Starting for the 1982 model year, Chevrolet was the first American vehicle company to jump on the small pickup market, at least for those trucks built in the US, not captive imports. This 1991 Chevrolet S-10 Blazer was, of course, based on the S-10 pickup. This one can be found listed here on eBay in Portland, Oregon, home of one of my favorite coffee shops in the country, as no rugged Blazer owner said, ever. The current bid price is $4,450.
This is a great looking rust-free truck, easily one of the nicest that I have seen. Although, looking at photos is never as good as seeing a vehicle in person as most of us have found out the hard way. The Chevy S-10 pickup came in 1981 for the 1982 model year and the Blazer came a year later, in 1983. They were made until 2005 in two generations with a four-door model coming along in early-1990 for the 1991 model year.
The first-generation S-10 Blazer was made for the 1983 through 1994 model years in the US and in Venezuela. There was also a GMC version, the S-15 Jimmy, and unfortunately, the baby Blazer didn’t have a removable top as the full-sized Blazer did. This S-10 Blazer is a one-family-owned vehicle according to the seller. It’s also a rear-wheel-drive Blazer so it wouldn’t be as tough in snow country as a four-wheel-drive model would be.
One of two small flaws that I see inside is a small tear in the vinyl on the side of the driver’s seat, but otherwise, the interior looks great. The back seat looks new as does the rear cargo area. They do mention that the passenger side window doesn’t go down and the headliner is starting to sag a bit, so there’s that. The seller has provided dozens of great photos.
The clean engine is a GM Vortec 4300, a 4.3L V6 with 160 hp and 230 ft-lb of torque. The seller says that this Tahoe edition Blazer has every option including the towing package and heavy-duty transmission cooler. Have any of you owned a first-generation S-10 Blazer or Jimmy?
Fix the passenger side window and headliner and cruise. Maybe a small block Chevy or LS swap in the future. GLWTA
Sweet little rig. Need to lose those too-new wheels, though.
Saw a very similar one (solid red paint, 4×4) pass through a self-serve junkyard here in Minnesota a few years back. Dealer badge said it was from Mountain Home, AR, and it was rust-free. How’d it end up there? Minor fender-bender. A crying shame.
$4500 bid with less than 24 hours to go? I’m surprised. Could be a deal for someone!
Nice little rig. Wheels on this are stock from Chevrolet.
Not for this year, but they are stock. I like how they look on this application.
I had a 1984 S10 Blazer.
I bought it used from a person who bought a new one and he did not trade in as the one i picked was having an engine put in at 64k on the clock. I drive it 80 thousand more and just did usual maintenance and of course replace the ac compressor and other components at 85 thousand miles.
This one shown shows no rust and thats great. I had to weld in a plate in the rocker just before passenger side and a small section painted. The rest held out with no rust. I do keep cars clean on the underside and well as outside though…
It was a decent vehicle for GM .
Scotty I’m curious…..which coffee shop here in Portland is one of your favorites?
Always liked the S-10 Blazer. I thought the K5 was too big, the S-10 was just right. I had an ’84 too, it took the place of that awful ’78 Jeep Cherokee ( my experience) The only problem I had with the S-10, was the dismal 2.8. I’ve had good 2.8’s, but the Blazer was poor one. It didn’t help I had a wife( ex) that when she got pissed off ( at me) she’d get in the Blazer, and “foot to the floor”. She “burned out” 2 motors, ( yeah, she was mad at me a lot, mostly because of my trucking shenanigans, but hey, it paid the bills, THAT she didn’t complain about) and were a bitxx to change, btw, and the 1980 Bronco that replaced the Blazer was a breath of fresh air. She couldn’t kill the Bronco. Like all these, they withered away in the salt, the very market they were intended for. Can’t have them last too long, we’ll be out of business in no time. It’s the ” spread the salt, help sell new vehicles,” conspiracy. The 4.3 was a much improved motor. This a nice rig here.
