454/4-Speed Sleeper: 1979 Chevrolet Malibu Classic
General Motors’ mid-size cars were downsized in 1978, which included the Malibu whose name replaced that of the Chevelle. The cars were lighter, nimble, and better on gasoline, using smaller engines than in past model years. This ’79 Malibu Classic coupe likely left the factory with a small-block V8 under the hood, but a rebuilt 454 cubic inch powerhouse resides there now. Along with a 4-speed manual, this Chevy is near Sacramento, California, and available here on craigslist for $8,500 OBO. Thanks for the heads-up on this car, Pat L.!
Fourth-generation Malibu’s would arrive on the scene in 1978 and stick around through 1983 when their rear-wheel-drive platform was retired. Not as popular as the Colonnade editions of 1973-77, the cars still sold well, accounting for 378,000 copies in 1979 or about 17% of overall Chevrolet production. The Malibu Classic Sport Coupe would tally more than 60,000 units even though all of them had engines not larger than 305 cubic inches. A Super Sport was no longer anywhere in sight.
The body on this ’79 Malibu looks okay although the yellow paint is rather bland. A hood scoop appears to have been grafted on to accommodate the change under the hood, that 454 V8. We don’t know it’s vintage, but it has been overhauled with a Mutha’ Thumpr camshaft installed as part of the deal, and the whole shebang is paired with a Saginaw 4-speed. How well does it run? We don’t know as the seller doesn’t talk about that.
Once you open the doors, things in the passenger compartment aren’t quite the way they were when the car was built. The bucket seats look to have been sourced from elsewhere and some aftermarket gauges have been added to keep up with the motor’s activities. A makeover is needed inside the Chevy, including a new dash pad. What’s a car like this worth with an upgraded drivetrain? We’re not sure, but if in stock condition NADA assumes $5-10,000.
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Comments
Rough shape! But I bet with this power train it be a hoot to drive!
The motor looks like a throw-together job of mismatched parts. I wouldn’t expect an awful lot from it, though it probably has enough in it to brutally murder one of those skinny whitewalls before the saginaw trans explodes.
or before the light duty rear end grenades
If I had to guess I would think that this car is actually a 1981. The headlight/grill and tail lights are from a 1981. Perhaps they were switched out.
Definitely an 81. Dashboard and cruise control switches on the turn signal stalk give it away. One too many 0’s in the price.
Always thought these were good looking cars. The downsizing of that year was good for GM.
Yup, its a rough overpriced one
Unless , the seller can prove that this is not a 454 motorhome boat anchor!
Claudio If its a hi-po 454 ..how much power can those saginaw 4sp handle ..and what about the rear diff ?
That depends on the stickyness of the tires !
The seller forgot to put ‘Lambo’, ‘Bentley’, and ‘Veyron’ in his keyword list.
Oh, those crappy late 70s door panels. Always faded or cracked.
Meh.
That 454 put a lot of weight over the front wheels. I bet even in a straight line this is a hand full. I think it was only the 6 cly cars that came with a standard transmission. Not sure what all is going on inside but nothing matches. Might be fun but it looks like a WORTHLESS MONEYPIT TO ME.
Some of the 78-81 A bodies came with 350 and 4 spd. When they changed to the G body in 82.. only V8 was the 305.
The last year for the 4-speed was 1980. Coupes, sedans and wagons combined, only 202 were so equipped. Starting with the 1978 model year, the biggest engine offered by the factory for these cars was the 305. They didn’t switch to the G body for 1982; they just discontinued the coupe body style after the ’81 model year. the G body was the Monte Carlo and its corporate linemates, Grand Prix, Cutlass Coupe and Regal. This one is an ’81 for sure. Why the seller thinks it’s a ’79, who knows?
This car has a lot of problems but all I see is that stupid glue on hood scoop . Those things don’t do any vehicle justice .
Somebody really needs to skip that isle at Pep Boys! What no spoiler on the back? Spinner hubs? Ground effects package? Incomplete!
I bet its a beast to drive though.
I had a ’79 Elco with a factory 4spd smallblock, I went through 2 Saginaw trannys before I got smart and put in a T-10.
Wow, Not sure where to begin with the list of bad. No heat, no AC, mismatched interior, looks like they went to the local u-pull-it yard with a shopping cart, sliced up the hood, they don’t mention how it runs so lets guess how it runs, no underneath photos. Oh it’s a sleeper alright…taking a nap. I can’t say anymore because my mom taught me “If you can’t say anything nice….”and I broke that rule already.
But it’s got hood pins!!! They don’t just install those on any car you know!
Automotive Trade School Project
Back in my street racing days in the early 90’s, there was one of these that had the same thing: basic 454 with a couple stages of nitrous plopped on top.
When it was first built, the owner went through several of those corporate 10 bolt rearends with a 10″ slick. He eventually switched to mini tubs and a 9″ Ford. The car would do an exagerated G body shuffle on launch and pretty much was unbeatable at the time. Solid combo if you get it dialed in.
That Saginaw 4-speed won’t last long behind that 454 if the motor has any grunt to it.
They won’t last behind a warm 350 on street tires. I know from experience…several times.
84 Trans Am rear wing actually look good on these, popular add on back in the day.
231 to 454…might want to upgrade the springs buddy!
This is not a fourth-generation Malibu, Russ. This is a first-generation Malibu. From 1964 to ’77, it was the Chevelle line, and Malibu was an appearance option package. But the Malibu option package was so popular that people started calling the cars Malibus, even if they weren’t equipped with the Malibu package. It was the same with Nova. The first year for the Nova was 1969. Before that, from 1962 to ’68, it was Chevy II, and Nova was just an appearance option package.