Vehicle Description
There's something to be said for untouched, original cars of any kind, and if you're looking past this ultra-clean 1979 Chevrolet Malibu Classic, well, you're missing out on one of the great joys in this hobby: the feeling of a survivor. With just 44,572 original miles, it's affordable V8 fun with the kind of originality that attracts attention everywhere it goes.
These were popular cars when they were new but they all seem to have been used up and thrown away; when was the last time you saw one? Wearing its original bronze metallic finish (which was called "Camel" for some reason by GM), it looks the part of a late '70s cruiser, but the proportions are good enough to be considered sporty. This three owner car is clean, straight, and beautifully preserved with a factory shine on the paint and sheetmetal that's never been twisted or rusty. For those of you looking to re-create the period, this car gets everything right, including the padded half roof that lends it an air of formality as well as the big chrome bumpers that remain in excellent shape. There's also a single pinstripe running down the sides of the car, accentuating the graceful curve that stretches from front to rear.
The tan vinyl interior is surprisingly upscale-looking for the Malibu and it's remarkably well preserved in every way. The seat shows minimal wear and only some very minor stretching, and to be honest, I don't think I've ever seen one of these in vinyl as most had that scratchy mouse fur upholstery that GM was so fond of. The carpets are deeper than most, which was typical of the era and if there's any place that shows wear, it's here, although I think some of the discoloration comes from below due to the glue GM used to pin the carpets down. The dash is handsome, wrapping around the driver and showing big, clear gauges, with secondary controls underneath. It's equipped with factory A/C, which seems to be the lone option, because it's only got an AM radio to go with it. The back seat is like new and the trunk is outfitted with its original fabric mat and a full-sized spare with jack assembly, as new.
The engine shows up on the paperwork as a 4.4 liter, which translates to 267 cubic inches of V8. It wasn't about horsepower in 1979, of course, but this smallish V8 makes nice torque and does it without killing fuel economy. It's smooth, competent, and if the past 37 years are any indicator, pretty darned reliable, too. It's completely stock under the hood, and aside from the usual maintenance items like belts, hoses, and tune-up parts, it's 100% original. The A/C has been upgraded to R134a refrigerant, which is going to make it easy to service, and there's a new master cylinder for the brakes, but otherwise it is simply well maintained, not restored or upgraded. A standard TH350 3-speed automatic transmission lives behind it, and as long as you're looking around, note that it still carries its original catalytic converter, just ahead of a brand new exhaust system. The shocks have probably been replaced and it may have had a brake job at some point, but otherwise it's very, very original, which is nice to see. Someone added a set of flashy chrome wheels, which suit the low-key Malibu just fine and carry 195/75/14 blackwall radials.
For those of you who remember these cars fondly, this is a nice find. Survivors are a lot of fun, and this one is also very affordable. Call today!
