Vehicle Description
1978 Chevrolet Malibu Classic 4 Door Sedan
1978 would be the first model year of the fourth generation Malibu
and in that same year, it replaced the Chevelle name as Malibu and
was the best selling model in Chevrolet's line. Decidedly straight
and conservative in design, the platform was successful enough to
warrant production of nearly 360,000 Malibu's for 1978, including
nearly 100,000 station wagons. While many 4 door sedans were used
as fleet vehicles including police cruisers, the notchback coupe
was a popular choice and serves today as a great platform for
modification.
For consignment, a 1978 Chevrolet Malibu Classic 4 door sedan with
a title verified 55,755 actual miles. Just when you were sure that
every ubiquitous Malibu from the late 1970's had disappeared from
the face of the planet, comes this, a preserved Classic 4 door
that's been the recipient of lots of new parts.
Note: Due to modifications of the emissions control devices
installed by the manufacturer, please check your local, state, and
federal laws to determine if this vehicle is applicable for use on
public highways in your area
Exterior
Single stage Camel Metallic paint coats this boxy sedan, and
delineations come in the form of silver window trim, wheel opening
trim, rain guards, door edge trim, and a lower panel trim piece
that spans from the back quarter to the front fender. Its satin
finish is augmented by bright chrome bumpers front and rear, and a
metallic grid grille between chrome bezel square headlights.
Standard for the times was a strip of rubber on the bumper and
rubber tipped bumperettes. What was not standard are the twin
exhaust tips, in chrome, that we see on this car. 14-inch wheels
carry tires with an early 2022 date code and have a red center cap
with a gold Chevy bowtie that blends well with the bronze car. A
dealer nameplate is on the car and while these have mostly
disappeared from the landscape, today dealers still mark their cars
with decals or license plate frames. As a result, these plates have
become collectible in their own right. Imperfections on this car
include corroded bumper fillers and a paint chip.
Interior
Familiar GM vinyl and plastic door panels hang from our doors and
plush carpeted lowers fill the bottom, and horizontal lines dress
the vinyl panels. This design element repeats on the wonderfully
70's and basic front bench seat, in camel vinyl that presents in
two different shades of brown. The rear bench could not be more
unobtrusive with just those lines dressing the smooth vinyl in a
continuous flow that spans the width of the rear. The camel
steering wheel leads to a black faced dash where square shapes
dominate the design, and a horizontal speedometer is in the
driver's sightline and tops out at 85 mph. The center dash houses
the familiar GM box that holds the A/C controls and AM/FM radio.
The tan low pile carpet is in good shape, showing some use, and is
protected by some vintage GM rubber mats. The flannel like
headliner shows some bumps but is fully intact and the visors
follow suit.
Drivetrain
Under the hood is a driver quality but clean 305ci V8 with a
2-barrel carburetor and a TH350 3-speed automatic transmission and
in 1978, still sending power to the rear wheels where it finds a 10
bolt axle with 2.29 gears. Our consignor states there's a new water
pump, fuel pump, spark plugs, wires, alternator, valve guides, and
the carburetor was adjusted. Power brakes are supplied with discs
in front and drums in the rear.
Undercarriage
The single exhaust enters a Flowmaster muffler in the back which
has a hole, and the muffler sends out two tailpipes to the rear. We
note the lack of a catalytic converter. The underside is driver
quality and mostly dry, although there might be a bit of oil sling
from the front end of the driveshaft. There's minimal surface rust
and no invasive rust is evident. Our consignor states the gas tank
is new, the lines have been cleaned, a new fuel filter added, along
with a new trans seal being installed and the gaskets are new and
fluids were changed. The car retains the standard configuration of
coil springs in front and a 4 link with coil springs in back.
Drive-Ability
Right back to middle school we went when this was common
transportation, and no one complained about its simplicity. It
simply was. This car starts with a pump of the gas and a turn of
the key and rolls out onto the test loop where it tracks straight,
rides smooth, turns fine, and has adequate power for commuting.
Visibility is very good with the large windows and the mid-size car
provides a manageable commuter that veered from the land yachts
also common in this era. As noted by the consignor, the high speed
position of the fan works intermittently. All other workable items
function as they should. While Classic Auto Mall represents that
these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we
cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of
your purchase.
Viewers of this page might laugh and question the classic status of
this car but guess what, mid-70's to early 80's cars that were once
ubiquitous always find an audience. Always. We suspect they touch
an emotional nerve in those who grew up in this era and to find one
that's in preserved condition is like going back to good times when
school was fun, summers were long, and families still bonded at the
dinner table. Yep, it's more than just a car. It's a representation
of an era, and for that reason alone, classic.
1W19U8B533242
1-Chevrolet
W-Malibu Classic
19-4 Door Sedan
U-305ci 2bbl V8
8-1978
B-Baltimore, MD Assy Plant
533242-Sequential Unit Number
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and
collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate
controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8
acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic
and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the
I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit
www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us
anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in
person.
With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and
we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host
Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends
in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and
automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune
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