1977 Chevrolet Chevelle and Malibu

1977 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu front view
The 1977 Chevrolet Chevelle and Malibu series included this base
Malibu coupe featuring single headlights and a crosshatch grille.

The 1977 Chevrolet Chevelle and Malibu series was billed as "America's smart money car," in reference to their friendly prices and big-on-the inside, small-on-the-outside dimensions.

The 1977 Chevrolet Chevelle and Malibu series wore new grilles but had fewer engine selections, though the engines that remained gained a few horses. The lineup consisted of Malibu and Malibu Classic models in coupe, sedan, and station wagon body styles. Estate Wagons and the Laguna Type S-3 were gone, though Chevrolet continued to issue Chevelle-based El Camino car-pickups.

In standard form, Chevelles had a 250-cubic-inch six-cylinder engine or a 145-horsepower, 305-cubic-inch V-8. The sole option beyond that was a 170-horsepower, four-barrel 350-cubic-inch V-8 (this engine was standard in the Malibu Classic station wagon). No more 400-cubic-inch V-8s were available.

Malibu Classics switched to a vertical grille pattern and six-section taillights but kept their twin stacked headlights and stand-up hood ornament. Regular Malibu grilles changed little. Classics had a luxurious cloth/vinyl split-bench front seat, color-keyed steering wheel, and woodgrain-accented instrument panel.

Malibu options included a $46 Exterior Decor group, $54 tinted glass, and $33 full wheel covers. A total of 37,215 Malibu Classic Landau coupes were produced, as opposed to 73,739 regular Classic coupes and 28,793 base coupes. In four-door sedan form, too, the Malibu Classics outsold base models by a substantial margin.

1977 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu rear view
The 1977 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu base coupe included optional
whitewall tires and full wheel covers.

1977 Chevrolet Chevelle and Malibu Facts
Model
Weight range (lbs.)
Price range (new)
Number built
Malibu
3,551-3,824 $3,885-$4,595 255,587
Station Wagon
4,139-4,263 $4,734-$5,208 72,629

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