When we located this amazingly clean 1980 4-speed Chevy Malibu on Craigslist the other day the first thing we did was to contact resident G-body dorkenheimer Dave Nutting and perform a photo analysis of the machine. We went over it with a fine tooth comb and came away impressed with the cleanliness of the car, the seeming raw originality of the body, paint, and suspension components, and some interest in exactly what it has for a motor. The car is not 100% stock. It has been treated to dual exhaust, headers, some chrome dress-up engine parts, and that engine certainly doesn’t look like the factory installed 305 that would have been corporate blue and totally gutless. The car does have the original four speed making it just one of 202 1980 Malibus to be equipped with a stick box. That’s a small number for a car that sold in huge volume like the Malibu did. We’re just not sure that rarity translates into a price tag that is flirting with $20,000.
In our eyes the thing is pretty much faultless. Looking underneath the car, it looks like it just came out the back door of a factory. The gas tank is shiny and nice, the shocks and other suspension components are factory fresh, the factory installed F41 suspension package frame braces are in place up front, and it really just looks like a time capsule. There’s an electric fuel pump installed just ahead of the gas tank, there’s the dual exhaust and headers we mentioned before, there’s an interior that appears no one has ever inhabited, and the odometer shows just 3,000 miles. That’s right, 3,000 miles. It seems impossible that it’s rolled over, unless this car has been restored on a concours level and if that happened, Dave Nutting would be the only guy on Earth who would understand that motivation.
Scroll down to see the photos and hit the link to the ad for even more photos.
What do you think. Does this car really have 3,000 original miles or has it been restored to amazing factory condition?
AUTOTRADER AD LINK: AN INSANELY CLEAN AND COOL 4-SPEED 1980 CHEVY MALIBU
It’s…. so beautiful…
I dunno about $20k, but I’d sell my mother for it.
Very beautiful , i too would understand the reasoning to concours resto one but i would rather keep it clean and beat on it . after having a 79 four door ,78 two door and an 84 El Camino plus my daily 88 LS Monte , i sorta have an affliction for the G-bodys also .
But not for 20 k
Who would want to keep it stock for one thing and its a Malibu! The 4 speed is probably a Sag which is junk. Turn it into a Pro Touring machine and call it a day.
I’ve had my share of them back in the early 90’s and almost everyone of them had the plastic int pcs turning to dust. Hope they make repop int parts for them now.
It’s NOT stock and if it were, I’d be only worth…
The 1980 Chevrolet Malibu Classic or Sport 2 Door Coupe had these available engines available, 229ci-V6 (110 hp), 231ci (3.8 L)-V6 (110 hp), 267ci-V8 (115 hp), 305ci-V8 (140 hp), 350ci-V8 (170 hp) So my question is, what engine did it really come with? The car IS NOT Factory Original.
Pricing
Original MSRP – $5,896
Low Retail – $2,315
Average Retail – $4,320
High Retail – $5,853
ADDED-4 SPEED TRANSMISSION
ADDED-FACTORY AIR CONDITIONING
ADDED-RALLY SPORT PKG
TOTAL PRICE High Retail – $5,853
I used to work for chevrolet. If you want to see if it is a 305, or a 350, just look at the oil dipstick. 350 is on the drivers side and 305 is on the passenger side. this is a real nice car, but I don’t see 20k. It’s just not that old or otherwise collectible. I will say it is the first 4sp car I ever saw. I wonder if it is that 3spd w/ an overdrive?? -peace-
You mustve worked for Chevy a long time ago..350 hasnt had a dipstick on the drivers side since the late 60’s.
I think it is worth it…How much would it cost you to replicate one to that level. If you say you can do it for less that 20K youre full off the brown stinky stuff.
I think its bad ass and if I had the coin I would drop it….Bench seat, 4spd, V8, cool styling for 20K….its worth it.
I retored a 1979, factory four speed, station wagon. Does anyone know how many of those they made?
Meet the original owner, who ordered the 4 speed, so his wife would not drive it.
A friend of mine ordered a Malibu in 1980 similar to this one. He was told that the 4-speed was only available with a 305. It was black with red interior, buckets and a console. It was special ordered and he waited for weeks. He never picked it up, instead he upgraded to a Z-28 in the same colors also with a 4-speed. He should of stayed with the Malibu.
Finding one in this condition is unreal. I won’t say $20K but I’d put it about $12-15K in a heartbeat. Gorgeous.
I’m building a 1978 malibu as we speak, 2 door coup, 383 small block, 671 blower,with 2 x 4 barrel 650 demon carbs, dart heads, B&M blower cam, B&M 350 Tubo and on & on. It will be black with a black & red inter. It will be worth far more than $20,000
I like this one better: http://www.autotraderclassics.com/classic-car/1979-Chevrolet-Malibu-757337.xhtml?conversationId=51846
Hello, back in late 1979 and after a dozen trips to my local chev dealership I specially ordered a 1980 malibu classic 305,4-speed car, believe me a 350 mtr option was not available and could not be installed in this model or any of the malibu lineup during 1980. The dealership told me that my car was a central office production order item hence a copo car I own a true 68 z-28, rs model, a true 70 1/2 z-28, rs model with automatic on the column, a true 66 cadian sport deluxe l-79 car, 1964 malibu ss conv’t, and several more classics. During the summertime car meets it is hard to say which one gets the most attention but I do know, if there was no original paperwork for mine, people do not believe it. Mine would be the cleanest 1980 malibu classic 4-speed car in the world. By the way 25000 was offered on mine at the 1994 popular hot rod nationals in ohio and, I still said no. Thank you for your time, have a nice day.
Kevin, I’d love to see pictures of your ’80 Malibu. Off and on I’ve been looking for a factory 4 speed Malibu. Unfortunately, most have fallen into the hands of backyard hacker hotrodders.
hi there charlie not sure if i will sell the car, but i can take some pics and send to your e-mail address or you can contact me at 12269221264 cheers