Learn the Malibu and Maliibu Classic story for 1977 in this in-depth Chevrolet dealer sales film.

For the 1977 selling season, the familiar Chevelle landed in an odd spot in the Chevrolet product line. At 209.7 inches long and about 3,650 lbs, the mid-sized Chevy was essentially the same size and weight as the full-sized Impala and Caprice, which had been radically downsized for ’77. (See our feature on the ’77 Impala/Caprice here.) However, this awkward alignment (the Chevelle was roughly $1,000 cheaper) would last for only a single model year, as the A-body Malibu would itself go under the downsizing knife for 1978. So it was that 1977 was the final year for the Chevelle in its General Motors A-Body Colonnade period, which began in 1973.

In this nine-minute GM dealer film, the Chevelle name is banished from the script as the narrative drives home the point that there are two models in ’77 lineup, base Malibu and deluxe Malibu Classic. Then follows a description of all the standard and optional Malibu features, and two we might select are the optional swivel bucket seats for the coupe and the Econominder instrument package ($47) with its fuel economy indicator. It’s a manifold vacuum gauge, in other words, and fun and challenging to drive with as you squeeze the miles out every last drop of gasoline.

Because we’re hopeless nerds, we were entertained by the demonstation of GM’s High Energy Ignition (HEi) system, which could produce 60,000 volts or more. In this stunt (at about the four-minute mark) all six spark plug wires were severed and clear hoses were installed to create 3/4-inch spark gaps. If the coil and insulation can handle the added resistance, the air gaps will actually increase the voltage in the high-tension secondary circuits, so he engine runs just fine. With a conventional pre-HEI ignition system, the engine wouldn’t even start. Enjoy the video.