I have had an “odd” relationship with GM’s colonnade models (’73-’77) such as this 1976 Chevrolet Malibu Classic. I worked in the repair shop of a Chevrolet dealership from late ’72 through mid ’74 and encountered more than my fair share of these models, and I just wasn’t overall that impressed – more on that to follow. I also had a ’76 Malibu Classic sedan assigned to me in ’76, as a business car for my first job out of college. Try as I did, that baby took a lickin’ and kept on tickin’! Today’s subject, however, has been carefully and responsibly kept – and it shows it, so let’s look her over. Hanging its hat in Trinity, North Carolina, this exceptionally clean coupe is listed here on Facebook Marketplace for $16,000. Thanks are due to cheetahkins for this tip!
I think my opinion of the Colonnade was adversely affected by the smash hit that was GM’s previous edition (’68-’72) of their A-body intermediates. The loss of true hardtops, convertibles, and overall power output as a result of mandated emission controls put a wet blanket on the whole affair. And then there was the dreaded five MPH front bumper, ugh….Beyond that, there was the general cheapening of materials and so-so workmanship. But all was not lost; handling, braking, and general maneuvering were much improved, and these were important components that enhanced the Colonnade’s overall roadability. As for that ’76 sedan I was assigned, it saw hard, high mileage use in a short period of time. The new for ’76 305 CI V8 seemed underpowered, but that car would run into and over whatever, while remaining surprisingly unscathed. Three of its pie pan hubcaps may have flown off (including one that took a launch off the U.S. 50 Bay Bridge that spans Chesapeake Bay), but that sucker mostly never left me anywhere (though early on the HEI unit failed and it had to be towed). As for looks, well, that’s subjective, but the four-door sedan wasn’t much to admire. Popular? Chevrolet moved about 113K Malibu Classic coupes in ’76, so I’d say yes. Even after four years with little change, this Classic was still a classic! Besides the Classic coupe and sedan, a basic Chevelle, in both body styles, was available, as well as a Sporty Laguna S-3 coupe, which featured a slant-back nose cap, a nod to NASCAR homologation.
The listing states, “Finished in a blue exterior with a matching blue vinyl interior, this Malibu has the timeless styling and presence that make these classic Chevrolets so desirable.” While I’m not too sure this is a real desirable Chevy, I get the drift; this one’s in excellent condition, and the coupe styling is unoffensive. Having crossed the half-century mark and experienced 92K miles of use, this Malibu presents surprisingly well – it has definitely been well parked/stored. One of the first tell-tale signs of age is a degraded vinyl top, and I see no evidence of that foible occurring here. Rounding things out are the seen-everywhere Chevrolet rally wheels, an option in ’76, but this car may wear them better than others.
The interior is generic GM light blue, but the environment is bright and clean, if mundane. The “regulated” 85 MPH speedometer law hadn’t hit the books yet, but the General was being realistic, I suppose, by trimming its traditional 120 MPH units back to 100 MPH. This is an A/C equipped car, as most were in those days, but despite its 134A refrigerant conversion, the unit is currently on the fritz.
The best one could do for power in ’76 was a 175 net HP 400 CI V8 engine, and that’s what’s ensconced in this Malibu Classic’s engine room. This would be the last year for the 400’s use in a passenger car, and the last model year a Chevrolet engine would wear its distinctive orange hue (though a few very early ’77 models didn’t get the message). The seller, unfortunately, does not elaborate on running and driving prowess. The only transmission available with this V8 engine was the Turbo-Hydramatic three-speed automatic gearbox, and that’s what’s on board here.
The seller concludes the listing with, “Whether you’re looking for a weekend cruiser, a local car show favorite, or a solid addition to your collection, this Malibu is ready for its next owner.” I can’t say I’ve seen one of these at a car show, but there’s a first time for everything, right?
Don’t know about the body, but the engine compartment certainly looks like it has had plenty of exposure to moisture. Given that, I’d say the car is quite overpriced. These never had the allure of previous Chevelles/Malibus, so even if it were mint, I doubt that it would be worth any more than 16k.