The seller notes his business purchased this non-running 1979 Chevrolet Malibu station wagon due to the frequency with which the platform is modified for restomod or hot rod use. This is an accurate statement, as I’ve seen plenty of these plebeian family haulers turned into fire-breathing drag cars to create the ultimate sleeper, or a simply bonkers hot rod that can truly haul. Though the Malibu doesn’t run, it sure looks clean enough to suggest it wouldn’t take much effort to hear the factory V8 fire up again. Find it here on eBay with bidding just over $3,000 and the option to Buy-It-Now for $8,995.
Now, it’s no secret I’m a big fan of wagons. Until you own one, it’s hard to understand the awesome utility they offer while still being relatively easy to maneuver just about anywhere. Their handling is certainly better than most trucks and SUVs, and they’re a bit stealthy in that the local constable won’t likely notice you as quickly as he may a top-heavy truck that’s changing lanes too fast. The Malibu on offer is clearly a long-time California example, with old-school blue plates and remaining in incredibly solid, rot-free condition.
There’s a wagon in my community that looks incredibly similar to this one, aside from the color, and the sound it makes under the hood both at idle and while accelerating suggests it is not stock. The owner of that car has chosen to drop the ride height a bit and add some Rally wheels with polished trim rings, and I have to say, it’s not an incredibly complicate formula to achieve what is essentially a very slick hot rod that wouldn’t necessarily catch your eye the first time you saw it. Would you attempt something similar with this car or keep it stock?
The seller’s listing does a nice job of presenting the Malibu from every angle, and it’s clear that from up above, underneath, and side to side, this Malibu is dry as the desert no matter which corner you peek in. The seller notes that the engine still turns freely despite not running, and no explanation is given for its inop condition. Mileage is just under 67,000 miles and the seller believes the paint and interior are original to the car. Though it hurts a bit to see a survivor like this chopped up and otherwise modified, you can also do a lot without doing much to distort its honest appearance.
I had the Olds Cutlass counterpart to this car. I give a nod of approval, as it was one of the few cars my ex-wife didn’t kill. I don’t mean to keep picking on California, my daughter and son in law live in L.A., but they sure live in a different world. A non-running, tired wagon with several hundred thousand miles, is worth about $500 bucks in my book.
A dealer is charging an arm and a leg for a non-running car doesn’t reflect on anyone but themselves. They probably paid close to true market value for the car. That’s what dealers tend to do. There will always be a premium for rust free cars, which are abundant in California, but that’s related to condition, not necessarily location.
I’d love to find this generation of wagon, however, California emissions testing has rendered them nearly extinct in the state. They were once plentiful and made great bracket cars due to the availability of suspension components and large greenhouse.
Steve R
I feel it’s worth a bit more than $500.00 but I don’t think you’re really off base. Their price however, well the crack pipe must be empty and they’re trying to buy more.
I had a ’78 Malibu wagon in the early 90’s but the rear body mounted rotted. Driving over bumps, the body and frame would slap together. Granted this is a clean car but trying to get BJ money out of it is not going to happen.
I flipped an 81 malibu wagon about a year ago. 38k miles sitting in an asphalt parking lot for 25 years. Rust free but BAKED inside and out. Bought it for $500, cleaned it up and put tire on it and sold it for $1500. It didn’t run either. This guy is dreaming, but maybe he will find someone smoking the same as him.
MODIFY. Why preserve a car where you can’t even roll the back windows down? A very dark period for GM when these came out. Worst decisions made in the design of these mid-sized models.
For me to accept to drive this
It would need
To be a real 2 door
Not the half ass jobs that some monkeys do
2 doors from a coupe
Then it
Would need an LS / tranny swap
4 wheel disc and All
So its much easier and cheaper for me to stick to my ford explorer…
If you *must* 2-door it, why not use the sweeping B-pillar from an El Camino instead of the coupe one.
You are absolutely right !
Bought a new Buick Regal version of this in 82. Only had the standard V-6, but was a great cruiser. Put over 100k on it before some idiot in a jacked pickup decided he wanted to be in the lane I was in. Still would have it today otherwise. Long live the long roofs!
We had a 1980 Malibu Classic wagon with the V6 growing up after my brother totalled our Chevrolet Citation. Two tone blue.
I remember my dad getting a run at the hills and we were always passed by other cars before we got to the top. He always wished it had the bigger motor.
The Malibu was reliable. Parents replaced it with a 1990 Ford Taurus which seemed way more modern at the time.
Heh, we went from an ’81 Malibu Classic wagon (Light Waxberry!) to a new ’88 Mercury Sable–it was like a Conestoga wagon to the Millennium Falcon for teenaged me. Took my driver’s exam in a snowstorm on Groundhog Day in the Malibu and didn’t have to parallel park because the tester couldn’t find two cars street parked close enough for me to do it. Got my license and dad wouldn’t even let me drive home because of the snow.
9,000?!? I’ll venture a guess that the auction will end with “Reserve Not Met”. In viewing the ebay pictures, it appears that some type of expanding foam/glue has been used to reattach/supplement weatherstripping. This car has great potential, but the sellers’ valuation on it equals (IMO) a NO SALE.
