Sometimes it’s tricky to pick up on a restoration project that a previous owner has already begun, with one of the unknowns often arising being concerns over the quality of the work that has already been performed, and whether or not any shortcuts have been taken. That doesn’t appear to be an issue with this 1970 Chevrolet Blazer here on eBay, as we get to see photos of what it looked like to start with plus additional pictures from several steps along the way, so if you’ve been in the market for an early example this one seems like it’s at a good point to pick up on. The SUV’s location is in Olympia, Washington, with bidding already up to $6,200 although that’s shy of reserve.
Here’s how the Blazer appeared when the previous owner found it, surrounded by weeds and looking like it had been immobile for a while. The next step was to clean it up outside and see what was there under all the grime from sitting, which resulted in a surprisingly clean and unmolested vehicle, but it still wasn’t good enough for the seller who then embarked on a frame-off restoration project.
Once the body was removed, next up came an acid dip, always a good test to find any areas of rust that may not be visible to the naked eye. While there were a few areas revealed, the good news is the corrosion is not extensive and it appears like all of the panels will be salvageable. Another point worth mentioning is before any of this work began the Blazer is said to have been a one-owner vehicle, so it hasn’t exchanged hands many times throughout the years like many autos with this much age on them.
After that came a coat of white, and a re-attachment to the frame, which the seller says is in very good condition although we don’t get to see any shots of the chassis specifically. This is also the only photo showing the engine, a straight 6 that’s apparently only been driven 65k miles, but no word on whether or not it’s currently running. This one’s a 2WD model with a 3-speed manual transmission and a column shifter.
So here’s where we are today in the progress, with the Blazer well on its way to being put back together, but there are still those areas of body rust that will need to be dealt with soon, such as this spot on the passenger side quarter panel. We get one final photo of the topper plus a few other components, and even though there’s still a pretty good way to go on this one I’m feeling there won’t be a whole lot of surprises for the next owner to contend with. What do you think?
I’m surprised and dismayed that people are still making the mistake of acid-dipping car bodies to strip them. I’ve seen too many body shells that get permanently wasted because the acid is not properly neutralized, especially in the hidden pockets you have no access to, and they continue to rust from the inside out even when finished and painted. It’s simple not worth the risk.
We’ve been using an electric based system over the years. No hidden acid and a good final product. Agree the acid dip is not the greatest on chassis but is good on parts like suspensions etc. looks like this is going to be a good project. Like the color… our ’72 was white with a black top
The reason this is desirable is its 2-wheel drive! Also, because like you said shouldn’t be a surprise you can see it.