Upon first glance, it really looks like this is some kind of home-built camper, but in actuality, it was a short-lived offering based on the Chevrolet Blazer. The story goes that the Chevy Blazer Chalet and its counterpart, the GMC Jimmy Casa Grande, were only manufactured in 1976 and 1977 with the number that seems to be agreed upon being around 1,800 examples produced. The Chalet started life as a factory Blazer built on the Chevy assembly line but was then sent to Chinook Mobilodge Inc., which cut out the back of the cab and installed the camper shell on the rear. It’s not known how many of these mobile campers have survived, but it seems reasonable to assume considerably less than the original 1,800, so they’re a pretty rare specimen. If you’ve been in the market for an unusual 4X4 camper, this 1976 Chevrolet Chalet might be right up your alley. Located in the Point Loma area of San Diego, it can be found here on Craigslist at a price of $57,345. Barn Finds wishes to thank reader Roger for the great tip on this one!
The owner claims that everywhere he goes, nothing gets more attention than his Chalet. He calls it crazy type attention, and while crazy can be interpreted in many different ways I’m hoping he means the inquiring-minds-want-to-know sort of attention. He goes on to say that the Chalet gets more attention than anything at car shows, a rather bold statement, but given the rarity and oddball nature of this vehicle that may be true. Just the size alone would cause it to stand out in a crowd!
The interior is said to look brand new and features the bunk beds option, which allowed the camper to sleep four people. The Chalet came standard with quite a bit of equipment, including a table, a 5-gallon capacity sink, and a gas stove. An icebox was also standard, but an optional refrigerator was also available. The Chalet being offered here has a custom front bumper and winch, which is said to have cost $5,000. There’s also A TV and air conditioning inside, to ensure comfort and entertainment on those long weekends. The current owner says he has had his fun and the time has come for it to find a new home.
Under the hood is a 350 cubic inch V8, and while it looks pretty good on the outside there’s no mention of how well it runs, so I’d probably ask some questions about the drivetrain before I got on a plane and headed off to California. The tires are said to be new. What are your thoughts on this 1976 Chevrolet Chalet? Does the $57,345 price tag justify what you’re getting here?
Where are all these coming from, seen more on BF than I ever did on the road. I know limited numbers but can only remember seeing one maybe two I could touch now they are crawling out of the woodwork so to speak. Too bad something like that can’t be built today.
Technically, they are coming out of the woodwork in the recent 5 or so years as the result of classic car dealers selling them for between $17 grand to $35 grand to big-dollar buyers who buy them pretty much on impulse without doing much research. This situation escalated exponentially last March with the $125 grand auction at “Bring a Trailer” of Chalet #0429 which was allegedly a never-sold-by-the-dealer ‘time capsule’ unrestored rig (I have issues with that claim, but it’s a whole other story).
This rig is #0251, first seen with the mega-lift conversion back in 2008, 67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=297501 , and this current seller has dropped his price at least 4 times by multi-thousands each time from his original August 2021 Craigslist asking price. It was previously seen here at BarnFinds in early December: https://barnfinds.com/63k-camper-1976-chevrolet-blazer-chalet/
I would probably get tired of all the Chalet postings, but I’m enjoying Russell’s comments. He seems to know the backstory of every single one of them.
@Mike: Thanks for the kind words! This is an accidental hobby of tracking these – I began searching for one in 2005 and thought eBay / Craigslist ad links were permanent, but as soon as I discovered they weren’t, I started making paper printouts, which I continue up to this day. I ended up with #1747 in 2006 (and later became too poor to keep it; it remains unsold by this 7th or so owner after me, seen here https://barnfinds.com/high-quality-driver-1977-chevrolet-blazer-chalet/ ). Also in 2006 the eBay seller of #0310 claimed there were only 40 in the country, and that’s when I created my mega-spreadsheet list with details and weblinks just to see if he was right. Later, I was given the blazerchalet.com website for free, which I keep online by paying its annual fees. When cash and more time falls out of the sky, the original co-creator (who I term is the ‘real’ owner), and I will drag that old website kicking & screaming into the 21st century.
^^^ Loving all of this! Keep it up Russell
I worked in a Chevy dealership in 76 and 77 and I never saw a single one of these.
35 mph off-ramp puts you on your side.
Too bad the General never offered the chàlet w the muncie manual transmission they had in their parts bin. Seen many chalet on here w the spare tire out on the front bumper.. can’t imagine how the wheeled around in the summer and didn’t melt those automatics.
Two In One Day………BULL$HIT Flag
I live in San Diego and just happened to see this on the road a couple of days ago! Small world, hahaha!
Minor point: there was no need for Chinook to “cut out the back of the cab” as Blazers already came that way from the factory; they only had to remove the factory hardtop/shell over the back, or more likely just delete-optioned the top to begin with.
They do make something similar today they are called Earthroamers, starting price around 600,000.
We were in a nice neighborhood in California until people started putting these camper shells up on milk crates in their driveways! No community standards.
It’s gotten to the point where the author shouldn’t have to explain the backstory of these. What’s the 1/4 mile? LOL
i bought a 77 chalet in 78 from a friend who bought it new in kaliskpell, montana from the dealer there. i lived in whitefish. mine had the factory 400 sbc, full time 4wd, all the options. window sticker was $12,878 new.. i moved to alliance, nebraska and the local dealer here, had a 78, same colors, only flipped and couldnt sell it. i took mine to the black hills once, put it up for sale and finially, sold it for $5000 in 1980, with new firestone tires and only 12,000 miles.. it was definately, top heavy and you had to keep the top strapped down tight with extra safety hooks, or the wind would catch it and rip it off. saw another one being scrapped out in scotts bluff because the top blew off.. last saw mine in ft. laramie, wyoming.. they were good for an overnite stay, slept 2 in the fold down benches that faced each other and one small person or kid, above the cab. refrig was a 3 way, good for a 6 pack and hot dogs.. would be more stable if they converted to 2wd, and lowered down.. i have some photos, but dont see where i can post them..
lynn,
Only “members” can post photo files at this time.
I guess that is an incentive to spend the few $ a month, but it does result in a bit of a loss contributions-wise. I can’t be the only one who would like to see the photos you have from the 70’s.
Sorry but it would be a big security hole if we let everyone upload.
Here is a test, look at pic 11 on Craigslist ad,see if you see sumpin wrong.
Being mechanically ignorant, I give up.
Some DAM BIG WHEEL SPACERS. And A Few Other SHOCKS.
Are there really that many Chalets, or is this the same one posted repeatedly?
14 bolt diff cover
All weight supported on wheel spacers and little back space on wheels,not safe, just my opinion,I’m old and seen ,lots of stuff.
my 77 chalet, had a factory 12 bolt and iam thinking it had 373 gears, non posi. had the spare tire mounted on the front bumper from the factory. had factory am-fm, no 8 track. came with the factory rally 8 wide 6 hole rims. it would eat up tires real fast, like 5-6000 miles. the propane tank was on the lr and little closet on the rr. had a propane heater. i bought an electric milk house heater for times i had access to 110v. didnt have 220v. i drove it between missoula and glendive, montana and billings and cheyenne and up to rapid city from alliance. beginning to think the rpms were up there, so probably had the 373 gears.. iam on facebook if you want me to send what photos i have of mine..
Rare specimen Mike? Are you new to B.F. you guy’s have featured at least 10 of these in the last six months!!!!!