HomePick of the DayCustom GMC Jimmy with V8 power

Custom GMC Jimmy with V8 power

The Pick of the Day looks great and should be quite fast

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The GMC Jimmy (aka Chevrolet S10 Blazer) is a longtime favorite in the 2-door version, much more so than the Ford Bronco II of the same era that has turned, inexplicably, into a popular and pricey collector car.

Jimmy’s clean and simple styling is quite appealing, and don’t you just love a vehicle with an actual first name?  I can picture saying, “Let’s take Jimmy to the movies tonight.”

jimmy

The Pick of the Day is a 1983 GMC Jimmy that has been hot rodded with a performance-tuned 350 V8 under its custom “double-hump” hood and looking to be in gorgeous condition, top and bottom.

“This generation Jimmy/Blazer never got V8 power from the factory, but you instantly see that this one rectifies their error,” according to the Lithia Springs, Georgia, dealer advertising the compact SUV on ClassicCars.com. “It’s a strong 350 cubic-inch crate V8 featuring go-fast goodies like aluminum heads, a performance intake, and a Holley four-barrel carburetor.

It even has the right supporting components, like March pulleys, HEI ignition, and a BeCool aluminum radiator w/electric fans. It makes for a great-running and powerful total package.

jimmy

“And because this is the kind of SUV you’ll want to drive near or far, this has a 700R4 four-speed automatic transmission with highway-friendly overdrive. Add in power steering and power brakes w/discs up front, and you soon realize this jimmy is a great anytime cruiser.”

The V8 must deliver serious power for this lightweight wagon, the kind of performance seen from the factory only in the short run of Typhoon models with turbocharged V6 engines.  This seems like a hotter setup, and the trailer hitch out back shows its potential as a strong tow vehicle as well.

Jimmy looks quite sharp as well.

“The red paint makes a bold impression, especially with the color-matched side mirrors, roof spoiler, and twin cowl hood,” the seller says in the ad. Plus, there’s added shine from the mirror-like bumpers and grille. The clear headlights, added fog lights, front turn signals, and full clear taillight package all come together to deliver an added brilliance.

“And we know you love the look of the 17-inch polished alloys. They have the classic IROC-Z pattern, so it’s a great way to get an era-correct look that hints at the power within.”

jimmy

The interior boasts a high level of power accessories, entertainment upgrades and comfort gear, and bucket seats that have cloth inserts with a cool “TRUCK” pattern.

Considering Jimmy’s appearance and the amount of work that went into it, the asking price of $17,995 sounds more than fair.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.

Bob Golfen
Bob Golfen
Bob Golfen is a longtime automotive writer and editor, focusing on new vehicles, collector cars, car culture and the automotive lifestyle. He is the former automotive writer and editor for The Arizona Republic and SPEED.com, the website for the SPEED motorsports channel. He has written free-lance articles for a number of publications, including Autoweek, The New York Times and Barrett-Jackson auction catalogs. A collector car enthusiast with a wide range of knowledge about the old cars that we all love and desire, Bob enjoys tinkering with archaic machinery. His current obsession is a 1962 Porsche 356 Super coupe.

6 COMMENTS

  1. I had a couple Jimmies. A ’89 and a ’96. Both V-6 with automatic. I never had a mechanical problem with either one. I towed boats and wasn’t very nice to them either. Only thing I didn’t like were those flimsy, flat,cheap plastic dash boards.

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