• Seller: Ben O hler (Contact)
• Location: Arnold, California
• Mileage: 0 Shown
• Chassis #: CKL187Z201887
• Title Status: Clean
• Engine: 350 cui V8
• Transmission: SM465 4-Speed Manual with NP205 transfer case

Up for auction is this 1977 K5 Blazer Cheyenne with a 350ci V8, 4-speed manual transmission, and 4WD transfer case. Some say that the car you drive says a lot about you. If that’s true, then the original owner of this beast was a pretty cool guy who could go anywhere and do anything; the Blazer simply has that kind of image. Speaking of the original owner, it’s the seller’s father-in-law, who bought the Blazer new and used it as his daily driver for 43 years. Although it spent the last few years of its life sitting, a local mechanic got it running with a little fuel system service, and it’s now being offered as a Barn Finds Auction in Arnold, California. If you’re looking for a rugged SUV to match your go anywhere and do anything lifestyle, you might look just right in this Blazer.

For California residents who may be considering placing a bid, the seller says this: The Blazer has been continuously registered in California but was smog exempt in Calaveras County. It won’t be passing smog anytime soon since my father-in-law removed the smog pump years ago, though it’s sitting on the passenger side floor if you like it. It’s been switched recently to planned non-operation registration so that it can be sold without a smog check.

Now that that’s out of the way, we can talk about the Blazer’s original drivetrain. While 49-state Blazers came standard with a 250-cubic-inch six, California models instead got this 165-horsepower 350. Although a 400 was optional, it was not available with a manual transmission like our featured Blazer has: It’s a Muncie SM465 four speed with a 6.55:1 first gear for crawling along trails or over solid objects, and the transfer case is an NP205 with a 1.96:1 low range for even more off-road torque. Original equipment includes factory dual exhausts and a locking differential, so this Blazer was clearly not destined for a life of smooth highways alone.

This is not, however, a bare-bones work vehicle, even if it was often used as such. It has the top-of-the-line Cheyenne interior package, which had a console, special upholstery, “simulated wood-grain trim,” extra insulation, full carpeting, and more. Obviously, this Blazer shows its 48 years of use; the dash pad is cracked and the front seats desperately need new upholstery, but the back seat is still in “excellent condition” because the seller’s father-in-law removed it and stored it in the garage.

Chevy did its future buyers a big favor by listing a vehicle’s equipment on a tag, usually in the glove box. We can see how well-equipped this Blazer is, and that it is most likely wearing its original Saratoga Silver paint.

Most buyers will likely view this big Blazer as a project. Like almost every Squarebody on the planet, it does have some rust, most notably in the passenger side fender, driver’s rocker panel, and driver’s door (see the photos below). However, unlike many Squarebodies, that is the extent of the serious rust, and sheetmetal is readily available for these wildly popular Chevrolets. The seller says that any trim missing in the photos “was found taped in a bundle in a corner of [the] garage,” so you will have a complete truck to start with.

The Blazer was not just a work truck, it was also an image vehicle, and I’ll always argue that it was one of the most useful all-purpose SUVs made. All of that still applies, so if you are looking for a change of image, or simply a cool project, bid now!

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