1980 could be considered the low point in the American automotive arena. Horsepower figures were at their lowest, most of the big blocks were dead, with the remaining ones hiding in heavy-duty trucks or commercial vehicles, and even the Corvette, the vehicle that most people use to judge other American vehicles by, was making do with only 230hp if, and only if, you lived in a state where the L-82 350 could be optioned. In particular, racing fans, especially NASCAR fans, had nothing to really cheer about. Dodge was all but out of racing, with Richard Petty building a doomed Dodge Mirada to test. The rest of what was available could be bought, but the Oldsmobiles, Buicks, Fords and Chevrolets just weren’t up to par with the cars that fans were seeing do battle on tracks. With the upswing in NASCAR viewership after Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison’s fight at the 1979 Daytona 500, it was a perfect time to capitalize on the popularity.
Chevrolet decided to take a gamble in 1980. Using the recently downsized Malibu coupe with the 140hp 305/automatic powertrain and F41 suspension package, painted white with a basic blue interior, they added twin SS-style stripes the whole length of the car, an air dam up front, a ducktail spoiler out back, the new-for-1981 Rally wheels, and a body stripe along the low quarters of the car with it’s new name: M-80.
The Malibu M-80 was one of two things, depending on who you ask: either it was an attempt by GM to reignite the Musclecar era, or it was a NASCAR marketing ploy. Considering that Malibu M-80s were only sold in North and South Carolina, in close proximity to Darlington Speedway, it’s probably a safe bet that it’s the latter option. Rare, they are, as it’s believed that 1,909 were made.
Like most vehicles from the era, the idea was good but the execution was not quite there. Malibus with the F41 suspension package could handle, but the 9C1 police package suspension was the ultimate overkill that Chevrolet could put out in 1980. E. Pierce Marshall jammed an LT-1 350 from a 1970 Camaro into a 9C1 Malibu and placed well in the 1979 Cannonball Run. Had Chevrolet stuffed the L-82 350 into the car to back up the looks, and had chosen the better-looking N91 wheel, and sold it nationwide, GM might have had a bigger hit on their hands.
Never knew those things existed. It’s not a bad looking car; too bad you couldn’t get it with 45 more cubic inches and one more pedal.
You could get them in a four speed. There’s one up near Rock Hill that came with a stick instead of an auto.
Richard Petty gave up on the Magnum in mid-1978, not 1980. He won his Seventh and final NASCAR championship in ’79 with GM power (Oldsmobiles and Monte Carlos). Kyle won an ARCA race at Daytona with Richard’s old Magnum.
Not sure anything with performance would have sold in 1980 (14% inflation rate and 21% prime interest rate . . . Iranian hostage crisis . . . fairly recent gas lines and rationing 7.1% unemployment rate (that would peak at 9.6% for the release of the Monte Carlo SS)
Petty, under pleading from Dodge, built and tested a Mirada. The car was a visual stunner, but was way off pace from the GM G-bodies. After that, far as I know, it was Buddy Arrington running a Mirada on short tracks and an Imperial on speedways until ’86.