[Mine was green]
Car guy/gal or not, everyone remembers their first car. Mine had what may be the longest official name in the history of automobiles: Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu Classic Landau Colonnade Coupe.
I’ve saved my first car for last. Thus ends my COAL series.
Pop bought this one brand new in April of 1974. He always drove the “second car” in the family, since the driving portion of his commute, from the house to the commuter rail station, was under 2 miles each way. In my early years, he just bought whatever beater he could find for cheap, but by 1974, he had enough money to buy something new, and since he was tired of beater hassles, that’s exactly what he did.
He paid $4000 out the door, on a sticker of around $3900. I think the car had sat on the dealer lot for a while, because it was a bit of an odd duck. First of all, it was Medium Metallic Green, with a black Landau top and a green interior; not everyone’s cup of tea. Second, it was a weird combination of trim and options. The Malibu Classic was the highest trim line for 1974 (aside from the Laguna S-3, which wasn’t so much a higher trim as a “sportier” one) but this one had a very low option set. Yes, it had a V-8, but the lowest one for the year, a 350/2bbl, and automatic (THM350). It had power steering & brakes, and air conditioning. But that’s pretty much where it ended – no power windows or locks, vinyl bench seating, and an AM radio.
As I said, Pop only drove it 4 miles a day, 5 days a week. On weekends it mostly sat, as the “family car” was whatever mother drove at any given time, so Pop’s car mostly stayed in the garage all weekend. By the time I got my Learner’s Permit in 1980, the car only had about 35,000 miles on it.
Once I got my full license, the car was mine to drive on nights and weekends. And drive it I did -just like everyone’s first car, that car was my freedom. To me, it was the greatest car ever sold – not because it was good, but because it was FREEDOM. By the Fall of 1982, I was off to college. Pop had gotten a company car with his latest job, so the car was all mine, except in name. He kindly kept the registration and insurance in his name (although I was expected to pay for it, and I did) just to keep the insurance costs low. By 1986, I moved out of state and the car was made officially mine, because it just made sense.
Enough has been written about the A-Body Colonnades, on this website and many others, that I don’t really have too much to add about the car itself, but I’ll throw in a few personal impressions here.
Overweight and under-powered. The 2-barrel 350 for 1974 put out a whopping 145hp and 250 lb./ft. of torque. Mine also had a “highway economy” 2.73:1 rear axle ratio. Fast, it was not. Fuel economy, while not horrible for the era, wasn’t very good, either. Around town I could get 13-14, and if I was gentle on the highway, I could squeeze out 17. On top of the smog-choked engine, the 3900+ pound curb weight didn’t help matters any.
The weight was also an issue regarding the front-end parts. The 73-77 Chevelles gained about 500 lbs. over the previous generation of A-Body, but GM didn’t upgrade the suspension and steering components adequately to compensate for the added weight. My car ate ball joints, tie rods, shock absorbers, and every other front-end component like a fat kid eats free candy. I don’t think a 2-month period ever passed when I wasn’t replacing something in the front end.
The drivetrain, though, was bulletproof. When you only get .41 horsepower per cubic inch, you’re not stressing engine components in any significant way. When the car left my ownership, it only had 103,000 miles, but the only thing ever done to the engine was new valve-cover gaskets, and the fellow who bought it was really buying it to salvage the drivetrain for another project.
The reason I sold it was rot. By 1990, the car was still doing it’s job, although by that time it was a 2nd car for me, having bought the Omni. One day I walked up to the Malibu and noticed something hanging down underneath the rocker panel. I gave it a tug, and into my hand fell a chunk of body, a body mount, and a chunk of frame. The end… a sad end to a car I once hoped to keep forever.
A special “thank you” to Paul for allowing me to write this series. I have enjoyed the opportunity to hone my writing and my storytelling skills.
I would also like to thank my readers, especially those who took the time to comment and compliment my work. The feedback really helps, and I thank you all for it.
