MALIBU Mexican straight 6 / stick Malibu.. legit?

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Donagain

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I live and work in Mexico right now and I see them all the time . There are not a lot but they are here. It definitely isn't a US speedometer .
 
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I’d heard rumors that these exist, but someone posted in one of the FB Malibu groups that they’d got one. Still skeptical this isn’t a transplant but then I was skeptical of the mythical Monte SS at first too....

it was a closed group so I can’t just share it but I’m gonna repost the pix.

to be clear: I know NOTHING else about it, it’s not mine, etc etc.

View attachment 172301

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These are legit. They were made by GM Oshawa destined for I think Iran or something like that. All 6s and standard trans. They were to be used as taxis. The deal fell through for some reason. There should be info on google someplace.
 

GP403

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1) Not questioning that Malibu's were sold / still exist in Mexico, its the strange straight 6 3-speed combo we're wondering about. similar to the oddly equipped Monte SS.
2) Not the same as the "Iraqi taxis" that's all well known and documented. They were 4-dr V6 cars.

 
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Donagain

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1) Not questioning that Malibu's were sold / still exist in Mexico, its the strange straight 6 3-speed combo we're wondering about. similar to the oddly equipped Monte SS.
2) Not the same as the "Iraqi taxis" that's all well known and documented. They were 4-dr V6 cars.

My father in law is a Mechanic in Coahuila . He told that was the base model engine transmission combo. They were made in a place called Ramos Arizpe.
 
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Bonnewagon

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Even as late as 1979 the 250 cube engines used the removable pushrod side covers so that is possible. But points? Who would even supply points distributors when they were phased out in 1974? GM getting rid of old warehouse stock to Mexico? I still find that hard to believe.
 
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oldsmobile joe

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Even as late as 1979 the 250 cube engines used the removable pushrod side covers so that is possible. But points? Who would even supply points distributors when they were phased out in 1974? GM getting rid of old warehouse stock to Mexico? I still find that hard to believe.
what is so hard to believe? that gm kept using point distributors for another 7-9 years in mexico? c'mon, give the gm bean counters some credit. maybe someone had an old engine out of their nova and stuck it in the 'bu. the correct motor mounts were there. being a straight 6, it ran smoother than the crappy odd fire/even fire v6 engines we got stuck with. its no different that having a 283 or 327 laying around and sticking in one of our cars.
besides you could buy an original bug in mexico through 2003. 24 years after we stopped getting them.
 
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5spdCab

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It wouldn't surprise me if the reason they still ran a points distributor is due to less stringent air pollution regulations, after all, that is why we quit getting air cooled VW's, because they were unable to keep up with emissions regulations in the States.
 

Donagain

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I just did a part search on AutoZone México . They still sell distributor caps for the 81 Malibu 250.
 
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Ribbedroof

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It wouldn't surprise me if the reason they still ran a points distributor is due to less stringent air pollution regulations, after all, that is why we quit getting air cooled VW's, because they were unable to keep up with emissions regulations in the States.
Similar to CCC being mandated on 1981 US-market cars. Canada didn't get it til something like 1988
 

ck80

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Even as late as 1979 the 250 cube engines used the removable pushrod side covers so that is possible. But points? Who would even supply points distributors when they were phased out in 1974? GM getting rid of old warehouse stock to Mexico? I still find that hard to believe.
Even later than that, I had an 84 Sierra with the base 250/th350 and the engine had removable side covers, although it was hei as were the other trucks I had back into the mid 1970s.
 
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