When it comes to building a hot rod, it’s generally preferable to buy a car with a drivetrain already installed and ideally, fully sorted out. However, there are some instances where purchasing a roller makes sense, particularly if you have some specific goals as it relates to a comprehensive build. This 1979 Chevrolet Malibu two-door is a real-deal low mileage example that came with a six-cylinder automatic combination that was pulled for a hot rod build that never happened. It’s now listed here on eBay with bids to $2,750 and no reserve.
I like this Malibu first of all for being a genuine low-mileage car. It looks like a total grandma-driven example that has all the trappings of being a survivor. It may have seen slightly sacrilegious to remove the drivetrain from a survivor-grade car like this, but I also understand why the previous owner chose to alter the car in this way. Preserving a low-spec six-cylinder car doesn’t sound like much fun, and someone will certainly pay for an example with outstanding cosmetics and a tasty drivetrain under the hood.
It also means you don’t have much else to do once you get the drivetrain and suspension sorted out. The coupe body is the preferred configuration for any hot rod build, and when you factor in the other benefits of a low-mileage specimen – like the minty interior, perfect plastics, unmarked carpets, and crack-free dash – it makes a lot of sense. Seeing the uncut wiring harness also suggests some care was taken in the removal of the stock engine and transmission.
When you look over the gallery photos of this Malibu, it is immediately evident that this was a pristine example of a car that might have otherwise been found in a municipal fleet of vehicles reserved for city employees. It’s spotless inside and out and looks like it never saw the harsh salt-soaked roads of a northern climate. The next owner will have near endless choices for a hopped-up drivetrain to swap in; what would you choose if this was your next project car?
The sweet 3.6L Camaro mill. Keeps the original 6 theme of the car.
Be sure to equip w the optional adjustable exhaust.
They bark nice w the autoloader too.
In fact a column-shift application would be cool.
Wow clean slate to have fun. My fun would be…. Stroker 383 with 500hp, 5 speed manual since it has 3 pedals. And 3:73 posi out back. 3.5 inch exhaust. Everything would look stock. Redo the suspension to handle the power with HD sway bars front and back. Not too much a 1/4 cars but a road car to enjoy on the parkways or road track. And at the street lights to
surprise those Vettes and Porches!! That’s my dream setup. Good luck to the next owner.. 🐻🇺🇸
I’d think a 5.3 with higher rear end gear ..3:42 and a nice upgrade to suspension and have a fun work commuter that is very drivable, with at least fair gas mileage.
Put nice wheels on it, black steelies and poverty caps
People will think you’re driving a taxi
White stripes and original full covers.
A few weeks back there was a Chevy II featured here that apparently had a 79 Malibu frame transplanted on it. I don’t know much about doing such things but a few comments praised the idea.
Maybe an idea?
Iraqi 🇮🇶 taxi 🚕
Ever here of those Chevy Malibus ?
4 door, Stick shift models.
Years ago, I bought my Mother a 1968 Malibu Nomad wagon with a 307 and four speed on the floor. She loved that car. I replaced it with a 1979 four door Malibu like this one, but she wanted a wagon again so I found a 1978 or so and when it got wrecked (by someone who hit her) I bought her a 1979 or 80. When she could no longer drive, I sold the last one to a fellow who turned it int a drag racing car.
Unfortunate they didn’t leave it stock@ 11,000 miles.
Stock= BORING!!
You got it. Why do people tear up
nice original cars then give up after a while. What a shame. Lots of missing parts here. Beware. It’s nice, but a money pit buying all those little pieces.
I like this a lot. Bit confusing though, seller says it was a 6cyl 3speed, I thought GM had went to all 5 speeds by 79? Doesn’t really matter, it’s fairly rare to see a manual in these cars anyway. I don’t really understand where they were going with it, that harness is the under dash wiring, you can see where the entire cluster is out in some of the pics, along with the heater controls. Also, the fuel tank is MIA, it doesn’t say if all these parts are included.
I have a 350/350 turbo sitting out back that would sit down in there like it came there. It would need to be freshened up, but would make a great street sleeper. A set of factory rally wheels would set it off.
I’m severely tempted to bid on this one as a retirement project.
I bought a new 1980 Malibu 229 V6 with a floor shift 3 speed manual.
To my knowledge, the Cutlass was the only A-body to leave the factory with the T50 5-speed. For ’78-’79, you could get (depending on engine) a Cutlass with 3, 4, or 5 gears in your manual transmission. If you were a masochist, you could order a Cutlass with the T50 and a 4.3 liter V-6 *Diesel*.
But the Malibu and El Camino could only be had with 3 or 4 forward gears.
Put a 231 V-6 in it with a 3 speed OD transmission. Appx same weight as the straight 6 & trans. Very little would need to change to plumb it up. Keep her stock as she is with a nice set of wheels & enjoy this 79 Malibu.
Worked at the Muncie Indiana plant that made GM manual transmissions, and we ONLY made 3 and 4 speeds, I think GM bought a few 5 speeds from Borg Warner by then, but not from GM’s only manual transmission plant. Should have had an overdrive long before 79, but the manufacturers and oil companies were in bed together and obviously still are.
This would be a wonderful place to start a real serious car. Set up right with a newer FI V8 engine swap and a 6 speed. This could be a beast. I love it and I wish I was young enough to start something like that. Whoever gets it, enjoy!
If I had the time ,money and ambition I would love this project. Almost $3500 now and it is still a bargain!
I built a 1979 Malibu wagon for the wife years ago. Pulled the 3.3? V-6 out and dropped in a 350 4 barrel. It turned out the exhaust bolted right up and so did the tranny. I was in a hurry as we were moving and it was the last project in the shop. That car got 21 miles per gallon with the stock exhaust and was pretty fast on the highway.
To me preserving the original 6 cyl low mileage car sounds way better than yet another one with a 350, LS, etc. You see those all the time. When was the last time you saw a nice one with the 6 cyl?
They can only be preserved once
Original 1979 Malibu V6 had 94HP, you gonna find the original smog pump, catalytic converter? Jeezo-Beezo, it’d be slower than my 78′ 88HP Pinto, which was S-L-O-W.
There’s a reason these cars aren’t around anymore.
Absolutely. Roommate’s father did not believe in creature comforts, and had a ‘79 Malibu wagon, no PB, no PS, no A/C, 3 speed and radio delete. I drove it a couple times when we were hauling stuff. To call that thing a dog is a horrible insult to canines worldwide. Roommate’s sister was driving it when the clutch went out (in a tollbooth – remember those?) and she got into an argument with the shop it was being towed to who insisted there were no Malibus with manual trannies… until the saw it.
Or the 231 V-6 that was used in the Cutlass, Regal. Would be an easier swap for a straight 6. Any V-8 to much suspension work would be needed to house it.
Why not a nice, quiet 500 Cadillac under the hood? Would seem a natural with the factory tall gears in it… Tame enough for a granny to drive to church, but could easily keep up in today’s traffic. Hell, she’d cruise at 120 all day long if you wanted. 😁
These are great Drag cars. My friend had one with a 502 in lt.
The mild hard edged design of these are my favorite Malibus.For some reason they remind me of the Ford fox body coupe. Simple and clean…..
Hmmmm, l would stay away from this one. Originally a V6 car, not a V8 car.Hmmm,did they plan on putting in a custom/style dash,way to much, for a project car,hmmmm, if you have to pay 5-15k,before, you buy a V8 conversion kit, and or engine,transmission,probably not worth it.