454 Power! 1978 Chevrolet Malibu

When the fourth generation of the Chevrolet Malibu was introduced in 1978, the Colonnade styling from the previous year was gone, and the downsized car took on a more modern, completely different appearance.  In addition to the platform losing over a foot in length, the car also shed a considerable amount of weight, so I understand why the seller chose this model to drop a 454 engine into!   This one looks great on the outside as well, but it’s not cheap, as the owner is seeking $33,000 and says that’s already a reduced price.  Reader Tony Primo found this one here on Craigslist in Dallas, Texas, and we’d like to thank him for taking the time to send us the great tip here!

Even before the Malibu was downsized, engines were already shrinking throughout the mid-seventies.  A 454 was still available through 1975, with the 400 taking over as the largest available V8 in 1976.  By 1977, the 350 reigned as king, but not even that could be had in 1978, with the 305 becoming the optional top dog this year, and a 3.3-liter V6 as the base engine.  Somebody here decided this was all nonsense and installed a freshly built 454 under the hood, with a large Holley 1050 CFM double-pumper carb on top.  Attached is a Turbo 400 automatic with a 2,800 stall converter, sending power to a 9-inch Ford limited-slip third member.

It’s important that a car producing this sort of performance look good while doing so, and a fine appearance certainly isn’t an issue here, as this Malibu has received a beautiful custom finish courtesy of House of Color products.  The lower areas are painted a tranquil silver with the upper sections black, blended together tastefully with metallic purple flames.  A fiberglass hood scoop has also been added, and those classic Cragar S/S wheels look right at home here.  There’s no word on how much was spent on the exterior, but I’m certain this cool paint scheme wasn’t a low-budget investment.

Much of the interior remains stock, and I’m digging how this one still has a bench seat and column shifter.  Some aftermarket items include dash gauges from Autometer and a Pioneer sound system, with everything inside appearing to be in excellent condition overall.  It’s noteworthy that the seller also mentions he’ll consider reasonable offers, so there’s a chance this one could be in your driveway for less than the asking price.  What’s a fair amount to pay for this high-performance 1978 Chevrolet Malibu?