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6-Wheels! 1978 Chevrolet Malibu/El Camino

At first glance, it’s hard to tell if this vehicle is more Chevrolet Malibu or more El Camino, the popular  “gentlemen’s” pickup. Because of the extended roofline and side windows, the half in front of the first set of rear wheels is likely a 1978 Malibu and the rest an El Camino. Someone decided to put the two together and add an extra axle and two additional rear wheels. It would be interesting to know what prompted this conversion and how they pulled it off as we assume it’s one of a kind. Long time idle, the car/truck is sitting in a field in Lake Isabella, California, and waiting for someone to again show it some love. Available here on Facebook Marketplace, the asking price is $2,500.

The Malibu at first was the dressy side of the Chevelle mid-size car that Chevrolet launched in 1964. From that point forward, the El Camino would be based on a Chevelle/Malibu through the end of its run in 1987. Beginning in 1978, the Chevelle nameplate was dropped, and the line was solider on as the Malibu also through 1987. That’s when Chevy dropped using rear-wheel-drive on cars of this size.

It would cool if there was a series of photos that documented how this ’78 Malibu became a six-wheel El Camino. Maybe call it a “Malimino”? Some interesting grafting work was done to pull this off but some of the patchwork from years gone by is starting to show itself. Also, there has been some repair work done around the sunroof, which may or may not be factory and I’d be concerned about it leaking.

We’re guessing the furthest back axle is not live, that it’s not hooked to any part of the drivetrain, with the center set of wheels attached to the driveshaft. This assumes that the underpinning of the vehicle from the middle set of wheels forward is stock Malibu. With an El Camino back end added along with a topper.

We don’t know at what point in the car’s existence did this life-changing event occur, but we’re told it has a lot of miles on it. So presumably it worked and was reliable, at least until mile number 121,925. While it has been sitting for several years, the seller says it does run but will need a new flex plate in the transmission to move around. We’re not sure of the engine, but a likely candidate would be the small block 305 V8. Given the extra weight this set-up added, we doubt this thing would accelerate quickly.

The seller says the California registration was put into no-operating status, so no back fees would have to be paid. However, the title and registration were lost in a fire, so this deal will have to be consummated via a Bill of Sale. I suppose it was and would be titled and re-registered as a Malibu. If you could get this vehicle back on the road, it will turn heads anywhere you went. But be prepared to answer the inevitable, question, “why?”

Comments

  1. Avatar RoughDiamond

    I was all in until I saw the sunroof. I can just imagine the look and reaction I’d get on the mandatory trip to my insurance agent for an existing damage inspection. I have to admire the creator’s imagination, sort of that is.

    Like 4
  2. Avatar Johnmloghry

    You’ve just entered the twilight zone. What you are about to see….
    Some dreams just shouldn’t happen.
    God bless America

    Like 14
  3. Avatar Cadmanls Member

    That design just doesn’t work for me. Iam sure someone liked it at some time, it made it to paint.

    Like 9
    • Avatar stu

      This isn’t a design….it’s a scrap heap… even if you paid me I would say no….

      Like 4
  4. bobhess bobhess Member

    I like the “why” question. It does look like it was done right but….

    Like 5
  5. Avatar A.G.

    The front half of this mess is not a 1978 Malibu.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Rich

      @A.G. True that it is not? Question remains what is it?

      Like 0
  6. Avatar JeffD

    There was a company somewhere in Calif. that did these conversions. There was a six wheel mid 70’s Buick LeSabre here on the East Coast a few years ago. Ugly as sin.

    Like 4
  7. Avatar Timmyt

    The nose is 82-84 elcamino center is a mauibu and,well you see the rest,I’m curious about the back seat they just attached the elcy quarters to the existing malibu kind of an extension

    Like 2
  8. Avatar KC John Member

    One of those creations I wish I could unsee.

    Like 8
  9. Avatar PRA4SNW

    If, for some reason, you wanted a late ’70’s El Camino, they are certainly cheap enough to buy, saving you a lot of time, aggravation, and strange looks.

    Then again, hand certain people a welder and they suddenly become artists. It makes me sort of jealous that I don’t have the time, patience or “vision” to create rolling art.

    There is a house not too far away where the owner has taken every empty propane tank they can find and welded them into yard art. Strange, but you can’t not look at it either.

    Like 4
  10. Avatar Poppy

    Malcamino

    Like 6
  11. Avatar Skully

    y

    Like 3
    • Avatar stu

      because they can….that’s y

      Like 2
  12. Avatar JSB Member

    A quick trip to the CA DMV, with proof of ownership, and the current owner can get a new copy of the old Title and Registration, won’t cost much.

