Vehicle Description
This 1978 Chevrolet Malibu is one of those cars that just gets
cooler the more you look at it. Sure, we all grew up with these
buzzing around by the hundreds, but when was the last time you saw
one decked out like this beauty? And with a recently built, stout
350 cubic inches under the hood, this is no late '70s wheezer,
either! Nicely finished to a level belying its contemporaries, this
cool Chevy deserves closer examination.
These became so familiar back in the day that it's worthwhile to
stand back and take a second look today. Pretty good looking car,
isn't it? Clean lines, a chiseled roof profile, and great
proportions make it a car that suddenly stands out in a crowd. The
dark gray paint with killer metallic flakes was borrowed from
Cadillac's late-'80s palette and it keeps the finish from being too
in-your-face, which is a good thing because the mechanicals do that
part of the job just fine. It's remarkable to find one this
straight and clean, and someone has obviously invested ta good deal
of cash in making it look good. The steel hood was trimmed out to
account for the breathers, shiny bright chrome was added for an
aggressive look, but those are the only notable deviations from
stock, but it works rather well on this big coupe and makes room
for the burly small block underneath. Finish quality is very good,
and anyone would be proud to show off this Malibu's handsome good
looks. The front and rear bumpers are bulky and covered in chrome,
which gives it a clean, modern look, and all the lenses are in
excellent, clear shape.
It's slick and modern inside, where sporty race buckets are wrapped
in smooth black vinyl that matches the look of the comfortable rear
seat, and Simpson harnesses keep the driver and passenger safe. If
you like the look of monochrome black inside your car (and who
doesn't?), you'll the fully restored interior. It's all in great
condition, including the extra upholstered material on the door
panels and padded dash, as are the plush carpets and taut
headliner. There are several notable upgrades such as the
fat-rimmed, sporty 4-spoke steering wheel that sits atop a tilt
column, a Hurst shifter with line-lock that manages the built
automatic transmission below, race-style pedal covers, and a fire
extinguisher mounted next to the middle console. The factory gauges
covered only the basics, so a custom panel in the middle of the
dash houses a set of Sunpro gauges that cover the engine's basics,
adding to the car's resto-mod look. A Kenwood AM/FM/CD stereo fits
neatly in that same custom panel and powers speakers throughout the
interior and the subwoofers and amplifier in the trunk. But that
custom stereo was professionally installed, which means that the
carpeted trunk still has plenty of room to accommodate almost all
travel plans.
This car might have originally come with a light-duty V6 or maybe a
wheezy small block, but today there's a built 350 cubic inch V8
that makes for some pretty entertaining driving in the lightweight
Malibu. Fully rebuilt just 700 miles ago and beautifully detailed
with chrome and other dress-up parts, it's obvious where the big
money was spent on this build. The block has been augmented with
polished and ported double hump heads, hardened seats, screwed in
studs and a Comp 292 hydraulic cam that gives it a healthy lope. It
starts easily and idles well, and with all that extra horsepower on
tap, performance is more than energetic. It's got a polished
aluminum intake topped with dual 500 CFM Edelbrock 4-barrel
carburetors that are fed through those twin air scoops, and it's
got new parts everywhere you look, from the belts to the hoses to
the ignition system. It's backed by a built TH350 3-speed automatic
transmission with a shift kit and 3000 stall convertor that was
engineered to withstand the small block's torque without robbing it
of any horsepower, and it feeds a 10-bolt rear with
highway-friendly 3.42 gears inside. A fresh dual exhaust system
sounds wicked, and if not for those flashy, deep-dish chrome wheels
and oversized rubber at all four corners, this would be one heck of
a sleeper!
Professionally built and a blast to drive, this is the 'Bu for the
guy who doesn't mid attention. And believe us, once you fire up
that small block, head will turn. Call today!
