1978 Malibu Specifications
In 1978, the Malibu name badge replaced the Chevelle name for good. In addition to the nameplate change, the new 1978 Malibu model was smaller in many senses, being shortened by over a foot and cut down by several hundred pounds. These changes gave the 1978 Malibu improved visibility, ample interior room for its occupants, and reduced overall weight.
Surprisingly, with the reduction in size, the new Malibu was able to offer more interior and luggage space than the 1977 version. Other notable changes to the 1978 model year was a chrome-plated plastic grille with ‘Chevrolet’ block lettering in the upper molding. The grille was flanked on either side by rectangular parking lamps and single chrome-bezel rectangular headlamps. Body styles for the 1978 Malibu included a sedan, sports coupe, Landau coupe, and a station wagon.
While the coupe was the sportier option, the 4-door sedan received a notchback configuration rather than a traditional hatchback. Due to concerns over rising costs at the time, the rear windows on sedan models were fixed, however, the wagon received small vent windows on its rear doors. Due to the lack of air ventilation, the optional factory air conditioning became an extremely popular equipment choice in sedan and wagon models.
Standard equipment on the 1978 Malibu included radial tires on 14-inch wheels, delta-spoke soft vinyl steering wheel, swing-out rear vent windows, heater/defroster, and carpeting. A three-speed manual transmission was standard, except on California models, which were fitted with a Turbo Hydra-Matic.
1978 Malibu OEM Brochure
1978 Malibu Model Options:
1978 Malibu Information
MSRP: $3,030 – $4,715
Body Styles:
- 2-Door Coupe
- 4-Door Sedan
- 5-Door Station Wagon
Trim Levels:
- Classic Landau
- Classic Sedan
- Classic Sport Coupe
- Classic Station Wagon
- Sedan
- Sport Coupe
- Station Wagon
Engine Options:
- 200ci V6 (Base Motor)
- 95 BHP
- 231ci 3.8 L V6
- 105 BHP @ 3400 RPM
- 185 ft-lbs @ 2000 RPM
- Bore: 3.8 in | 97 mm
- Stroke: 3.4 in | 86 mm
- 305ci 5.0 L V8
- 130 BHP @ 4000 RPM
- 203 ft-lbs @ 2400 RPM
- Bore: 3.9 in | 98 mm
- Stroke: 3.3 in | 83mm
- 305ci 5.0 L V8
- 145 BHP @ 3800 RPM
- 245 ft-lbs @ 2400 RPM
- Bore: 3.7 in | 95 mm
- Stroke: 3.5 in | 88 mm
- 350ci 5.7 L V8
- 170 BHP @ 3800 RPM
- 270 ft-lbs @ 2400 RPM
- Bore: 4.0 in | 102 mm
- Stroke: 3.5 in | 88 mm
Available Transmissions:
- Turbo Hydra-Matic Automatic
- 3-Speed Manual
- 4-Speed Manual
Chevrolet Production Numbers:
- Total Malibus For 1978 – 120,785
- Classic Landaus – 4,685
- Classic Sedans – 4,560
- Classic Sport Coupes – 4,460
- Classic Station Wagons – 4,715
- Sedans – 44,426
- Sport Coupes – 27,089
- Station Wagons – 30,850
