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The Maliboost: GN-Powered 1981 Chevrolet Malibu

1981 Chevrolet Malibu

Take one part Chevy Malibu and one part Buick Gran National and this is what you get! This 1981 Chevrolet Malibu isn’t what it seems from the outside. The car has 59,000 miles on it, a VIN listed, and claimed clear title. It is located in Jacksonville, Florida. No bid has been placed on the starting price of $9,999, and it does have a reserve. You can view all the interesting information about the car here on eBay.

1981 Chevrolet Malibu

The reason the car is not what it appears to be is because the body is hiding a full 1987 Buick Grand National power plant and drive train. The list of engine modifications is long, including Caspers top injectors, Walbro fuel pump, Keene Bell Ram Air duct, K&N Filter, Accufab fuel pressure regulator, ATR headers, and probably the most notable, a Precision PT-52 Turbo with adjustable wastegate. This is just to name a few.

1981 Chevrolet Malibu

Not only is the body hiding a Buick Grand National drive train, but also an interior. Yes, that is right, the interior is from a 1987 Buick Grand National as well. The listing states that the speedometer goes to 145, and it has the Concert II sound system. There is also a six-point roll cage with swing arms and lots of Auto Meter gauges, switches, and buttons. Seriously, there’s a crazy number of gauges in this car! It certainly is an attention grabber inside and out.

1981 Chevrolet Malibu

The listing says that the cars build name is “Maliboost” and that the previous owner claimed the car could run a 10.99 on slicks, race gas, and high boost. Whoever is selling it now says that they think the car could be a ten-second daily driver all while still achieving 20 miles or more to the gallon. Even with all the mixing of parts and names, this car is quite an impressive build, there is no doubt about that.

Comments

  1. Avatar DVSCapri

    Cool concept!! I like the fact that the builder used the GN interior as well – however, the first thing I would do is remove all of that “Yenko” stuff from the car – inside & out. I would probably get rid of the hood as well (maybe just use a turbo bulge from a factory hood??) as it screams “racecar”

    Like 20
    • Avatar Glenn Schwass Member

      That was a lot of work for that car. I hope they get what the have into it…

      Like 0
  2. Avatar Skorzeny

    Too bad it’s not a 4 door, they had a much cooler look. Otherwise it’s really a great car.

    Like 4
  3. Avatar CapNemo

    Cool car! I’m not much on that stripe work, but then it’s not my car.

    Like 7
  4. Avatar Fordfan

    All of that work and the stripe ends 3/4 of the way down the front fender
    Do it right of leave it off

    Like 9
    • Avatar Rick Rothermel

      Yenko stripes always ended above the front of the front wheel well. No I don’t know why.

      Like 3
  5. Avatar Coventrycat

    Glad it’s not black.

    Like 5
  6. Avatar Nevadahalfrack Member

    Sweet sleeper!
    Looking at the myriad of gauges I’m guessing the owner is a member of the AOPA?

    Like 6
    • Avatar Cush

      The hood and stripes gotta go

      Like 1
  7. Avatar Bakyrdhero

    Of all the things I like about this car, my favorite thing is that the builder used poverty caps! I’d lose some of those gauges if possible.

    Like 12
  8. Avatar CanuckCarGuy

    Nice build…would have been equally awesome in a wagon, with woodgrain instead of the sinister paint job.

    Like 12
  9. Avatar CCFisher

    I want to buy it just to fix the visuals. Lose the window tint, the spoiler, the black bumpers and lower body, the black wheels, the oddly placed emblems, and the awful Yenko trim. Cheers to the builder for doing something different than installing a big-block Chevy. Jeers to the builder for making it look like he/she installed a big-block Chevy.

    Like 14
  10. Avatar JOHN Member

    I had an 87 GN with little done to it… unopened motor, TE44, Terry Houston downpipe, Walbro pump adjustable fuel pressure regulator, bigger injectors… forgetting some little things, but…. 11:90’s at 113 MPH, that car was a riot. I would lose the cosmetics, flat hood, lose some gauges, etc. I give kudo’s for the GN dash, but, how is the Dual Gate shifter used with a 4 speed automatic?