I never set out to put a theme to this series, but one of the commenters pointed out that I did, and when I look back, the same theme really does exist throughout the series. CC writer and commenter rlplaut wrote (in a comment on my Chevy C-10 story) “. . .it seems the real value of that effort remains with you to this day, and justifiably so.”
And that is precisely the theme. It isn’t the cars themselves, not the sheet metal, the engines, the buying and selling, or anything else that makes the Cars of Our Lifetimes important, it’s the experiences they give us, both good and bad, that is what gives cars meaning to us.
Again, I thank you all.
I thank you (many others will too, I’m sure) for sharing your life with us…as you say, more than just the cars!
I’m looking forward to reading even more from your honed writing and storytelling skills.
Great writing, and cool first car.
Thank you! Nice work and you’ve had some interesting experiences.
Although the 1964-72 Chevelle Malibu (except the 1968-72 Wagons and El Camino) had almost exact measurements and curb weights as those on the 1974 Nova (due to the larger bumpers) and the 1975-79 Novas. The redesigned 1973 4 Door Colonnade Sedan, (except the 2 Door Colonnade Hardtop Coupe which was still in the 1974-79 Nova’s size range.) El Camino and the 1974-77 ALL body styles almost equal those of the 1977-96 Impala and Caprice Classic/Caprice so were the curb weights as well.
I spotted an interesting exterpt who was worth to quote:
…One day I walked up to the Malibu and noticed something hanging down underneath the rocker panel. I gave it a tug, and into my hand fell a chunk of body, a body mount, and a chunk of frame. The end… a sad end to a car I once hoped to keep forever.
That reminds me of the end of the tv series “The Wonder Years” episode “The Family car”.
That episode always bugged me for one reason. Even as an 11 or 12-year-old, I knew that the “junker” was a ’68 Dodge (from memory). The episode took place in late 1969. Huh? Oh well, most people wouldn’t notice, but it’s not saying much about the producers’ opinion of Mopars, I guess. 🙂
That’s how I feel about the car in Better Call Saul. I’ve only watched the first season, which is supposed to be set in 2002, and Jimmy/Saul drives a 1998 Suzuki. But even if that car started life as a rental, had 200K, had a salvage title, and was never garaged…there’s no way a four-year-old car would look like that. (Rust? In New Mexico?)
Imagine a 2012 SX4, Versa, or Accent today in this condition…
Perhaps, in the pilot and first episode, the Arnolds’ car a 1963 Chevrolet Impala. How they got that 1968 Dodge Polara is a mystery. http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_64949-Chevrolet-Impala-1839-1963.html
I guess the producers and directors didn’t realized then some cars fans would had watched the series. 😉 They even menaged to put a 1978-80 Pontiac Grand Am. http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_914385-Pontiac-Grand-Am-1978.html Talk about car anachronism. I think that could be worth of a future topic for Curbside Classic. 😉
I just watched the clip, and that is appalling car casting. It’s made even worse as that big ’68 blue Dodge wagon is a much nicer family car than the frumpy green ’69 Ford sedan that supposedly replaced it.
Evan, I remember the horsepower drop from the 1972 to 1974 Chevrolet 350 2 barrel of 165 to 145 because I had a sprightly 1972 Impala and my partner Jack had a more lethargic 1974 Impala. It made a big difference, especially in those heavy cars with torque going from 280 to 250 lb. ft.
I have enjoyed your series, and thank you for the shout out. I seemed to have discovered the same thing as you in writing my own COALs, specifically that our cars add experiences to our lives and become kind of marker beacons that help us remember the past and how we got to where we are now.
“…our cars add experiences to our lives and become kind of marker beacons that help us remember the past and how we got to where we are now.”
This.
Good article and interesting how things have changed over the years. My 03 Caravan which weighs about 3,800 Lbs has a 2.4 Liter 4 Cylinder which is supposed to put out 150 HP and the front suspension has been fine for years. Also, the acceleration is not too bad especially from 30-70 (or 90) though 0-30 feels a bit sluggish. My vehicle is still rotting to death though thanks to a decade in New York.
And here is what a 21 year old cars underside looks like in the PNW.
