If you were born after a certain point in history, you might have formed an impression of the Chevrolet Blazer based on the current offering at your local dealer. A bland, overpriced crossover vehicle with no real off-road chops, the “Blazer” moniker is borderline inappropriate for a vehicle that is only blazing a trail to the local Starbucks. When it was introduced, the original S10 Blazer was a near-instant success, known more for its ability to pivot between road and trail with ease. This 1994 Blazer with the rare factory 5-speed manual is listed here on Facebook Marketplace for $3,000.
Remember that the Blazer name is most synonymous with the storied K5, a powerhouse of a truck that combined open-air motoring with a rugged, go-anywhere chassis. The smaller S10 pickup-based Blazer was a natural evolution for the tough truck that made beach driving instantly cool, offering GM a downsized truck that didn’t sacrifice genuine off-road abilities. When it was new, the Blazer was praised for its practicality and incredibly smooth shift-on-the-fly transfer case that allowed for seamless transition from the pavement to the backroads. The downgraded SUV hardly felt like a downgrade at all.
While some may associate vehicles like the Blazer with the rise of the dreaded SUV in America, it really was a far better version of that general concept. It took a rugged pickup body, added a roof and rear seats, and kept the capabilities that the two-seater was known for. Though the standard 4-cylinder engine at launch was a bit of a joke, Chevy quickly made sure even the most basic Blazer offered good standard power. Though the truck would eventually grow long in the tooth and lose market share to more sophisticated competitors, it was always a good value on road and off.
This 2-door Blazer is a rare find these days, but it’s made downright obscure for having the factory 5-speed manual transmission. The seller hasn’t done a great job marketing this SUV, showing it went dents, rust, and faded paint. It’s not past the point of saving, however, and he notes it ran well until the fuel pump failed. The meaty tires and 3-inch lift kit make this Blazer look ready to rumble, and in an SUV scene dominated by Land Cruisers and Range Rovers, we tend to overlook the original Blazer as a compelling choice for an affordable off-roader. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Lothar… of the Hill People for the tip.
I always thought the older generation S10 and Blazers were well built trucks. The 4.3 V6 and a 5 speed is a rare and great combination. Unfortunately, rust can be an issue with these ( as many, many vehicles quite honestly). If the frame is good and mechanically is ok this could be a good buy.
Had an ‘84 GMC version of this…
2.8 V-6 5 speed 4×4
Turn the A/C on going up any grade it would almost stop!
4.3 was a much better fit…
lol
Buy it and drive it. Keep it as is!!
I’ve got a k5 blazer with cruse control and factory A/C that all work it has a 6.2 diesel. Its so much fun to drive.
I too liked this model. After the rear leaf spring went through the floor on the Cherokee, it was time to upgrade. I got an ’84 S-10 Blazer with that worthless 2.8 V6. Automatic, the ex wife killed 2 of those motors before I got the full size Bronco she couldn’t kill, and that ended at business. The 2.8 was half a step up from the 4 cylinder, and was adequate if properly driven. The 4.3 was big improvement. I knew several folks with these that had 5 speeds, but for the most part, it was the soccer moms AWD vehicle, and most were automatics. Good trucks, great heat-a/c, bulletproof mechanicals, its biggest nemesis was rust.
I’ve got a 2004 Blazer Xtreme that my dad bought new. 4.3/Auto, 167K miles on it, and everything works like new. If I didn’t have two other projects in progress I’d be interested in this one, because I’d like to have 4wd. I’ve got 14 cars, and if I could only have 1 it would be this Blazer. It’s big enough, small enough, powerful enough, thrifty enough and looks good besides!
Wow, flashback! I was the powertrain calibration engineer for the 4.3L with manual transmission. It wasn’t the smoothest 5-speed in the land, but I was pretty pleased with the way the whole package worked when we were done. The 4.3L S-10 was first offered in 1988 if memory serves, and 1994 may have been the last of the throttle body injection engines. Fun!