    Like 2
    • Avatar Pugsy

      Why would anyone want one?

      Like 0
      • Avatar stu

        It’s a work of art…why not!

        LOL…for the scrap

        Like 0
  13. Avatar Steve H

    elcamalibu . . .

    Like 2
  14. Avatar Mark

    I just let go on the rug….

    Like 8
  15. Avatar 370zpp Member

    There is something almost obscene going on here. A violation of sorts.

    Wonder what would happen if you poured hot water all over it?

    Like 3
  16. Avatar Joe

    A leaky sunroof would be the least of my worries.

    Like 7
  17. Avatar moosie

    Pretty effin unique, you for sure wouldn’t see yourself coming down the road. Someone just needed his el Camino to seat 5. Imagine pulling into cars & coffee with this concoction . I’d like to own it.

    Like 4
  18. Avatar fran

    Insert laughter here: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________, there, and if you care, you can insert crying here:___. Thats enough….PERFECT for BRAGBOOK MP.

    Like 4
  19. Avatar Howie Mueler

    Yes lots of work needed, and getting matching wheels would be better.

    Like 6
  20. Avatar Emmet

    What in the crystal meth nightmare has taken place here?

    Like 11
  21. Avatar jerry z

    My eyes! This can’t be undone! Oh the agony!

    Like 3
    • Avatar stu

      jerry z….
      Nothing that gasoline and a match can’t solve with your eyes! Enjoy

      Like 0
  22. Avatar Pugsy

    Don’t back up a curb slowly. You’ll get stuck, ha……

    Like 3
  23. Avatar Perch

    Make it stop! It hurts my eyes.

    Like 0
    • Avatar stu

      Perch….
      Gasoline and a match is mans best friend…..

      Like 0
  24. Avatar chrlsful

    o0OP, sahweee! One of my few fav GM’s the 3rd gen chevelle & Malibu Classic in all its renditions (big sq grill, this model the rounded back glass/hd bd). To include the ’56/60 vette & ’63 splitie only, with 1st gen Riverera’n Toranado that followed. Thats it for the 1 company…
    Unfortunately, they have the extra axel here. Fortunately the ‘topper’. I’d bring it back to oe…(sacrilege?) put in the Blue Flame i6 (love the 2 carter side drafts) or its big bro the 292, 503 or an Atlas/Vortex.

    Like 0
  25. Avatar Autoworker

    MALformation? Elcrapino?

    Like 5
  26. Avatar Jcs

    🤔 This is just such a bad idea on so many levels, I don’t know where to even begin.

    Like 10
  27. Avatar PairsNPaint

    “Here, hold my beer.”

    Like 4
  28. Avatar gaspumpchas

    Looks like an elcamino humping a malibu. Hurts my head but it was somebodys baby. Gotta be an experience going around a corner or parking it.
    Good luck and happy motoring.
    Cheers
    GPC

    Like 7
  29. Avatar johnny

    Take your index finger, block the center axle, hold your breath and cross your eyes. There, it doesn’t look too bad!

    Like 1
  30. Avatar Birddog

    To each there own!!

    Like 1
  31. Avatar Wayne A

    Reminds me of the ’75 – ’78 GMC Motorhome only without the sleeping quarters. The air shocks I would guess this thing was used to haul horse hay during its early days, which is just about all it was worth using it for.

    Like 0
  32. Avatar Little_Cars Member

    Made even more ugly by the mismatched wheels and wheel offset. If they could tuck some nice Torque Thrusts underneath those SIX fender wells the thing might not look so monstrous. Oh, nevermind. I’m sure this thing rolls straight down the freeway and all welding was done with utmost care. Perfectly plumb! SMH

    Like 1
  33. Avatar Johnny Cuda

    Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.

    Like 1
    • Avatar stu

      Are you saying that just because I want to set this creation on fire…I shouldn’t!

      LOL

      Like 0
  34. Avatar Fahrvergnugen Member

    Builder must have been soaring on Mal Amino Acid.

    Like 2
  35. Avatar jwzg

    What has been seen cannot be unseen.

    Like 0
  36. Avatar Jwaltb

    Holy hell, I just blew lunch.

    Like 0
  37. Avatar Parker

    This was actually built by my dad back before I was born. I would love to find who owns it now and restore it to how he had it back in the day. It use to be white with matching 5-spoke wheels all the way around.

    Like 2

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