This was a wonderful series Evan, thank you for taking the time to put it in writing! I know there are many of us daily readers who would like to contribute to CC, our favorite site, but as for me, time is never on my side. Thanks to you and all the contributors who take the time to write these articles!
Evan; thank you for taking the time to write up this COAL series. It’s become a very special part of what we do here, and I always love reading the so varied experiences of our COAL contributors.
That last paragraph: pure gold.
I’m new here and was wondering what COAL stands for? Thanks
Car Of A Lifetime.
Thanks for writing these. And this one is a nice bookend to the earlier Malibu Colonnade article.
+1. My second car was 74 Olds Cutlass, blue w/ black top. Otherwise equipped the same. Road great, but the gas gauge moved more than the speedometer.
There’s always a slight feeling of loss when a COAL series ends. Thank you for finishing with an old car. Great series Evan.
Evan;
you took a risk and put yourself out there.
Thank you
Well done, Evan, you skilfully articulated why so many of us visit CC on a regular basis. Seeing these cars is like hearing a familiar old song, both evoke memories of a different time in our lives. Thank you for taking the time to share your cars with us.
My sister had a 70 Malibu coupe that must have been equipped quite similarly to your COAL. Another example of “what a difference a few years makes”. Her’s had the smallest V8 that year but being so much lighter drove down the road fairly nicely.
I’ve seen a few of these Colonnade coupes for sale locally in the last month or so. If I get serious about buying one I now know what to expect and what to look for. Strangely(?), Malibus of that era are few and far between, with Oldsmobiles being more numerous than any other GM midsized coupe….unless you include the Grand Prix which isn’t really a true Colonnade coupe.
My wifes first car was a 74 Malibu Classic sedan she inherited from her Gramps. It was blue in and outside but had cloth seats- She had it about 4 years and I don’t remember front end parts wearing out, the car did suffer what most 6 year old cars did back then, rust. Near the end you didn’t put anything in the trunk you didn’t want wet or lost due to the bottom of the quarter panel rusting, we couldn’t fill the car completly with fuel cause the tank was porous on top. The Firestone 721’s would lose air at the worst of times(how those old bumper jacks got the approval of liabilty lawyers I’ll never know) but the engine never quit and I learned how to do basic maintenance on the car (last year for points and condensors). When my wife bought her first new car (1986 Charger) the old Malibu nearling got forgotten at the dealership-we were so excited about new car ownership we nearly drove away.
The Malibu fate was the same as most of my father in laws cars-he was an autoshop teacher and the car was experimented on and then cut up to just a frame.
Thanks Evan, I didn’t always comment but I always read your posts and enjoyed them. They end up as a wonderful collection of stories of someone’s life. And when/if you get another car, I look forward to a return visit with a story of that one too.
Even, you had an enjoyable series here. This car is particularly noteworthy to me because when I started driving, my mother had a 74 Luxury LeMans. It was equipped about the same as your Malibu. And it also turned a lot of gasoline into not much performance.
I too loved the last sentence to your postscript. So true.
Wonderful and enjoyable series. It’s not just about the car but the journey, too!
Great writeup about a once quite popular car ! .
.
-Nate
I bought a ’75 ‘Bu (how’s that for shortening “Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu Classic Landau Colonnade Coupe?”) in 1987 for $100…for the same reason your “Bu’s next owner bought yours.
Mine had 109,000 on it. I’m not even sure I titled the thing, it was so long ago. But it had the 350/TH350, which immediately came out; the Rally wheels came off and the rest of it – I think it was vomit green – was hauled to the crusher.
Noteworthy was when I pulled the oil pan to check the bearing journals with Plastigage. Specs were that of a new car. That 350 had been well-kept.
Engine/trans went into an ’80 ‘Bu wagon…which turned it into a screamer, except like your ’75, my ’80 developed frame rot, only back near the rear bumper where a future owner could fix if desired.
