A couple’a weekends and bickety-bam, you’re driving an $80,000 Blazer! I mean come on, every single part of this truck is available in aftermarket catalogs, how hard could it be to restore this one? All kidding aside, this is one rough 1970 Chevrolet K5 Blazer CST – which means it has front bucket seats and deluxe trim. Can this one be saved?
Anything can be saved, of course, it’s just a matter of money. If Monticello (Thomas Jefferson’s plantation/estate) can be restored, surely this 54-year-old Blazer can be restored. As a general reference, Hagerty is at $17,500 for a #4 fair-condition example, and this one is eons away from that condition. On the other hand, they’re at an eye-watering $81,700 for a #3 good-condition example. I kid you not. You can do a lot of restoration work for $75,000 if you do at least some of the work yourself.
The first-generation Chevy Blazer, known as the K5 Series – related to their C/K pickup Series of trucks – was made for the 1969 model year until the end of 1972. As with the first-generation Ford Bronco, they’re the ones to have if you can afford it. In 1970, a rear-wheel drive model was added to the lineup but this one has four-wheel drive. GMC also got their own version beginning in 1970. You can see the incredibly rough condition of the body on this Blazer, there’s rust upon rust layered by rust followed up closely by more rust.
Not to mention, smashed windows, and other fun items to replace. Still, they are incredibly desirable and the bucket seats in the CST make this one even cooler. This one has a Saginaw Muncie SM326 three-speed manual on the column, that’s not it on the floor, that’s for the transfer case. Oddly, the back seat looks almost like new but that’s about it for looking like new inside.
Rust and other body issues notwithstanding, I’m assuming that the chassis and drivetrain will need almost everything, restoration-wise. The engine is Chevrolet’s 307-cu.in. OHV V8 with 157 (net) horsepower and 200 lb-ft of torque when new. That isn’t a lot and unless a total original-spec fanatic buys this Blazer, there will be a gigantic V8 in there, not an original 157-hp 307. It obviously isn’t even remotely in operating condition and will need to be trailered to your shop or garage, or if you have one of those big cardboard checks from The Price is Right, just have it hauled to the restoration shop of your choice. The seller has it listed here on eBay in Kingsford, Michigan, there is no reserve, and the current bid price is $2.750. How would you restore this Blazer, or would you use it for parts?
Bickety-bam? My 2 words would be, snow plow. Remember my ex-bil and our ride to Nashville to find a classic car to bring back to Wis? In the late 80s, this was very similar to his blue K5. I’ll spare you the harrowing details of that trip, but the Blazer performed flawlessly, even though, it pulled an empty homemade car trailer both ways. Why? We found a car, a ’63 Biscayne 2 door, 6, 3 speed, (cost $300) and the trailer proved unfit to pull the car, so I drove it back!
Only a fool would tackle something like this. Very, VERY typical of most Blazers from up north. These could usually be found outside the local watering hole, or liquor store still chugging away. I’m not sure what eventually killed them altogether.
Big blue head ache!
Bickety-bam? Is that like lickety-split? But I’m sure there’s a millionaire out there that’ll grab this thing ASAP. Because YOLO. GLWTA
Don’t lean against the quarter panels, please.
Can maybe…worth the time and money….Now…
You could put in one of those new crate engines from & get a new transmission.
Auction update: this one sold for $3,751!