1983 Malibu Custom Wagon

https://newyork.craigslist.org/lgi/cto/d/roslyn-1983-malibu-custom-wagon/7195410283.html

 

I wonder if the lightning rods work or are just for show. Seems like there is an extra lever. Strangely he doesn't mention anything about them in the ad.

 

Am I the only person here who usually has zero interest in someone else's custom ? Exception for me was the 56 Chevy wagon a week or so back.

 

I guess I don't really consider this a "custom". It has a few modifications that could be changed back to stock if you really wanted. Overall it's pretty clean. I don't really care for the gauges, but those can be changed. It is getting harder to find clean A/G-Body wagons anymore.

 

I agree 100%. your best buy at an auction is a custom you come across that you like. the ones that sell for $25,000 with $100,000 in mods.

 

Yeah, 'customs' get very iffy for me...
In this case, I'm starting with what seems a pretty reasonable price for what it is - modded engine, and a virtually new transmission. But then I start adding up all the personalized stuff about it that I DON'T like (and would have to change over time) - the hood; the mis-matched seat upholstery; the gauges; the wheels, etc. And then it's not so much of a bargain for me anymore.

 

I too feel the same way, especially if the custom job is theme related to something they like. That ‘56 was very subdued, and a nice job. What I usually resent more than the “custom” job is that they want the new owner to pay for their happy hands at home project.

 

Here's the thing. It has a clean, straight body and good paint. That is where all the money is in a car. Yeah, the upholstery on the buckets from the Monte Carlo don't exactly match the back seats, but it isn't terrible. It's not like they are red. Wheels and tires are pretty personal preference, but these are not hideous and you could likely sell them to pay for the factory steel wheels and factory wire wheel hubcaps, and whitewall tires. Dash could be a nice project to pull the Auto Meter gauges out and replace it with a stock Malibu or Monte Carlo gauge cluster. Hell you can probably sell those gauges for more than a stock Monte Carlo cluster. They are Auto Meter and good quality.

It has a healthy SBC with FiTech fuel injection. It has a 4L80 trans and controller, 3.42 posi-trac rearend. The body and interior are clean. You could get in and drive it as-is and what you don't like could probably be sold to make way for the bone stock factory pieces you want to put back in. Is it worth $10.9k? I don't know. I do know I don't see many G-Body wagons that aren't completely beat to death anymore.

 

Well Kevin, you make a good argument. You're right about all of that. There's STILL that hood though......... (LOL)

 

Touché. I'm surprised nobody has said anything about the inop A/C yet.

 

The day is young. Lol at least the hood off of a sedan would work.