Lightning Rod: 1983 Chevrolet Malibu Wagon Street Machine – SOLD!
April 19, 2021 Update – Based on Michael’s comment below combined with the seller’s ad deletion, we can finally call this Malibu street machine “Sold!” Good luck with the purchase Michael! While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call Rudy directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.
March 7, 2021 Update – A new month and finally a new listing with a slight price reduction. After nearly four months of trying to sell their Malibu at $8,900, the private seller just lowered their asking price by another $300 to $8,600.
March 7, 2021 Update – Another month, another listing. Still no movement on neither this Malibu street machine nor the asking price of $8,900.
February 11, 2021 Update – This Malibu Street Machine we’ve tracked since last summer is still available for $8,900.
January 17, 2021 Update – This Malibu Street Machine we’ve tracked since last summer is still available for $8,900.
December 12th Update – We’ve kept an eye on this Malibu Street Machine since we first featured it over the summer. Since that time, the private seller continually posted new Craigslist ads however they remained firm on the $10,900 asking price. That is until now as the latest ad now has the price reduced by $2,000 to $8,900.
September 22nd Update – While preparing for our latest Wagon Wednesday features, we noticed this latest new Craigslist listing for this ’83 Chevy Malibu street machine we first featured on June 24th. Despite three months of apparently, no one willing to pay the original $10,900 for this car, the private seller remains firm on their ask.
August 4th Update – While updating our database, we noticed the original listing for this 1983 Malibu Station Wagon Street Machine expired and has been replaced with an updated post. All of the pictures and the price remains the same.
When buying a street machine, the minor details can tell quite a bit about the quality of the builder’s skills. Between the custom dash panel and the custom, Lightning Rod equipped center console, this 1983 Chevrolet Malibu Station Street Machine listed on Craigslist in Roslyn Heights, New York equipped with a fuel-injected 355 cubic inch small block gives off a quality build vibe. Researching the NADA Guides Classic Car Online Valuation Tool to use a stock example as a proxy confirms that while the seller’s ask is above the current “Low”, “Average”, and “High” retail value range of $3,275, $5,600, and $9,100, respectively, its actually a value considering all that is in this car’s build.
As we mention earlier, we really like the build quality of this Malibu combined with the fact the builder took the time to use a modern fuel injection setup rather than go with a traditional carburetor. We’ve never seen that style of Cragar wheels before and it’s a nice change from the five-spoke classics that are the norm these days. Most importantly, we love how the builder chose to keep the original two-tone paint to give this Malibu a ‘sleeper’ restomod vibe. If everything checks out during your pre-purchase inspection, this appears to be a very nice build at a you-can’t-replicate-it-for-this-price. Good luck with the purchase!
Here’s the seller’s description:
“For sale a 1983 chev malibu mod rod custom wagon in great shape has a 355 v8 with forged pistons,pink rods,nodular crank,10.25 to 1 copression. Stock gm heads,fi tech fuel injection,new power steering pump new water pump and alternator, ceramic coated long tube headers two pipes exhaust system.freshly rebuilt 4l80 trans and converter with tci controler box,grand national posi rear with 3.42gears.has aluminum drive shaft,crager wheels ,new front calipers with slotted rotors, new rear drums new shocks full auto meter gauge cluster, plus much more car drives and looks great phone calls only. Thank you”
Do you have a Malibu Wagon story you’d like to share? Comment below and let us know!
What in the world are all those shift levers?
Hi Robert, that is a Hurst “Lightning Rod” shifter. Each one controls only only gear of the automatic transmission, the theory being the driver has a much quicker reaction time.
It appears to have some needs, like the door seal on the rear hatch/door needs replaced and maybe the rest of the doors/window seals also. The gauge cluster needs freshening up. I would want to bring the interior up a notch or two… This looks like the deal of the year to me. I am absolutely NOT in the market for a project( my wife would KILL me to death) or I would be traveling to look it over in person.
I purchased this wagon Monday night.