1978 Malibu - Worth the high price?

[The Stig]

Hey all, new here. Long time G-body lover who's bored with his 99 Camaro Z28. (I know, seems like a downgrade.) My favorites are the Malibus, and a particularly nice looking one is up for sale nearby, but I'm not sure it's worth the price. $8500 to be exact.

Owner says the car had a refresh in 2004, with a new paint job, 383 stroker, and th350 trans. Assuming the car is as good as it looks, would that $8500 price tag be worth it?

 

[Algershick]

I think the more important question is would you pay that? Is it worth it to you? If you're seriously considering it, you need to go drive it and inspect it thoroughly. For $8500 it should come complete with that new car smell.

 

[Longroof79]

Welcome aboard! It looks like a nice ride. I agree with Algershick, you would have to test drive it to get your own impression of it....and if you're willing to pay that kind of money for it.
Look it over thoroughly for rust and shoddy repair work.

 

[Texas82GP]

$8500 is getting up there on price. It needs to be exactly what you want for that money. You don't want to pay that price and then have to change how it is setup to suit you. The bodywork needs to be really nice and it needs to be really clean underneath to command that price. The no A/C would be a deal killer for me, especially at that price but I'm in Houston. We're moving into the survival months down here. Don't know what your location is. Welcome to the site by the way.

 

[V8 Rumble]

If you want something mint it maybe. If you figure when you buy a decent malibu for about 3k then paint a new or rebuilt engine trans suspension and all the other nick nacks you'll be around there anyway.

 

[UNGN]

Someone could easily have spent more than $8500 redoing the Malibu - it looks well done, but there are things that would be deal breakers for me at $8500. Body and paint quality are hard to tell from pictures, but I'll assume they are excellent.

1) TH350. I'd want a 4 speed auto for $8500. Would I pay $10,500 for the same exact car with a 4 speed auto? ($2000 is about what it would cost to add 4 speed auto)... no.
2) No A/C
3) jacked up stance that went out of style a day after people started posting pictures of stuff on the internet (1995?).
4) I'd assume the brakes, suspension are still stock or pre-2004 so are "nothing special".
5) are the seats blue, or is that the light?

A 383 stroker with no A/C, 1980's/early 1990's suspension and a 3 speed auto in an era of 75 mph speed limits is an around town "toy" and not really a "car".

All of my issues with the car can be easily fixed with money, but that's money on top of $8500.

 

[The Stig]

Someone could easily have spent more than $8500 redoing the Malibu - it looks well done, but there are things that would be deal breakers for me at $8500. Body and paint quality are hard to tell from pictures, but I'll assume they are excellent.

1) TH350. I'd want a 4 speed auto for $8500. Would I pay $10,500 for the same exact car with a 4 speed auto? ($2000 is about what it would cost to add 4 speed auto)... no.
2) No A/C
3) jacked up stance that went out of style a day after people started posting pictures of stuff on the internet (1995?).
4) I'd assume the brakes, suspension are still stock or pre-2004 so are "nothing special".
5) are the seats blue, or is that the light?

A 383 stroker with no A/C, 1980's/early 1990's suspension and a 3 speed auto in an era of 75 mph speed limits is an around town "toy" and not really a "car".

All of my issues with the car can be easily fixed with money, but that's money on top of $8500.

All good points here guys. Not too worried about the a/c, my Camaro doesn't have it either.

The stance? I don't mind them too high

 

[Longroof79]

I think the bottomline is getting what you're paying for. At that price I'd want working A/C, OD trans, various upgrades and a solid platform.

 

[motorheadmike]

Bit steep. I'd go no higher than $7200 if it is really solid.

 

[Algershick]

Looks like the license plate says Pennsylvania, I'd take a very good luck at the frame and underbody for rust.