Right off the assembly line, the Blazer was already engineered to be a capable all-terrain utility vehicle. This one has taken things to an even higher level (literally) thanks to a customized suspension and beefy tires.
The Pick of the Day is a 1976 Chevrolet K5 Blazer 4×4 listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Seattle, Washington. (Click the link to view the listing)
“Have rebuilt this rugged beauty over the past few years,” the listing begins. “All work done by a professional shop; this is no handyman special!”
This Blazer comes from the full-size C/K truck family and has chassis underpinnings that mirror the square-body General Motors pickups of the same era. One distinction that all Blazers had was a short wheelbase; a long-wheelbase variant was known as the Suburban. Most Blazers were outfitted with four-wheel drive, but two-wheel drive versions were available up until 1982.
This example from 1976 has an eye-catching two-tone red and white exterior with a removable white hardtop. Restoration work per the seller included replacement of corroded body parts such as the rocker panels, hood, bumpers, tailgate, and floors. The weather stripping was replaced, and sound-deadening insulation was installed. For that go-anywhere capability, the body sits on a four-inch Rough Country lift and a set of 35-inch Backcountry Mud-Terrain tires on Ultra aluminum wheels. The cabin has also been modernized with a 360-watt radio, all-new speakers, and a Grant steering wheel.
A cowl-induction hood lends a visual clue that there is something special happening in the engine bay. Power comes from the reportedly original 350cid small-block V8 that has been performance-upgraded with a Proform HEI ignition system, an Edelbrock intake manifold, an Edelbrock AVS2 carburetor, Hedman headers, a Holley dual exhaust system, and an aluminum radiator.
This square-body Blazer design continued through 1991, after which it was phased out as the new GMT400 architecture took its place. The Blazer name was discontinued entirely after 1995 (replaced by the Tahoe). However, the name was later brought back as a midsize crossover in 2019.
The seller is asking $49,000 or best offer for this trail-ready Blazer (which I think I’d much rather drive than its newer crossover relative!).
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
To think that most people sold this generation of GM vehicles for $1000 or less just a few years ago…