    Like 2
  11. Avatar Todd Zuercher

    Kenne Bell, not Keene Bell.

    Like 4
  12. Avatar Billy1

    I guess there was a sale on gauges and I didn’t hear about it.

    Like 5
  13. Avatar Andre Joly

    Stickers etc.. are pretty cheese. otherwise neat car. In fairness (regarding the gauges) the factory cluster on those offered little more than speed and fuel, so keeping an eye on vitals is impossible.

    Like 4
  14. Avatar Bing

    Great unique vehicle… Multitude of “I’d change this, and I’d change that”.
    Well, I would not change a damn thing. I’d just drive it and enjoy the results of someones ingenious creativity.

    Like 6
  15. Avatar charles Flowers

    Well, props for the amount of work done to the ride, but the end result is still FUGLY…….

    Like 1
  16. Avatar Little_Cars

    The mere existence of those Yenko stripes is confusing, even more so that they rise at an angle from back to front. Maybe it’s a generational thing but the way this thing “shows off” means it can’t claim to be a sleeper — unless you count poverty caps as part of that deception. Why not just give it some Chevy rallys and raised white letters and call it a day? Agree with the comments that a wagon or sedan might have been better balanced.

    Like 2
  17. Avatar Comet

    Under what conditions would anyone need a ratchet strap and eye-bolt attached to the alternator?

    Like 0
    • Avatar JOHN Member

      It was a common add-on GN’s, held the engine tighter in its mounts under hard launches, and the fact it is a strap, it has a little give to it as opposed to chains. Easy to remove, and if you ever broke a motor mount, you would be glad you had one!

      Like 3
  18. Avatar Wayne

    That is an engine torque strap so that the motor mounts can live another day after the hard launches at the strip! Crank down the preload and go out and hammer it! I like the car but not the graphics.

    Like 3
  19. Avatar Wayne

    1. Oil pressure
    2. Coolant temperature
    3. Oil temperature
    4. Fuel pressure
    5. Voltage
    6. Pyrometer
    7. Transmission temperature
    8. Tachometer
    9. Speedometer
    OK, we have enough gauges, let’s start the car.

    Like 2
    • Avatar Patrick Farmer

      He forgot the Richard “Dick” Head meter and the B.S. level indicator.

      Like 0
    • Avatar Jason Caudill

      All the gauges, must be a truck driver

      Like 0
  20. Avatar Fastwhlz

    My money says most of the unsavory bits are recent. Probably more of a sleeper at first, but the builder just couldn’t leave it alone. Hopefully it will sell before it becomes a parade float.

    Like 1
  21. Avatar Camaro guy

    I like it just as it is except the front fender stripe should have been curved down towards the front to match the top of the fender line otherwise it’s very cool 😎

    Like 1
  22. Avatar Patrick Farmer

    So when I was born my dad stole a Buick! Now since statutes of limitations has elapsed and the body of the Buick is now in 45 different addresses across the country. Dad wanted a Yenco and he bought a cop car Malibu from the very same cop that he stole the Buick from back in 1989, well 2+2= 5 to 10. This is the car he was dreaming of while he was in stir and we surprised him at his release party with it. Now dad is back inside and he needed the money for the lawyers……

    Like 0
  23. Avatar Patrick Farmer

    You know the guy doing the stripe had a perfectly good straight line just 18 to 20 inches below that he could have gone by. Unforgivable, unprofessional Billy Salami work. Won’t fly Orville.

    Like 0
  24. Avatar Patrick Farmer

    Yeah this guy forgot the thrust levers

    Like 0
  25. Avatar Patrick Farmer

    Cowl hoods have been done so many times to so many cars that the originals now look odd. They have even been used in a Star Trek movie, the one where the new Enterprise goes back in time to fight the Borg. They were used as the hatch door for the escape pods. Fortunately I am old enough to remember how they looked new on a Camaro. A straight line level with the ground. I actually like the car and the rear spoiler and the dog dish caps. This car ain’t fooling anyone. The Buick 6 in a 4dr. Aztec Gold Malibu would be one hell of a sleeper.

    Like 0

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