When the mid-size Chevy Chevelle was redesigned in 1978, the company dropped the Chevelle name and shifted the Malibu to represent the entire series. The rework of the car and name brought downsizing to all of General Motors’ intermediate so they would be easier on gasoline. This ’78 Malibu Classic is the upscale model and had been well-kept across its 45 years. Located in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, this Chevy is available here on craigslist for $15,000 or less (cash talks). Another fine tip from Pat L.!
Chevrolet began the shrinking process in 1977 with its full-size cars, which would also be known as “rightsizing.” The land yachts of yesteryear would no longer be fashionable in an age where the cost of gasoline was approaching $1.00 a gallon (ah, those were the good old days). In the case of the Malibu rework, the cars were now a foot shorter and up to 1,000 pounds lighter, yet accommodated more trunk and passenger compartment space. Because the cars were nimbler, the need for bigger engines wasn’t necessary and a 305 cubic inch V8 would now do the work of a 350.
This ’78 Malibu is original in many respects and newer in others. The Camel Brown paint is from the factory and has suffered no body damage or rust over the years. There are no scratches, dents, or dings, but the paint doesn’t look quite as shiny as it once was. The interior is also original and comes across fine, although I would replace the carpeting at the first chance. The odometer reading is 55,000 and there is no reason to be suspicious of it being higher.
The seller has had the following work done while he/she has owned the auto: new valve guide seals, alternator, water pump, and some brake components. A tune-up has also been performed along with replacing belts and tinkering with the carburetor (this is before fuel injection was a standard item). The tires are also new, and the Rally wheels were lifted from a 1987 El Camino, apparently without the center caps.
In addition to all this, the prior owner replaced the shocks and door seals. And the catalytic converter was jettisoned in favor of dual exhaust. If you want to control the temperature inside the car, you’ll have to rework the A/C compressor and dryer. These weren’t especially remarkable cars then and now, but it is a 45-year-old survivor.
I have no problem with the presence of rear doors on any car, but I have a real problem with the absence of opening windows in them as seen here.
Other than that, I always thought these cars’ face looked classier than the equivalent Buick, as has happened with Chevys from time to time, and the 6-window notchback sedan profile looks better to me than the “formal” midcycle replacement (the less said about the Aerobacks the better!)
The roof on these could be a touch lower for better proportions.
IMO, it was even worse when 2 door cars in the mid ’70s starting showing up with small claustrophobic fixed-in-place opera windows for rear seat passengers. & the rear side quarter glass is even smaller than those – on the phony hardtop “modern” Camaro & Challenger!
I have an even bigger problem with many non asian import 2 doors from the past with huge fake “vent windows” on the front doors that don’t open – including on some Ferraris!, leaving just small roll down glass behind them, many times starting behind the driver’s face! – terrible if car has no a/c or a/c is broken.
I remember working on a lot of these in the late 80’s early 90’s. Crappy 606 snapring type steering gear boxes where the sector shaft bushings would wear out quickly and these were bad frame rotters in the rear and front. One of our customers had one where the frame was rotted so bad the gearbox came off. 15k is way to much imo.
I used to see these all the time when they were used
by our local police department.
Are we talking interior or exterior anglia 😎?
I know SC Highway Patrol ran them. They had the 350, and would scat! The fire/police dept. I dispatched for, bought a retired SCHP cruiser. When the city retired it, I wanted to buy it, but didn’t have the $$$$ to do it.
Speaking of that, I’m in Indiana and back in the early 90s I used to go with my buddy to the auto auction and drive back cars that he bought. The ISP used the 5.0 Mustang notchbacks and there were two there with just over 100k miles on them. Both ram and drive of course but one had the seat back on the driver side broken. L$That one sold for $300 and the other $600 and I was broke as a joke or I would have bought them both.
I got no problem dropping a LS in it & upgrading the A/C but 45 years in Pennsylvania warrants a under side inspection because unless ziebart was applied liberally applied this thing could be one pot hole away from splitting in half like the widowmakers of my youth that you could empty your beer without rolling down a window or opening a door!
Iraqi 🇮🇶 taxi 🚕
Weren’t the Iraqi taxis all manuals?
Yes.
Yes , well known just wanted to introduce the story. 👍
As in most hot countries manuals are preferred.
Twin air fresheners in the vents indicate it’s either seriously moldy (possible, even with the interior detailing) or a smoker’s car.
Or, maybe it just smells like the old GM plastic and vinyl did on these cars after they got old…kind of like body odor. Did you ever think of that or, did you just come here to make what are, quite possibly, completely false statements? Were you going to buy this car or, did you just not want anyone else to?
It slays me how many people profess their self-proclaimed “expertise” of all things automotive with absolutely no knowledge to back it up.
Like every car that has rust in the engine bay is a possible flood car ? LOL
No more speculation than you’re offering here, Mikey.
I don’t care if anyone else buys the car. I am mildly interested in finding one, as I had a 2-door sedan from the era that I liked. But for whatever reason, this deal seems to stink and I’m not in for it.
I’m not really proclaiming any particular expertise, but I don’t see you expressing any more particular automotive knowledge than I am. And I’ve bought more than a couple of ’60s and ’70s GM products that didn’t reek, thank you very much.
So I’m trying to think of why, for all the comments here, you decided to land on mine with both feet and be such a jerk?
Good luck on moving your BS, buddy. And don’t be such a dink.
$15,000 for a $500 dollar car that’s missing the CAT so its no longer legal in California and many other states that follow their stupid rules. Besides minimal rust on the body the only benefit to this thing is that it would survive a EMP should we ever actually get hit by one
I think the EMP would take out the HEI distributor. To be on the safe side drop in a points distributor.
It might survive an EMP blast whether self-inflicted or not.
The question is…..will we ??? lol
I’m going to go look at this car today, it’s within 5 miles. I see there are no inspection or emission stickers either while parked on a public street – yes they are anal like that around here about those things. Maybe the seller has antique tags on it, which it does qualify for in the state of PA. If that’s the case, no stickers required, but the antique tag restrictions include no daily use, not supposed to be parked on a public street 7 days a week, can drive only from sun up until sun down, and I’m sure there’s more, it’s PA.
Gary, let us know how it goes.
PRA4SNW, I’m still working with the seller to arrange a time & place to meet. No details now, but I will follow up.
I’ve got a new set of rear seat belts & inside door handles
for this if you’re interested.
The sun-up to sun-down restriction applies to cars with lighting that isn’t up to modern standards, such as brass-era cars with kerosene or acetylene headlamps. Although the sealed beam headlights on this car are less effective than most new car headlights today, it still would not be subject to that restriction.
Sealed beams with halogen were an improvement as I recall.
The name is a misnomer. Hardly a classic. This gen was horrible. This is about the era a lot of American cars got really ugly, really boring, really manufactured poorly and why the J’s ate our lunch.
“J’s” at the time rusted far worse and far faster than these did ,and their interiors were just as cheesy , so I wouldn’t say they were manufactured any better – Their engines would run forever though
This is a turd but, it’s a nice turd.
The 350 was still a better choice over a 305 , nimbler or not, but the 305 was miles better than the late 70s 231 Buick.
A good friend of mine inherited (so to speak) a ’79 like this around 1986 or so. It had the ubiquitous blue paint/dark blue interior. What was different was it had a 231 V-6 backed by a 3 spd manual…..but on the floor.