1980 Chevrolet Malibu

Description

This 1980 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? And with 454 cubic inches under the hood, this is no 1980s wheezer, either! Nicely finished to a level belying its very affordable sticker price, 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 soft metallic blue paint keeps it 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 a good deal of cash in making it look good. The steel cowl-induction hood is the only notable deviation from stock, but it works rather well on this big coupe and makes room for the big block underneath. Finish quality is decent, and if you want to take it to the next level, a professional cut and buff would probably pay off handsomely. The front and rear bumpers were powder-coated silver, which gives it a clean, monochromatic look, and all the lenses are in excellent shape.

It's 1980 all over again inside, where pillow-tufted blue velour seats take you back in time. If you like the retro look, you'll dig it and it's so over-the-top that it's somehow cool once again. It's also in remarkable condition, as it was all recently replaced with NOS material and installed by the pros. The most notable upgrade is the steering wheel, which is a great-looking Grant unit with a fat rim parked on top of the original steering column. The factory gauges covered only the basics, so a custom panel in the middle A/C vents houses a pair of Auto Meter gauges for temperature and oil pressure, adding to the car's industrial look. A modern AM/FM/CD stereo fits neatly in the original radio's slot and powers speakers throughout the interior. Things like the carpets, door panels, and headliner are in remarkably good shape and the massive trunk is ultra-clean and fitted with a full-sized spare.

This car might have originally come with a light-duty V6 or maybe a wheezy 305, but today there's a professionally built 454 cubic inch V8 that makes for some pretty entertaining driving in the lightweight Malibu. Fully rebuilt and nicely detailed, it's immediately obvious where the big money was spent on this build. It starts easily and idles well, and with almost 400 horsepower on tap, performance is more than energetic. It's got a stock-style intake with a Quadra-Jet carburetor, so it seems at least a little OEM, and it's got new parts everywhere you look, from the belts to the Accel ignition system. It's backed by a TH350 3-speed automatic transmission that was built to withstand the big block's torque without robbing it of horsepower, and it feeds a 10-bolt rear with highway-friendly 3.23 gears inside. A brand new Flowmaster exhaust system sounds wicked, and if not for those brand-new flashy aluminum wheels and oversized Mickey Thompson rubber, this would be one heck of a sleeper!

Affordably priced and a blast to drive, this is the car for the guy who doesn't need everyone paying attention to him to have fun, but believe me, when you fire up that big block, they'll all notice. Call today!