Unusual find?

A friend of mine has found something we think is pretty uncommon. It is a 1980 Malibu station wagon with an original V8 with a 4 speed manual transmision. The seller apparently has the factory build sheet and it lists the car as no AC, V8 , 4 speed manual. He is considering swapping his 65 Chevy II 4 door for it. If I can get pics I will post them.

 

I have 1980 full line and wagon brochures and they both say the four speed isn't available on the Malibu wagon, you could get it on the other models.
The only one with a manual transmission was the 3.8 V6 with a three speed on the column.
Maybe it was some kind of special order or they changed it? I've learned you never say never when it comes to stuff like this.
Double check everything because people have been known to fake documentation, believe it or not.
If the steering column has a nub for a shifter on it or there's an automatic trans shift indicator it may be faked.

 

Cool, thanks for the info. This guy claims it was a special order and the build sheet reflects that but who knows. Like you said stuff like that can be faked.

 

It was a lot easier to special order stuff years back. Now it's impossible.

 

Even in 1980, this was a option, not a specail order. We have had other Boo's posted with factory 4spd, even Volaries, Fox bodys ect... It's in the 80's things got boring.......

 

The only one with a manual transmission was the 3.8 V6 with a three speed on the column

I had a 1980 Malibu 2-door with the V-6 and three speed. Towed it behind our motorhome for years. Got good fuel mileage and surprisingly peppy!
It got a better fuel mileage when I towed it! Motorhome got 9 MPG with or without the car behind.

 

Here's a link to a page from the '80 Chevelle Malibu catalog, showing the powertrains.
http://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/chevy/80malibu8.html

Shows that the manual 4-speed was available in coupes and sedans only. It would not be outside the realm of possibility to get it special-ordered though.

 

Since the originality of the powertrain is in question, and if your friend wants original, then he could check to verify that the numbers stamped into the engine and transmission match the VIN. Yes, those can be faked, too. Would someone go through the trouble? Maybe if they were asking way more than what an 80 Malibu s/w in that condition should go for.

 

Don't know if the El Camino was listed as a 'truck', but I've seen, in person, a '84 El Camino with a 4-speed, wirh a built sheet.

 

hmm...a pal of mine had a 81 that had the dinky v6 with a 4speed...and it was stock.

...mind ya...it was a Canadian car

 

Seen these in the bone yard a few times over the years they are out there!