Used 1978 Chevrolet Malibu for sale in Lavergne, TN

This 1978 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 decked out like this beauty? And with a recently built, stout 350 cubic inches under the hood, this is no late '70s wheezer, either! Nicely finished to a level belying its contemporaries, 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 dark gray paint with killer metallic flakes was borrowed from Cadillac's late-'80s palette and it keeps the finish 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 ta good deal of cash in making it look good. The steel hood was trimmed out to account for the breathers, shiny bright chrome was added for an aggressive look, but those are the only notable deviations from stock, but it works rather well on this big coupe and makes room for the burly small block underneath. Finish quality is very good, and anyone would be proud to show off this Malibu's handsome good looks. The front and rear bumpers are bulky and covered in chrome, which gives it a clean, modern look, and all the lenses are in excellent, clear shape. It's slick and modern inside, where sporty race buckets are wrapped in smooth black vinyl that matches the look of the comfortable rear seat, and Simpson harnesses keep the driver and passenger safe. If you like the look of monochrome black inside your car (and who doesn't?), you'll the fully restored interior. It's all in great condition, including the extra upholstered material on the door panels and padded dash, as are the plush carpets and taut headliner. There are several notable upgrades such as the fat-rimmed, sporty 4-spoke steering wheel that sits atop a tilt column, a Hurst shifter with line-lock that manages the built automatic transmission below, race-style pedal covers, and a fire extinguisher mounted next to the middle console. The factory gauges covered only the basics, so a custom panel in the middle of the dash houses a set of Sunpro gauges that cover the engine's basics, adding to the car's resto-mod look. A Kenwood AM/FM/CD stereo fits neatly in that same custom panel and powers speakers throughout the interior and the subwoofers and amplifier in the trunk. But that custom stereo was professionally installed, which means that the carpeted trunk still has plenty of room to accommodate almost all travel plans. This car might have originally come with a light-duty V6 or maybe a wheezy small block, but today there's a built 350 cubic inch V8 that makes for some pretty entertaining driving in the lightweight Malibu. Fully rebuilt just 700 miles ago and beautifully detailed with chrome and other dress-up parts, it's obvious where the big money was spent on this build. The block has been augmented with polished and ported double hump heads, hardened seats, screwed in studs and a Comp 292 hydraulic cam that gives it a healthy lope. It starts easily and idles well, and with all that extra horsepower on tap, performance is more than energetic. It's got a polished aluminum intake topped with dual 500 CFM Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetors that are fed through those twin air scoops, and it's got new parts everywhere you look, from the belts to the hoses to the ignition system. It's backed by a built TH350 3-speed automatic transmission with a shift kit and 3000 stall convertor that was engineered to withstand the small block's torque without robbing it of any horsepower, and it feeds a 10-bolt rear with highway-friendly 3.42 gears inside. A fresh dual exhaust system sounds wicked, and if not for those flashy, deep-dish chrome wheels and oversized rubber at all four corners, this would be one heck of a sleeper! Professionally built and a blast to drive, this is the 'Bu for the guy who doesn't mid attention. And believe us, once you fire up that small block, head will turn. Call today!