This 1979 GMC Jimmy High Sierra was recently pulled out of a California barn where it had been sitting for years. Despite this, it started up after a few tries with some fresh gas. The seller has performed some basic deferred maintenance to get it running and driving, but it does have some lingering issues – nothing that can’t be addressed over a few weekends, however. The Jimmy is the lesser-seen twin to the K5 Blazer, and it’s amazing how many of these are able to be revived without too much work after they outlived their useful lives as a reliable rig for daily hard use. Find it here on eBay with no reserve and with the auction ending tonight.
The seller notes this Jimmy lived in the mountainous part of California, and that it remains in largely solid condition. While the listing does disclose some minor rust / rot-through, it’s somewhat hilarious to me what the seller provides photos of as it’s so incredibly minor by snow belt standards. There appears to be a spot of rust in the bottom of the passenger-side fender and the same for the rear quarter, but it should be an easy fix for even a semi-competent body man. The Jimmy looks quite handsome with its OEM two-tone paint job, though the passenger door could benefit from a visit with the dent doctor.
For a truck that was parked and forgotten about starting in 1999, the interior remains in outstanding condition. To me, this would also indicate the Jimmy was used fairly carefully up until its retirement, as the seat fabric is just starting to show signs of wear, and that’s a very good thing given it’s one of those awesome period-correct patterns GM made available for the Jimmy/Blazer lineup. The backseat is in similar, if not slightly better, condition, and carpets look quite clean for a truck that likely hasn’t been fully detailed. The seller notes most interior features still work, including the OEM radio, but that the A/C is inop and the passenger-side window is slow.
The 350 V8 benefits from new drive belts, fluid changes, and a new power steering pump and lines. The truck drives well going down the road, but the seller does disclose that it pulls to the right and could use an alignment. Another bonus for the next owner is the OEM grill the seller sourced for the truck, likely a bit harder to find given the Jimmy pops up for sale less frequently. And, the Jimmy retains its cool old-school California blue plates. This, to me, is the right way to sell and buy a vintage vehicle: enough work done that you know it will run and drive, and not too much that the next owner can’t get it for a fair price and do some of the work themselves. A win-win.
I had a Chevy Blazer with the same color combination, it was so rusty you could barely see the white on the body BUT it still ran. Used it as my work vehicle while I restored my 68 Chevy 4×4 then I sold it for the price of a used motor.
Man, I’d love to have the room to park that next to that 79 Bronco that was on here and a 79 Trans Am.
Life was good back then…got married that year, she worked at U.S. Steel Edgar Thompson and I worked at Homestead.
Last year found the same truck/ white with dark red coves that sat for 10+ years under a pine tree in the high desert of AZ. 400 with auto, A/C, and the bonus; a hickey sidewinder winch. Had it running and driving the next day. Spent 40 hours cleaning, wet sanding, buffing, & detailing. Put 4 new BFG’s on Ralley rims. Came out extremely nice. Had a similar interior but red.
This is an excellent deal if it doesn’t go crazy at auctions end.
Cool rig. Looks honest and like a fair price. Far from me, but I can’t buy anything now anyway. And I’d rather have a Scout someday.
😀I HAV A 👍 63 (GMC)6cyc, BIG WINDOW SHORT BED FLEETSIDE 4/4 PROJECT, THAT I DROVE FROM LARAMIE WYOMING IN 1979. THAT SAID, FRAME CLEANED, NEW HIGH LIFT SPRING’S, REBUILT TRANSFER CASE & DRIVESHAFTS, 7.4 4 BOLT, FORGED INTERNAL’S PERFORMANCE CAM, LARGE OVAL PORT, TURBO 400 NEW POWER STEARING & BRAKE’S WOOD 4 BED STILL IN BOXES, NEW WINDSHIELD & SLIDER REAR WINDOW, NEED’S CAB TOP REPLACED, DRIP RAIL’S GOOD, DOOR’S & FENDERS NEED WORK, I HAVE 2 GOOD DOOR’S & FENDERS, FLOOR’S & ROCKERS GOOD, SINGLE & DUEL CHEVY HEADLITE CLIP, LOT’S MORE 4 THIS TRUCK, ALSO 9 OTHER, 1 OWNERS TILL ME, NO RUST THROUGH’S, ACCIDENTS, COMPLETE PRE 73 CAR’S & TRUCK’S. ANY OF U FINDERS WANT MORE INFO
I WILL SEND PIC’S & INFO WITH RESERVE, (OBO) BRING A TRAILER OR I WILL HAVE IT TRANSPORTED AT YOUR COST. ALSO (63 427 FORD ENGINE & 6 PAC) TOP LOADER, BUILT FE C6 (70 GM 4 BOLT 396, 885 SQ PORT) HO CLEVELAND’S LOT’S MORE (DAVID)(310)(857)(9723) ANYTHING SOLD THROUGHT THIS SITE 20% WILL B DONATED 2 BARN FIND’S OR YOUR FAV CAUSE THANK’S & EVERYBODY HAV A
GREAT DAY😎
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Wow! Another shot of deja-vu! We sold a pile of Jimmys from ’77 – ’80. Other years too but those two were probably the highest in sales. That color scheme was extremely popular. This truck would be a nice addition to anyone’s collection. The chain in the transfer case is a good one, a welcome improvement over the original design but when a replacement is needed they’re getting a little harder to find, and the price has risen proportionately. I sure wouldn’t turn a truck like this one down. I came very close to buying one of these instead of my K1500.
While I’m like most, especially from the north, we look at this with disbelief because of it’s nice body, make no mistake, under that rust free body, is a BUNCH of work, everything mechanical will need to be addressed. Still, it’s a heck of a lot easier than replacing body panels and frame gussets, and that’s the attraction here. We just accepted, it was normal to see K5’s with doors sagging and fenders gone. Another great find.
Got a 79 jimmy high sierra 350 350 corp axles, which are not my fave, one ton’s, getting pricy, motors cheap, parts easy, im happy, still not cut up, but that day when ultimut adventure comes up, temting, dana 60 front, dana 70 back, twin205 203 transfer cases, tempting, ot leave it alone, but ultimit adventure sounds good, thoughts