What’s nice about the S10 Blazer is more room than the truck. I owned a S10 for a few months but was uncomfortable with little leg room. Color combo is nice too. V8 swap is a must!
I had that 2.8 (GM engine?) in an 85 Jeep Wagoneer, 5 spd -XJ which is a rare vehicle to find. It was dependable. I only had to replace the starter solenoid and clutch slave solenoid. I only owned it for about 1 1/2 yrs then traded it for an 84 Mercury Cougar which was nice due to the fuel injected V6, but cosmetically it was in need of work. That Jeep probably got punished by the new owner, and guessing is crap now.
I meant clutch slave cylinder.
My Mom had one, 4dr Tahoe NICE ride….I agree with the other poster, the next gen wheels don’t make it on this model needs the mesh look ones
Howard; how about GM’s make them easy to steal so we’ll sell more new cars when the insurance companies total the stolen ones in the 1970s and 80s. Or at least we’ll sell more plastic steering column covers and whatever other parts are needed to fix the car if it’s not totaled. I remember my mechanic showing me that the Caprice cop cars had a metal column cover while the other full size GMs used a plastic one. Also remember seeing a video back then showing how a thief could break into and steal these cars in about 25 or so seconds.
Tuff to find good examples of first generation S10s & S10 Blazers. I found a few out of southern Colorado and Sold 2 on to good homes, still have 3 in storage that get out for summer ice cream rides.
Here in Michigan most have rusted up into the brown potato chip found at the bottom of every bag.
My son had a bright red 2WD and it was air bagged, a great little truck, it just looked cool! I would like to have this one, if it’s half as nice as it looks, I don’t see how you could go wrong. From my son’s experience, I wouuld lower it, but having it bagged was not necessary.
I had a brand new 85 s15 jimmy. That 2.8 gave never horrible stalling issues that would vary based on summer or winter. A friend of mine got the 4.3 when they came out, that was pretty good power for the time.
Not sure I explained the problem with the plastic steering column covers. The plastic ones were easy to break. This allowed a screwdriver to be inserted in the ignition to start the car. The midsize GMs had a similar problem. I found that out in the mid 1980s when my 1974 Grand Prix was stolen in front of my friend’s home. It was recovered a few days later minus the factory am/FM radio a few miles away. My friend and I actually looked for it that night and I seem to remember we missed finding it only by a couple blocks or so.
I had an 89 S-10 Blazer 4×4 for a short period in high school. Had every option for that year and had just received a new engine before I bought it. I liked it, but I was into the mini trucks and wanted a 2 wheel drive S-10, so I sold the Blazer and found a clean ‘85 S-10.
Too bad it’s RWD, it’s a nice looking survivor.
Still have the 1989 S 15 Jimmy, one of the best vehicles I’ve ever had. Bought it new off the show room , still have the window sticker ha ha ha
bought 1991 s 10 blazer in 2005 , that had not run for 5 years off a guy just for the plow here in Massachusett. After the flat bed dropped it off I found the distributor cap screws striped out .After replaced cap and wires that 4.3 TBI fired right up! I have been plowing my driveway every winter since ,the odometer stopped working two years ago at 258,000+miles on it .
p.S .do you still have the 1976NovaSS I hade one when i was a teen now looking to find one again with four speed and hatchback
Had a 1992 s10Blazer 2 dr / 4wdmid line model, TAHOE package…4.3 body great…NO rot anywhere cet the lower back windows- midpoint- easy fix. it developed a short in the wiring and the time ,only partial New Better wiring harnesses were made & the price was too high…then the ( ex) WIFE MADE ME GET RID OF IT…it was a blast to drive…nimble, agile fast, held the road,customize-able, LOOKED COOL…want another cuz modern- current blazers,etc SUCK AND R UGLY…NO CHARACTER.
Trying to respond back to you but don’t want to break any site rules. 92 S10 Blazer, Red 4X4 Auto 4.3 Cold A/C 4.3 southern Co truck.
Again don’t want to break the rules & don’t know how to post pictures here
Sorry