When Chevrolet redesigned its mid-size Chevelle in 1978, they dropped that moniker and went with Malibu all the way. The Malibu had previously been the Chevelle’s top-of-the-line model. A downsizing was part of the process to help make the cars more fuel efficient. This example is from 1981 and looks like a very solid survivor with low miles (23,500?). Located in San Mateo, California, this driver-quality Chevy is available here on craigslist for the tidy sum of $10,500. Once again, Tony Primo comes through in the quest for better tips!
After shrinking its full-size cars in 1977, General Motors went after the intermediates the next year. At Chevy, which meant the Chevelle/Malibu and Monte Carlo would lose between 500 and 1,000 lbs. in weight without sacrificing any space for passengers. The cars could run on smaller engines, so fuel consumption was less, all in the name of the rising cost of gasoline (remember when we thought 75 cents per gallon was a lot?).
By 1981, there were two iterations of the Malibu, base, and Classic (more bling and glitz). Out of more than 242,000 Malibu automobiles built in ’81, 81,000 were Classic 4-door sedans like this bronze example. This one is said to have a six-cylinder engine, but we don’t know which V6 it is: a Chevy 229 cubic inch V6 and 110 hp or the Buick 231 CI with the same output.
We’re not told much about this car or if the claimed low mileage can be verified. It looks very clean, and we suspect the paint and interior are original and may only need a little detailing. No mention is made of any mechanical attention needed and the car’s registration is current. That implies the Malibu is driven at least semi-regularly. If you’re looking for a vintage daily driver, is this one in your price range?
Wow this brings back memories. We had a family friend that had one identical to this. Same exact color wheel covers, interior, it was probably a 6 cylinder too. It was at a young age (12) I leanred how the rear windows don’t roll down and I’d get car sick in the back seat with my friends…… And odds are I’m sure I wasn’t the only one that discovered that. But still, this looks like its in overall great shape for its age. Most of these were used up and scrapped years ago. Its nice to see one in this great a condition.
Remind anyone of the Iraqi taxi 🇮🇶
https://www.thedrive.com/news/35121/we-got-him-that-time-gm-sold-12500-terrible-chevy-malibus-to-saddam-hussein
Stan, it would be a treat to find one of the original Iraqi taxi with the manual and heavy duty A/C.
Looks like the wheel opening molding on the right rear side got into a fight with something. If you can find one, replace it, or removing all 4 may be possible.
Other than that, looks like a legit mile car to me. I think the seller is a little ambitious on the price, though.
Do I want one? Nope. Would I stop & look at it if it was spotted in the wild? You bet.
My goodness, this looks like ultimate sleeper material to me. I would keep it as is with the exception of some wider steel wheels that will still accept the hubcaps. It would be fun deciding what drive train to install. I really like the 6.6L L8T crate motor. Over 400HP and idles smooth as silk. You could really catch some people off guard with that combo.
Sigh! Really?
In the words from Ronald Reagan to the homeboy Walter Mondale at one of the ’84 debates….
“Well, there ya go again.”
If only this was a wagon!
The wagons are great. This car is about 5 miles from where I grew up. Cars built from this platform were everywhere, with a lot of wagons. You rarely see them today, not due to rust, but because of the state’s draconian emissions testing regulations, they are designed specifically to target older cars like this so they fail and can’t be registered. Last year I had a 30 year old car, it passed tailpipe, but failed because a check engine light was on, the sensor needed to turn it off was no longer available so I had to junk the car. It ran perfectly fine had 140k miles and would have lasted several more years. That scenario is not uncommon.
Steve R
Steve, your comment reminded me of our emission stations in Mn. Not as stringent as California.
New buildings were built around the metro Twin Cities and staff hired + equipment. They walked around the car with a mirror on a stick to check for catalytic converters without straining themselves to bend over.
The story was that you could fail in one stall, drive around the building and pass in another one.
Another in a long ongoing string of multi million government boondoggles here, taxpayer funded of course.
They lasted less than 5 years and now some buildings serve as transmission shops. rapid oil change places, etc.
How ironic.
A complete failure of a feel good gesture.
The infamous check engine light! Our local police dept had a bunch of these with the small V8s early 1980s & they ran/handled pretty good. The old style light bars back then sometimes made a whistling sound that you could hear a good block away. I know that if the catalytic converter s caused any issue, they would be removed & not replaced, but in Oklahoma we had vehicle equipment inspections but no emissions.
Did someone say wagons are great?
https://mohave.craigslist.org/cto/d/lake-havasu-city-1982-malibu-wagon/7825593658.html
Tony, very nice wagon! Seller should have provided some details on the engine build in order to help sell it.
Sigh! Really?
Love a pretty basic car. 1981 brought the new roof line and maybe the best grill and headlamp treatment of the bunch. If a California car it’s probably a 231 V6. Nice colors and overall shape. This would be a nice fair weather driver.
I had one of these Malibu’s. Mine was a ’82. I bought it in ’94. Paid $400. Mine was Blue with Blue cloth interior. Had about 80k miles. Biggest drawback was lack of power. It wasn’t the worst used car I bought but certainly not the best.
No pics of the motor. If the distributor is in the front of the motor, it’s a Buick mill, if in the back, it’s a Chevy 229
Nice car — though I prefer full-size, myself (smile).
Looks like grandma had strict rules against the grandkids eating in this car. Clean as a whistle!
too many doors for $10500