1980 Malibu SS 4speed??

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H/O84

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Nov 29, 2016
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I stumbled across a 1980 Malibu SS 350 4 speed car and I was wondering how rare it is or if that's even a real factory setup. Anyone know about how many there are?
 

pagrunt

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Sep 14, 2014
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The only SS for '80 was the El Camino. Malibu coupes would have either a 267 or a 305 as a stock V8 option. If it is a factory 4 speed, it will have a Saginaw (cast iron case.) Any factory standard shift car is not really common. There was a special/limited run "M80" Malibu with a rear spoiler.
 
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oldsmobile joe

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Nov 12, 2015
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I've never seen a 1980 malibu ss. but i have run across one of these on eBay.
chttps://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2014/08/22/hemmings-find-of-the-day-1980-chevrolet-malibu-m80/
as pagrunt and other have stated, its a dealer package from the carolinas back in 1980. i think its pretty cool.
 
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Texas82GP

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I've never seen a 1980 malibu ss. but i have run across one of these on eBay.
chttps://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2014/08/22/hemmings-find-of-the-day-1980-chevrolet-malibu-m80/
as pagrunt and other have stated, its a dealer package from the carolinas back in 1980. i think its pretty cool.
Cool car!
 
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H/O84

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Nov 29, 2016
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I didn't think the 350 was correct I thought it should have been a 305. It currently has a Muncie in it which I didn't think was correct. Any way to tell if it was an original factory 4 speed?
 

Streetbu

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Factory never made an SS Malibu from 78-81. Four speed yes, but not with a Munice, only a Saginaw.
 
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GP403

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I didn't think the 350 was correct I thought it should have been a 305. It currently has a Muncie in it which I didn't think was correct. Any way to tell if it was an original factory 4 speed?

  • Check the steering column. If it has a key release lever, then that column belongs to a stick car. I don't know if those were available with tilt or not.
  • Just by looking at your shifter/boot, I'm going to guess its not original. OEM trim should have a plastic bezel, with a chrome bezel on top of that, holding down a vinyl/leather boot. Not that corrugated rubber thing. It's more or less in the right place tho (offset) , but the way the carpet is cut tells me someone had an aftermarket automatic floor shifter on there first. IIRC There should be a rise/bump in the floor around the opening that would match up to the trim, too.
There's no way to know 100% unless you find the build sheet. And yes, it should be a Saginaw, not a Muncie. Looks like someone tried to make it look like an El Camino SS, which isn't a terrible thing.
 
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Longroof79

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Anyone can apply SS stickers and badges on a Malibu. I remember seeing a few bogus examples on Ebay and the seller is usually convinced that it's an SS model that he believes his own bullshit.
There was never a factory SS model Malibu...El Camino, yes.

The M80 was a dealer prepared car. In fact, I had a friend up in NY years ago that had one. It was all white with blue stripes, 305, 4-spd. I thought it was pretty cool car, since I've never seen one. Apparently a dealer somewhere in North Carolina was responsible for churning these out.
*oops...looks like it was mentioned already.

It looks like a decent car, but it's obviously using a conglomeration of parts. Even the steering wheel looks like an Olds sport wheel.
 
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clean8485

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Dec 18, 2005
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I have a factory 1980 V8/4 speed Malibu. I was able to verify it as a factory built car by having the VIN checked by GM Vintage Vehicle Services here in Canada. Their services are only available for vehicles there were originally titled and sold in Canada. I don't know if a similiar service exists in the States. According to the information that I got from them, there were only 124 V8/4 speed Malibus built for sale in Canada in 1980. If I remember correctly, I read somewhere that there were approximately 200 V8/4 speed Malibus built for sale in the States in 1980, so yes, they are kind of rare.
Judging by the photos that you've posted, it looks to me like that car you're looking at has had a manual transmission conversion done on it. If the seller is saying that its a factory built car, I would insist on documentation. It looks like someone has installed the El Camino SS front spoiler, and the El Camino SS graphics on the sides of that car.
What everyone else has been telling you is correct. The Chevy 305 was the biggest engine available to the general public on a Malibu in 1980. You could get a 350 from the factory, but to the best of my knowledge, it was only available on the 9C1 police package cars, which were usually fleet vehicles, and mostly 4 door cars. The Saginaw 4 speed was the only transmission available on the factory 4 speed Malibus. You could get a tilt steering column with the key release lever on a manual transmission car, because my car has one. The shifter lever comes out of the floor ahead of the console, almost under the dash. I'll see if I can post some photos of mine. Hope this helps.
 

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