I still have the Rallys, had been saving for my ’57 Handyman project but am now planning C4 Corvette suspension and corresponding 18-inchers. So they’ll probably get sold on Craigslist…
My first car was a 76 Malibu Classic sedan, which was originally Mom’s when it was brand new, then in ’84 Dad got the 76, which he drove to the bus stop for a whole 4 miles a day, otherwise it was parked in the driveway, My big sister drove it for a bit when she turned 16, then she got her own car. Dad drove the 76 till 92 when I turned 16 and it was given to me.
By 1992, that car had all of 120,000 miles on it. It had been through one engine rebuild, one front end rebuild, and that was it. It was dead nuts reliable otherwise. I get it, and a combination of not knowing what was up and a dead vacuum modulator killed the original transmission. Dad got it rebuilt (still have it on the same rebuild in another 77 sedan) I learned to wrench on that car, doing lots of needless repairs or tinkering with it. It too had the 145hp/250tq 305 and a 3.08 rear axle, so not all that fast either. I drove it as my only car for 8 years till 2001 when it tried to kill me by turning loose a wheel hoop, I was in college and had no place to keep it, as well as it needed a fair amount of rust repair (floors were gone and trunk was done, needed a quarter due to rust as well).
I yanked the good parts off it, and hauled it off to the junkyard, just shy of 200,000 miles.
I bought a Medium Metallic Green 77 Classic sedan about 7 years ago and swapped in all the good parts from the 76, and it’s racked up 100,000 miles in my care, on one front end (rubber was totally gone from the bushings) Engine is still factory though not fresh, but it still continues to be a dead-nuts reliable car.
Evan, I loved your COAL series. Equally as great (to me) was that it ended on a car that I have personal experience with, as I had owned a ’76 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu Classic Colonnade Coupe when it was 15 years old.
What I liked about your story was that your car had been purchased new, so you got to see it when it was shiny and perfect. And yes – what an unusual color- and options-combo. I have a soft spot for so-called “ugly ducklings”, but I actually kind of like that yours didn’t have power windows. It must have been heartbreaking to end up with a clump of rusty car in your hands when you pulled that chunk out from underneath.
Anyway, great job – I enjoyed your contribution very much.
I always like reading about people and their vehicles, especially when their vehicle happens to be similar to one that I own. This is my Medium Green ’74 Malibu Classic that I bought in November of 1998 from the estate of the original owner who was a life-long mechanic and “The Carburetor Man” of Jasper, Alabama. His garage was next door to my father’s scrapyard and I would see him puttering to work and back daily in it….glad to not be stuck behind him in traffic.
He drove it a few miles to his shop daily until one day in 1988 when it spun a bearing one cold morning when the car had about 40,000 miles on the odometer. He pulled the engine, replaced the bearings, bolted the engine back down & evidently got side-tracked. The car slowly became buried with old carb/starter/alternator cores & leftover pieces from carburetor kits in the left bay of his two-bay shop over the years. Only the rear glass & roof were visible amidst all the garbage & mountain of “stuff” engulfing it.
Anyway, he ran the garage until October 15th, 1990, the night he died in his sleep at the age of 86. His garage sat dormant until the family decided to clean up & sell the property. The day the scrappers showed up, I contacted the family & bought the car for $350. His wife (!) helped me set the hood back on the car after the scrappers hauled off the thousands of bits covering the car & towed it to my father’s place – and yes, she drove a tow truck.
The white seats were almost black from years of grease but cleaned up pretty well and I eventually got the car running again…not well…but running. In 2004, I moved to NC & the car sat outside for two years before I was able to tow it up here. The top rusted during that period but it’s been living inside since then. It’s still a mess and it’s been “on the list” for several years now but maybe it will find its way to the top of the queue before long. My car was ordered with your basic options: 350-2, automatic, A/C, AM radio, clock, white vinyl top, sport mirrors, wheelcovers, deluxe bumpers, interior décor & maybe a few moldings. Thanks for the read.
Evan, it’s been quite an enjoyable series, and I know how much work goes into it! Fitting that you saved the first for last, and I absolutely love your penultimate sentence. A perfect description of why we’re here and why these COAL articles are perhaps the best part of this site. Thank you for sharing your story!