Readers Rides: 1979 Chevrolet Malibu

Paul Kennedy has owned his 1979 Chevrolet Malibu since 1998, and purchased it from the original, ‘little old lady’ owner with only 48,000 km on the odometer. After a couple of years, Paul installed a 4-bolt main 355 V8 engine, a 1991 T5 transmission and a 3.73 Eaton posi differential. In 2010, the engine received new Dart Iron Eagle heads, a new camshaft, lifters and roller tipped rockers. Before moving out East, Paul allowed the Drag Race Team Members from Terry Fox Secondary in Port Coquitlam, B.C. to drive the car at the local drag strip with the original V6 engine, where it went down the track in 17 seconds at about 90 km/h. Last summer Paul tackled the 3,900 km round trip from his home to the Atlantic Nationals in Moncton, New Brunswick where it achieved a respectable 20 mpg.