Debuted in 1964, the Chevelle was an instant hit within the Chevrolet lineup, offering something for just about every taste. At the top of the model’s offerings was the Malibu, a more refined trim package that offered just a little more luxury compared to your traditional Chevelles. While today the Malibu nametag has really nothing to do with the vintage Chevys, the classic Malibus of the 60s and early 70s remain some of the most recognizable and sought after cars of the muscle car era. One look at this ’66 owned by Shane Gasvoda of Wright, Wyoming will show you why.

We first came across Gasvoda’s gorgeous 1966 Malibu at the Super Chevy Show at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colorado earlier this summer. With gleaming GM Red Orange paint, this classic Chevy was an eye catcher from far away and even more of an attention getter up close with a boastful 427 under the hood. Not being able to walk away, we had to get more details about the car which Gasvoda gladly supplied.

An Early Interest in the Chevrolet A-body

Just like many car guys, Gasvoda got his real itch for the car scene by reading magazines like Super Chevy. With Gasvoda growing up on a farm in Montana, Super Chevy magazine offered a look into the coolest cars across the country. But it wasn’t just any car that peaked Gasvoda’s interest- it was, in fact, the 1966 Chevelle model.

“Sixty sixes are the best looking of all the Chevelles,” Gasvoda told us in a telephone conversation. “I’ve always liked that body style best.”

So when the opportunity to buy a ‘66 Malibu project car back in 1999 became available, Gasvoda jumped at the chance, taking the car home on New Years Eve. How’s that for a New Years resolution come true?

Going to the Extreme

Originally a Seattle car, the Malibu was fairly straight aside from the rust pockets Gasvoda found all over the car, especially on the front fenders. So like any die-hard car guy, he tore into the car almost immediately, starting in on a full frame-off restoration.

With the car completely torn apart, Gasvoda boxed in the Malibu’s frame and began doing all kinds of body work, which he told us was the toughest and most time consuming part of the build.

Now, with a fully redone frame and body, you can’t just go back to stock mechanics- well you can but it’s not as fun.

So Gasvoda decided to move the car towards a more pro-touring goal.

With that in mind, Gasvoda equipped his Malibu with QA1 double adjustable coilovers, coil springs and shocks, as well as Global West upper and lower control arms. This system is backed by Baer disc brakes for generous stopping power on all four corners.

Keeping the car firmly planted to the pavement no matter what situation Gasvoda finds himself in are Goodyear Eagle F1 GS D3 tires wrapped around 17×8-inch Foose wheels in the front and 17×9.5-inch Fooses in the rear.

Originally a 327 car, Gasvoda had bigger plans for his Malibu and knowing Chevy’s most famous engine combination, Gasvoda opted to equip his pro-touring beast with a classic 427. Plans changed along the way, however, and a fully massaged, modern 427 LS engine was put in the classic’s place. Now with 654hp and 563ft-lbs of torque, Gasvoda’s Malibu is ready for any road course, autocross competition or open road it comes across.

In addition to throwing down impressive times on the drag strip and competing in autocross competitions, Gasvoda's Malibu has proven it's power on the road course at High Plains Raceway in Deer Trail, Colorado, hitting speeds of up to 130mph on the straightaways.

In order to control some of that 650+hp, Gasvoda needed a sturdy transmission, so he equipped the car with a Richmond 6-speed. This has allowed him to really enjoy his car, which is important when you’re making four to five trips to autocross competitions a year. It also makes for one heck of a drag car, which Gasvoda found out when he took the car to Douglas Motorsports Park and ran a 12.78-second quarter mile at 116mph all while spinning his tires off the line and in second. Not bad for a car that’s 46 years old.

The Malibu Life

While Gasvoda’s Malibu is definitely a pro-touring powerhouse, it’s also true to it’s Malibu roots with an exquisite aesthetic appeal. Inside the car, you’ll find a custom interior complete with custom center console and dash, which did away with the light bar and added new Autometer gauges, as well as new carpeting and Corbeau seats. Roy Keith Classics & Customs added to the interior by making a rear seat that matched the front buckets and a contoured headliner that compliments the rest of the black and red interior components. Roy Keith even made the custom Malibu trunk piece that adorns the underside of the trunk lid.

The black and red interior color scheme perfectly flatters the exterior GM Red Orange paint color Gasvoda chose for his Malibu. “It was a factory red car, but I wanted something brighter with a little more pop to it,” Gasvoda told us. Flipping through GM paint color chips, Red Orange was the perfect fit.

This is probably one of the nicer Malibus we’ve seen, as it should be with about 8 years into the build, but before you start thinking that this car is any sort of trailer queen, you should know that Gasvoda drove it nearly 350 miles one way just to get to the Super Chevy Show in August- no trailer needed. “The only time I had it on a trailer was when I was building it and taking it to the upholstery shop,” Gasvoda told us. Now that’s a true automotive enthusiast that knows how to enjoy his car.

Check out more of this great classic Malibu in the GALLERY below.