Original Paint Survivor: 1977 Chevrolet Blazer

People who wonder out and drop $40,000 or more on a shiny new SUV for tackling harsher terrain could be doing themselves an enormous disservice. Owning the latest-and-greatest is all well and good, but what happens the first time it gets scratched on a rough track by an errant branch or stone? That is a recipe for heartache, and that is where vehicles like this 1977 Chevrolet Blazer fit into the equation. It will cost its new owner a fraction of the price of a “newby,” it will get them into the same sorts of areas, and even if the original paint does cop the occasional scratch, it isn’t going to cause anywhere near the same level of mental anguish. This Blazer is an original survivor that has belonged to the same family since new. They have decided that the time is right to part with it, so they have listed it for sale here on eBay. It is located in Concord, California, and with the bidding currently sitting at $10,100, the reserve has been met. Due to areas that vehicles like this Blazer tend to tackle, rust can potentially be a real problem. Mud can get packed into some inaccessible areas underneath and become a long-term moisture trap. A chemical chain reaction gets started, and suddenly, you find yourself with steel the resembles Swiss cheese. That hasn’t been the case with this Blazer because the underside photos show one of the cleanest off-roaders of this vintage that you are likely to find. Everything appears to be structurally sound, with only the occasional light dusting of surface corrosion in a few spots to indicate that this vehicle has been off the black-top in the past 44-years. The panels are also clean and are remarkably free from dings and dents. The Brown paint is original, and while it isn’t perfect, it is still in above average condition for a vehicle of this age and type. The wheels are showing some evidence of corrosion, but it hasn’t deteriorated to the catastrophic stage. The rest of the trim is in good order, and the glass shows no signs of chips or significant scratches. When you consider how nicely preserved the Blazer’s exterior is, the interior is a bit of a disappointment. Having said that, vinyl and carpet are nowhere near as robust as steel, so there is always a chance that any offroader’s interior is going to show its age. The owner has thrown blankets and towels over the seats, but enough of the vinyl is visible to indicate that new covers will be the order of the day. The carpet is a poor fit, and the door trims are showing wear and tear. However, the dash appears to be free from splits and cracks, meaning that the most potentially expensive component doesn’t need to be touched. The Chevy is fitted with air conditioning, but I noticed that the belt has been removed from the compressor. That suggests an issue that will need to be addressed. Beyond that, we find a full set of factory gauges, a tilt wheel, and a CD player. The ’77 Blazer offered potential buyers a wide selection of engines, and this one features the mighty 350ci V8. This classic motor should be pumping out 165hp, but more importantly, from an off-road perspective, 255 ft/lbs of torque. It is backed by a 4-speed manual transmission and a dual-range transfer case. Throw that into low-range 4×4, and this is a classic that should be capable of crawling its way into some pretty inhospitable territory. The drivetrain is numbers-matching, and it seems that it is in good health. The owner says that there are no odd noises and that the 4wd system works as it should. He also says that it runs and drives great, so it sounds like it is ready for a life of adventure. I guess that you could go out and spend the money on a new off-roader with all of the bells and whistles, and not only will it get you wherever you want to go, but it will attract plenty of admiring comments from the neighbors when you park it in your driveway. Alternatively, you could spend a fraction of the money on a 4×4 like this Blazer, and the results would be exactly the same. The difference is that this is a classic with character, whereas a new Blazer is essentially a “cookie-cutter” vehicle. I have no issues with someone going out and buying a shiny new 4×4, and if they treat it with respect, it could still look and run as well as this Blazer does in another 44-years. However, this is a proven package that has already managed to survive all of those years in remarkable condition. That tips the scales in its favor for me. Does it do the same for you?