Cars Inwards Yards: 1976 Chevrolet Malibu Classic, Purpose I – The Sunburned Chevy Colonnade
Are You my ’Bu? Junkyard Life in addition to Colonnade era cars are becoming synonymous. We appreciate them to a greater extent than in addition to more. This lovely 1976 Chevy Malibu Classic refuses to live on forgotten. Wearing aged Cosworth Silver paint, this automobile represents a foreign fourth dimension indeed. We detect it cool now, but then? No, this would non live on acceptable. Don’t blame Chevrolet. Maybe y'all blame GM in addition to the terrible authorities standards they had to meet. The bumpers? Hated them. The headlights? Hated them. They are square. I’m non certain why GM mandated a foursquare headlight on most intermediates inward 1976. The previous year’s models already had plenty blueprint flaws against them amongst novel automobile buyers — in addition to those had appropriate, attractive, circular headlights. 1976 was square. Mr. Rogers was square. “Square” was a give-and-take that would non live on pop inward anything other than dancing.
“Hey! guide maintain y'all seen the novel headlights on the Malibu?” Square.
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| A/C, AM/FM stereo, in addition to a clock – what to a greater extent than could a 1976 Malibu driver want? |
That was then. Now nosotros declare them to live on cool. (Editor’s Note: Junkyard Life staffer Ron finds them cool, but he drives a station carriage in addition to has every Ambrosia album) This automobile could live on dismissed equally basic transportation upon kickoff glance. Maybe fifty-fifty your instant glance, but hold off for it… it’s cool. Too late, I already declared it. We’ve reported several times previously that cars of this era gained weight (for safety) in addition to lost ability (emission regulations in addition to stricter fuel consumption). We know that. It is non a 1970 LS6. Do y'all guide maintain a 1970 Chevelle SS? Neither exercise we, hence allow us rabid automobile guys convey a look!
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| The Malibu has been parked exterior for the amend purpose of xx years. At 1 indicate the front end goal was raised onto concrete blocks. |
First, these wheels are non Rally Wheels. That is true, but dig if y'all volition — the painting exhibit above… hub caps on steely wheels! Not here, but imagine your favorite hub caps. Your options are vast in addition to unlimited. Dog dish anyone? You lucky guy, non entirely the cool, unique-as-you-want-to-be factor, but these are 15-inch versions. GM tended to give us those inward the 1970s in addition to and hence took them away again. 15-inch wheels are getting harder to find.
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| The 1976 Chevy Malibu’s bench seats were corking for families in addition to dates. |
Complete interior
Inside nosotros detect a deluxe bench topographic point amongst a flexure downwards arm rest. That makes for comfy driving in addition to added room for of import situations, such equally a appointment sitting correct beside you. Bucket topographic point owners inward the 1970s didn’t guide maintain that luxury. The interior was inward surprisingly skillful shape. Even the headliner was all the same upwardly in addition to intact.
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| Notice the argent pigment nether the decklid? Yes, the possessor painted one-half the automobile dark on the exterior. Probably to encompass the surface rust, otherwise known equally the sunburn showing through the argent paint. |
Options aplenty
Junkyard Life has done it again! We guide maintain flora a automobile amongst manual windows, yet it has ability door locks. Maybe that is non equally odd equally nosotros initially surmised. Still, nosotros detect it to live on simply about other item checked off inward the cool ingredient line. The options are actually non on a curt listing here. Power steering, ability brakes, air conditioning, ability door locks, disputation wheel, AM/FM stereo (no record deck) flexure downwards arm residuum in addition to the coolest pick of them all… a bring upwardly window defroster! Lots of GM cars desire that!
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| The Chevy 350-V8 engine has a 2-barrel carb in addition to A/C. |
Complete engine
Under the hood nosotros flora a consummate 350-V8. I was anticipating a 305, hence that was a pleasant surprise. The engine was equipped amongst a 2-barrel carburetor and, I tin flaming entirely guess, a fuel friendly laid of highway gears inward the rear. It was consummate in addition to all there, it would non surprise us if it could all the same run. By 1976, GM was ii model years into the electronic ignition success of the H.E.I. distributor. H5N1 wonderful gift to the automobile guy basis — no to a greater extent than points in addition to condenser to larn out a guy stranded on the side of the road.
Complete
Okay, nosotros know it is non a 1973 SS or a Laguna S-3. We all the same honey it. I promise nosotros tin flaming detect this overlooked classic an appreciative abode (We did! To live on continued soon) in addition to also exercise our purpose to attention resurrect involvement inward these cars. Fred Carbuyer in addition to his automobile guy friends would swear that GM, Ford, Mopar, or whatever other automobile maker didn’t create anything afterwards 1972. Their involvement savage equally the horsepower ratings plummeted in addition to gas became to a greater extent than expensive. Malibu is a cool automobile named afterwards a cool house in addition to that has a rock-n-roll air virtually it, no affair what Mr. Rogers would say.
Ron Kidd
— Junkyard Life
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| A hold off inward the Malibu’s torso finds an assortment of belts, a jack, in addition to a shredded spare tire. |
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| Rear topographic point looks minty fresh. Not many riders sat beneath the sloped bring upwardly glass. Known for giving passengers a sunburn on their cervix during summertime route trips. |
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| Rear topographic point smokers delighted when they could tap their ashes inward repose comfort into the door-mounted ashtray without having the driver curl downwards the windows. |
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| Malibu went “Classic” long earlier Coca-Cola did. |
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| These Malibu door panels say, “Power locks but curl upwardly your ain windows, y'all pansy.” |
Do you guide maintain a classic or musculus automobile barn find? Got a cool automobile even out virtually buying a automobile y'all didn’t want? Send us details in addition to we’re on the way! Send emails to Ron Kidd at Kidd403@bellsouth.net & Jody Potter at junkyardbull@gmail.com