I don’t think that’s foam, I think that is the weather stripping…burned and shrunken to a crispy texture! The interior looks like it either was home to a lot of beachy stuff and bathing suits or maybe it was exposed to some water for a while. The front wheel wells cleaned up nice but look at those rear wells and frame over the rear axle.
Agree with the others that the seller will be lucky to get much more than the current $3k bid for it. Yes, it looks decent but it doesn’t run and it’s pretty common. My parents owned a 1978 model that was light blue with a V6, 3-on-the-floor and no air. Very hot in the summer, especially with the vinyl seats and the fact that it only had small flip out windows in the back for ventilation.
My dad had a ’79, ’80 or ’81 wagon, blue-on-blue with the three-on-the-floor as well! It did have A/C, but never saw another one of these in a manual! All these years later; you’re the only other person I have ever heard of having one with a stick.
The asking price is too high. It’s a great medium sized wagon however, certainly far better than idiotic SUVs. Someone should speak with the Seller,
get him into reality and buy the car. I have no room otherwise I’d make the effort.
For a car that looks untouched, and the closer I look, I think that someone tried to get the car ready for engine work. The hose for the air cleaner is gone, and so are the a/c compressor and lines. That could all be moved out of the way to indeed pull the engine, but they are gone. The rest of the car looks untouched, but something’s hinky in the engine compartment!. Possibly realization of cost and or experience to do such a chore.
Seller must be reading these comments. Lowered the BIN to $7.995 already. REality is setting in… give them another few days.
Sure wish my 80 El Camino had looked that good underneath…. But it sure looks like black mold growing on the steering wheel and carpets. Some weird staining on the seats and the front radiator support. Has this thing been under water?
I had a 78 Malibu wagon with a 305 and 4 speed. I bought it off the originals woman owner.
I also had a 78 Olds wagon, fully loaded with buckets, console, and full gauge package.
Great cars, I miss the Malibu
Bought a 79 wagon that was headed for the junkyardfor $150, dropped a 300 hp 350 with turbo 350. Was my daily driver and the best tow vehicle I ever owned. Wife street raced it a few time. Alas, as jerry Z said, the rear frame section rotted out and I couldnt tow with it any more. had 212 on it when i sold it to a painter. One of the most reliable cars I ever owned. As far as this one goes, an old friend told me that a car with a blown engine isnt worth anything. Being a bottom feeder I cant agree, but this guy thinks he has gold. Good luck and stay safe!
Cheers
GPC
I had a 1980 Malibu wagon. Must have been about 1986 or so. It was black with a red interior and a little red pinstripe on the beltline. Put a set of Cragar mags on it and it really looked sharp. Unfortunately, it had that crappy V6 which ate a camshaft about every six months. After about two years, we considered a V8 swap, but bought a new 1988 Eagle Premier ES to replace it.
Soon wished we had kept the Malibu :)
Some of you guys wrote that this car has potential… idk where are you seeing it! Please point it out.
I think this is the worst vintage wagon one could get! There is nothing cool about any of it, drivetrain, interior and dash suck, its not roomy inside, its ugly on the outisde…. if you got 8 grand in your pocket why not get a full size wagon from the 70ties/80ties? Heck 8 grand will get you a nice running c3 or c4 corvette all day every day!
Modify or Preserve. I reckon it depends on its condition. If it’s driveable as it is, and everything works like it should, then I’d preserve it as it is.
Pass. I had a 1978 Century Sport Wagon, two tone red & silver and loaded with power options. Terrific car. Wouldn’t you really rather have a Buick?
My parents had an 83 Wagon 305 Automatic tan with brown vinyl interior and Vette rallies with the chrome baby moons in the center and dual exhaust and I’d love to be able to buy one and do it up like the one I rode in as a kid. $8995 and not running?? Kind of a hard pill to swallow. GLWTA
I had the same Malibu wagon when I was stationed in Germany in 1989. Paid 100 bucks for it. It was dent free. Rust free.
And very dependable. I donated it to another service member when I left in 1991 . Even though I like the car , top dollar for me is 1500 in decent shape.
My grandfather had a Malibu sedan of this generation as a loaner in ‘89 when his brand new Caprice got stolen. Man he hated that thing for the two weeks he had it. Underpowered and those stupid rear windows that didn’t go down- it made for a sweaty two weeks for us back seat dwellers!
But I always thought the coupe and wagon were nice looking for the time and took well to a lowered stance and slightly larger wheels. To each their own though
Love how this wagon looks, price is a bit ambitious though. I’d also try to get the original V8 running before considering a more modern swap.
Always preserve. I will never understand why anyone takes a classic car and destroys it by modifying it.
Because some of them were absolute garbage right from the factory! Nothing good about this one.
Ps. This is not a classic!!!!
I agree; this generation of GMs mid size cars were absolute junk – the rear frame rails were weak and were very prone to rusting away ,the interior plastic would degrade quickly and fade away and turn to powder , and the engines ! from the anemic 200 , the under powered and unreliable 231 and 301 engines were maybe the worst GM ever came up with . If you were lucky you got a 305 , but the rest of the car would fall apart on you.
I must be the only one that had the 79 Pontiac lemans safari of this model. It had the 301 light blue and light oak woodgrain!! Light blue interior. I got it from my grandparents and drove it for years. I wish I still had it!! And the grandparents!! They are the ones that got me loving all things Pontiac!!