Vehicle Description
1978 Chevrolet Malibu Station Wagon
Over the decades, a variety of economic and environmental forces
have shaped the domestic auto manufacturing landscape, and in the
middle of the 1970's these factors came into play once again as
Chevrolet downsized its intermediate-sized Malibu for the 1978
model year with the introduction of the all-new G-body platform.
The prior version of the intermediate platform, known as the
A-body, had been built between 1973 and 1977 and was designed just
prior to the wholesale economic fallout of the oil embargo. Too
heavy and fuel thirsty for Americans, the GM intermediates were
redesigned for 1978, with Chevy reducing the Malibu's mass by at
least 500 pounds. The change was fortuitous as the new Malibu lost
none of its usable interior volume, its rear-drive layout, or its
optional V-8. (Thx to Johnny Hunkins Motor-trend Hot Rod Features
writer)
For consignment, a well documented Malibu station wagon from 1978.
This is only one of a very few, (believed to be at most 32 built),
wagons that was ordered with a 4 speed manual transmission, F40
suspension, and Positraction rear axle. In essence a muscle car to
go get the groceries or pick up the kids from practice. Tinted
glass, Ziebart rustproofing from the dealer, and some time in
storage out west until it made its way back to PA with a CraigsList
purchase, where some extra work was done just to upgrade things a
bit more. Read on long roof fans.
Exterior
With the square and rectangle exterior look right out of the late
1970's, this car screams suburbia, but also has a hidden scream in
its drivetrain configuration...(see Drivetrain section!). Straight
body panels a respray of the factory matching Code 67 Saffron paint
has been expertly applied. The body, doors and other bolt ons were
taken off to do a really good job and it shows as such on the paint
front. The windows were tinted darker, and gaskets were all
replaced for a better seal. Trimmings and all chrome are in
excellent condition, mainly due to the 24 years it spent out west
in storage. Also, yielding a well kept original car. A chromed roof
rack and plenty of trimmings shiny and bright circumnavigate the
exterior red. On back is a sleek gate and rear glass uninterrupted
by the pesky tail lights which have now been relegated to the lower
shiny bumper! 15-inch body matching rally wheels have nice trim
rings on their edges and are all wrapped in 195/75R14 rubber from
the 3rd week of 2013.
Interior
Mostly original with some interesting upgrades but showing in the
factory plaid multicolor broadcloth and surrounding camel tan
textured vinyl. The doors have a panel of the plaid with camel
vinyl and carpeted in gold lowers. The bench is excellent with
little to no wear, and shows with the multicolor plaid with smooth
camel vinyl bolsters and headrests. The rear bench shows the same
is in even nicer unused condition. There is a little custom touch
with a black wrap around the Billet style rally steering wheel and
now has a Bosch tachometer installed by "Bulldog Rod and Customs"
attached to the column. Keeping with the design of the time, square
and rectangles take over for the factory dash with its full gauge
pack instrument custer and In the center residing on top of the
climate slider and radio square is a Hawaiian hula dancer who
shakes her stuff when you get goosey with your boot and do some
speed shifting with he floor shifter, (for a wagon? now that's
cool!). A new headliner is above and is nice and tight, and
flooring is gold carpeting which looks much like new. In the back,
the wagon bed is also looking clean and ready to go and show.
Drivetrain
Under the hood in a just slightly patina engine bay we see the
correct 305ci V8 which is fed by a 2 barrel carburetor. There is
the Saginaw 4-speed manual transmission on back, with a 10 bolt
posi 2.73 gear rear axle. AC has the newer freon, new oil seals and
gaskets are on, and the speedo cable underwent a lube job.
Undercarriage
Thanks to the dealer installed Ziebart rustproofing when the car
was new, it remains rust free on the undercarriage. A heavy duty
cooling system is in and K&B gas shocks help provide the ride
and work in unison with front independent coil spring suspension,
and a 4 link with coil spring rear axle. Big power disc brakes are
now upfront, and drums for the rear, still power assisted. Also a
new sway bar is on and we note this car is F40 suspension equipped.
Looking very aero with the stamped steel floor pans and simple
undercarriage.
Drive-Ability
Slipping inside I did not expect to see a shifter and a tachometer
in there! But alas it's there and so I fired this wagon up and off
to the test track where it ran very nicely. Good smooth
acceleration, easy shifting, a solid clutch, and power steering and
brakes made handling and stopping a breeze. All functions save for
the clock were in working order, and the AC blows cold with the new
freon which is also environmentally friendly.
Once owned by a closet race driver who had obligations of a family
but still got away with some speeding and maybe even covert street
racing every now and again? Tinted glass, nice interior,
beautifully preserved exterior respray and 24 years of storage out
west have not hurt this vehicle one bit. Let's go get some
groceries (psssst, we can do a small race on the way!)
1W35U8D488793
1-Chevrolet
W-Malibu Classic
35-4 Door Station Wagon
U-305ci V8 2bbl 135hp
8-1978
D-Doraville, GA Assy Plant
488793-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
ST 78 1AW35-1978 Malibu Classic 4 Door Station Wagon
BDY D158388-Doraville Body #
TR 62E-Camel Tan Tweed & Vinyl
PNT 67-Saffron
04B-2nd Week April Build
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our
showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just
1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The
website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888)
227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come
see the vehicle in person.
