory stock spec 1970 Corvette 350/375 horse LT1 (HYDRAULIC NOT SOLID LIFTERS) cam and will turn that little 305 into Mighty Mouse! 1977 was a bad year for the soft cams in the 305 and I’ve made the change due to lobes wiping out several times, and found that this combo was the most crisp and powerful as well as the cost was never over $300 total for a junkyard intake & carb was around $75, carb rebuild kit $40, cam & lifter combo $159 and they usually come with roller chain & gears (set it at zero degrees), and a $25 gasket set (if it wasn’t included in the cam swap kit) and a day to put it all together. This way total is less money than the Edelbrock intake alone.
I have read elsewhere that the LT1 or L79 cams work well in a 305.
To qualify, I would definitely run a longer duration cam if I chose to use a higher numeric gear ratio in the rear. I am using the stock the 2.56 (very tall) gear, so any longer duration will kill the bottom end. From 20-80 the car is just plain fast with this setup. I see no reason to change this very drivable setup. Also, it runs like FI. Engine starts on first kick after setting the automatic choke, warms up in 30-60 seconds, then drive off. Zero hesitation, dead spots, etc. that anyone would associate with a ’70s emissions era car. The stock Rochester could never do that.
Agree the pre-emission Q-jet will also work well. I have had very good experiences with the Edelbrock carbs on many engines though. Simple workhorses that are easy to tune, very reliable, and pretty much work right out of the box, if your engine specs are in the ballpark. Now as for those danged Webers on my Cosworth OTOH…
Great comments, guys! I wasn’t sure how this one would go over, I’m glad to read these comments. Happy Sunday, all!
A humble car that appeals to the masses SG 👍 Drove one of these but 4 door around Vancouver Island. Talk about enjoyable cruising.
“Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu Classic Landau Coupe” – sounds like the offspring of parents who each had hyphenated last names.
never seen 1 of these with radio delete. needs 15×8 rally wheel bad
No radio optioned.
These still tug at my heartstrings as I was coming of age then. Triple white isn’t half as appealing as triple black. Basically any other landau roof would have looked better. GM offered five compatacolor interiors for the white vinyl trim. Whether you keep stock or modify it looks ready to enjoy.
Plain Jane for sure.
A radio in 1974 for a Chevelle was an extra cost Option, as was the clock. Nothing to “Delete”, you pay or you don’t get it.
The radio, AM or AM-FM or…included a windshield antenna.
About the only thing to delete would have been the heater and some were, depending on the climate where it was being shipped.
Back then, your car could be pretty much ordered as lavish or as simple as this one. Today, everything is pretty much Package A, Package B, and if you order Package B, then you must order Package A and D. Terrible.
The one plus with this car is A/C.
I would see this Malibu as a daily driver. With low mileage and good cosmetic condition appears to be a dependable used car candidate. Due to the lack of 1977 options like the available 170 hp 350 V8, bucket seats and power windows and locks, it does not rise to the level of a vehicle one would lust after. But as a time capsule of a popular mid sized coupe from 48 years ago, it is desirable in its own way as GM intermediates were my default choice back in the day.
I don’t think this is actually a Landau. My dad worked at a Chevy dealership in the 70s and we always had Malibu or Monte Carlo demos. Factory installed vinyl tops had color keyed moldings around the edge of the top and the edge of the back window. Opera windows on the C-pillars were trimmed in chrome. Also, I believe the Landau came standard with the turbine wheels like the Landau Monte Carlo. That my explain why the interior is so spartan.
GM Guy,
Page 5 of this brochure shows the same car, a Malibu Classic Landau, but in red and white with the same wheel covers.
https://www.motorologist.com/wp-content/uploads/1977-Chevrolet-Chevelle-Brochure.pdf
It says: “Some noteworthy Landau touches include the smart vinyl half-roof, full wheel covers, color-coordinated body pinstriping and bumper rub strips. Look, too, for dual body-color sport mirrors with driver’s side remote-controlled, dual horns and an emblem setting off the rear quarter window.”
You can see the color-coordinated pinstriping, body-colored mirrors, and driver’s side adjusting “wand” from inside in the photos.
I HAD THE SAME CAR IN BLUE AND NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS.
I had a ’76 with a 350 – 2 barrel. Put a factory four barrel manifold on it and snag a four barrel carburetor from a big block Pontiac station wagon. Dualed it from the manifolds. It ran like a scalded dog. Added rear sway bar from a Monte Carlo as the Malibu’s did not have them. Spun a rod bearing and then had to put a short block in it. Getting ready to change the break-in oil out of it and a car fire ruined it. I really miss that car.