Oddly optioned. https://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/cto/d/south-prairie-1980-malibu-classic-wagon/6844010703.html
Hey Darcane! Here's your "Beckley, West Virginia" wagon again! ;-) http://www.stationwagonforums.com/f...bu-classic-wagon-v6-manual.51463/#post-451181
Yep, that's mine. And Oddly optioned, indeed. The story I got from the previous owner is that it was special ordered by his dad who wanted the manual but liked having all the chrome. For some reason he ordered it from a dealer in Nevada, even though he lived in California where the car has spent most of it's life. I have a guy saying he wants to come buy it. He just has to drive up to get it. From Georgia...
One of the things that gets me is Chevrolet didn't use a different insert for manual trans cards than automatic equipped cars, as shown by the gear indicator on the speedo. It's still there, just no pointer from the column shift! Talk about cost savings... And yes, I still want the car but have no way to get it. The guy from Georgia would be coming about four hours more than me! I hope he drives it back home!
Well too. How many manual transmissions you think got ordered on these. Especially on Classics. Also it looks like it’s got the knock out stamps in the AC vents. That’s a guy that wanted to look good on the outside, but skimped on the inside. I once saw a ‘66 Super Sport on EBay that had ordered original wire wheel covers, vinyl top, bumper guards, a 6 cylinder no AC and radio delete, with no other options inside the car. I’m sure going down the road people thought he was a real swinger.
Yeah, I was wondering about that. I missed it when I was buying the car, so I never got to ask about it. I'm not sure if it is evidence of corporate cost savings measures, or of a gauge cluster that has been replaced. Is this normal on the manual cars? There's not many out there to compare against.
He probably purchased it in Nevada to avoid the California Emission System. Interesting car for sure.
Found an interesting old Craigslist ad through BaT, Claimed only 60 3-spd manuals made in 1980: https://bringatrailer.com/2017/08/1...anuals-preserved-1980-chevrolet-malibu-wagon/ http://www.craigslistadsaver.com/vi...FactoryStick1of60)18000Miles-$9995(langleyBC) There's no way this thing is that rare, is there? Link above kinda looks like it shows PRNDL on the gauges, but even so it's not the Malibu Classic.
It probably is that rare, less than 100 made sounds about right, I think they made more 1979's due to the order from the Shah of Iran for Manual trans Malibu taxi cabs, most were never delivered due to the revolution a few months later. It would be interesting to see the actual production numbers. Its one of those rare cars that are not Valuable. There are 2 reasons cars are rare, either the option was limited production for some reason, or unaffordable to most people. The other reason is almost nobody wanted that combination when new, and the same applies today. I once looked at an all original but rusty 1965 Impala SS Convertible. It still had the original 230 I6 Chevy and power glide trans in it. So it was even numbers matching. I found out they made less 6 cylinder Impala SS's than they did 409 powered versions. But the rarity did not mean it was a valuable or desirable combination.