Car: 1972 Malibu 400
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In the summer of 1997, while driving home one day, we spotted a black Malibu parked on the side of the road with a "For Sale" sign in the window. At first glance, it appeared to be in decent shape, so we turned the car around and headed back for a closer look.
It was a very attractive car, black, black vinyl roof, and black bucket seat interior with automatic on the console. At first glance, it appeared as if someone had put a Camaro 4 spoke steering wheel and rally style wheels on the car. Also, the 400 emblems on the side looked like they had come from a Firebird!
The seller had posted the GM options sheet in the window and it confirmed that these were indeed original options on this car. The sheet also showed the engine option; an LS3 big block 402! We popped open the hood to find a big block resting between the fenders. Closer inspection revealed that this was the original numbers matching engine. Needless to say, we did purchase the car the next day!
Information about the colour has proved interesting; the cowl tag shows special order paint. We checked with someone who knew the car and he confirmed that black was the colour that the car left the dealership with. Further investigation revealed that for some odd reason black was a special order colour in '72. Maybe someone out there in Chevelle land knows why? We have also learned how rare the car is; GM says 88 were sold in Canada and that although figures aren't available, the story is that only 1000 were produced in total. I have only heard of one other Malibu 400 and it is in a museum!
Presently the car is in unrestored condition. The engine has been rebuilt and the body has been painted once. The odometer shows just under 80,000 miles, which we believe to be true. Future plans for the car include a full restoration (maybe next year). Visit my web page for more information on the car: www3.telus.net/Malibu400/
The car came equipped with the following
Options:
- A02 Glass-Tinted Windshield
- A51 Front Bucket Seat
- AV3 Three Point Seat and Shoulder Harness
- B84 Body Side Moulding
- B93 Door Edge Guards
- C08 Exterior Soft Trim Roof Cover
- C50 Rear Window Defogger
- D33 Outside Rear View Mirror-LH-Remote
- D55 Floor Console
- F40 HD Frt. And Rear Suspension
- F62 Frt. Spring-Computer Selected
- G32 Rear Spring-Computer Selected
- G80 Rear Axle-Positraction
- GW5 Rear Axle-2.73 Ratio
- J50 Vacuum Power Brakes
- JL2 Disc Brakes
- LS3 400CID-4BBL Carb-V8
- M40 3 Speed Auto (THM 400)
- N40 Hydraulic Steering
- NK4 4 Spoke Sport Steering Wheel
- PX6 F78-14 W/Wall
- U25 Luggage Compartment Lamp
- U63 AM Pushbutton Radio
- U76 Windshield Antenna ·
- U80 Rear Speaker
- UF1 Map Lamp
- V30 Bumper Guards Front and Rear
- ZJ7 Special Wheel-Cap and Trim Ring
- ZJ9 Auxiliary Lighting Group
- ZK8 Tire Pressure Sticker