This “rust-free” 1982 Chevrolet K5 Blazer 4×4 has had one repaint in its original “Frost White” color, reportedly due to a known issue with GM white paint. That must have been a thing for car companies in this era. I know of a few white vehicles that had that problem, and not just GM. The seller has this beautiful Blazer listed here on eBay in Spokane, Washington, there is no reserve (!), and the current bid price is $5,101. I have to believe this is a $15,000 to $25,000+ truck all day long?
I love colors on vehicles, more so than tones, like black, white, silver, or gray, but there’s something about this stark white Blazer that gets to me. Maybe it’s the combination of the basic white, the basic wheels and caps, and the setting that makes me dream of the time when I wanted to work for the National Park Service. The NPS was just breaking up its “Denver Service Center” (the main location for hundreds of NPS architects) when I was graduating from architecture college, in order to farm out work to private architecture firms rather than doing everything in-house. My dreams were dashed.
This looks like some sort of Park Service or Forest Service truck to me, but we don’t know its history. I suppose it would really be tan or light green if it were a park vehicle, but white works for me. The second-generation Blazer was made for model years 1973 through 1991, with a redesign in the middle, right before this truck was made. The seller has uploaded a mind-blowing 150+ photos, so please check out the eBay listing to see them all. Speaking of that, here’s what the clean rear cargo area looks like. The seller has included several underside photos as well.
The interior also looks incredible. The only real flaw I see is some cracking on the leading edge of the driver’s seat bottom cushion. That’s an easy fix, especially since this Blazer is a low-trim Custom Deluxe. That reminds me, the badge listing that on the glove box is partially missing, and there are a few holes in the dash and headliner where it looks like something may have been mounted in those spots. The back seat looks perfect, and here is a 1982 Chevrolet Blazer brochure.
The engine is Chevy’s 305-cu.in. OHV V8, which was rated at 165 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque. It’s backed by a transfer case (NP208?) and four-speed automatic transmission sending power to all four wheels as needed. The seller says it runs great, and everything works as it should except that they haven’t tried the AC and are assuming it doesn’t work. I would have tried it, just for the heck of it, but that’s just me. The tires are old, so plan on new tires. Otherwise, this looks like a great one. What’s the final bid price going to be on this Blazer?
I believe that was the era of gm using water based primer for white on the trucks and it either peeled off or just plain sloughed off I had an 89 silverado that was blue and while blue was fine white had to be stripped off completely primed and repainted
Very Nice truck here and as usual Scotty does a great job writing it up
You are way too kind, RMac.
My mom had a 1991 Dodge Spirit in white that peeled, and not the front tires, but the roof and trunk paint. Oddly, the white paint on the hood never peeled for some reason.
I had a Tahoe and the paint was good on the hood. However the rest of the paint just fell off and looked awful. I had that thing for 11 years and loved it.
Then my youngest grandson asked me if it wasn’t time to get rid of that old ride and so I did. I have regretted that ever since. If I had it now I’d paint it myself and no matter what it would look better and I’d tell my grandson to mind his own business. LOL.
No doubt if I still had it he’d want it.
Kinda like Acura, Honda, Toyotas and the like of the 2010s thru the latter part of the decade. Common issue with factory white vehicles that start peeling, especially around the rear window / decklid, or hatches on crossovers. I am pretty sure Honda had an open recall for a few years because the issue was so prevalent.
She’s a beaut, Clarke
Sweet Blazer!!
The days of the water-based paint and the massive warranty claims that occured to put the color back on. We had some dirty trucks come off the carrier and when we put them into the washbay the first blast was enough to remove everything from the hood. We had a couple of special orders where the customers didn’t want their new vehicle just because the factory paint was flawed.
Then there were the ranchers who didn’t care dog-dooey about that.
By the time this truck came out the swing to an SUV being the family car was in full. A lot of these, or suburbans, became the primary source of transportation for most families out west. We sold these by the 24 pack and there were more lined up behind them.
Most of them opted for diesel power, which was a good thing, really. That 6.2 did a great job but it also did a job on the new 700 R4 transmission that wasn’t so good.
We used to get Burbs and Jimmies in with nothing but Reverse. Up on the hoist, remove the transmission and strip it down. Replace nearly everything inside but the case and put it all back together.
Reinstall it and attempt to test it–Reverse was all you had, so you pulled the transmission again, and called GM.
Only then would they authorize a replacement transmission.
Anyways, those were the joys of the early 80s…
When I was selling 84-87 Chevys we had what appeared to be rust issues in light paint colors, white was the worst. We were told by GM it was acid rain related as far as they could tell. No idea if they ever confirmed the cause.
geo I almost bought an ex military one ton pickup w the 6.2, had the full time 4wd case… but pretty easy conversion to part time. Anyways, if I remember they had the Turbo 400 autoloader.
A friend had a black s-10 and at the time the dealer would do a “tape test”, if they stuck tape to the car and it pulled off the paint, GM would pay to strip the original paint and repaint the vehicle (due to the early problems with water based paint). His S-10 failed the tape test and was stripped and repainted. At least back then, the domestic manufacturers somewhat stood behind chronic problems (versus today’s “look the other way approach” to oil consumption and other endless chronic problems).
“they haven’t tried the AC”… meaning it doesn’t is inoperable. Very nice Blazer, I’d add the optional GM truck rally wheels and change out the 82 grille to an 83, I always thought management was out to lunch when it slipped through. I like this truck!
Haha, couldn’t edit fast enough… I meant to say the AC is inoperable, and I finally found an under hood photo that appears to show a missing the AC belt. Saying “they haven’t tried the AC” makes you wonder about what else they may have left out?
Man, Scotty, these dealer brochures make me wish we could go back to this time, go into the dealership, grab a bunch of brochures, and ogle every new car and truck.
Ha, I know, those are so fun to see. I’m glad I made a habit of including a link to those a few months ago. Thanks for letting me know that you click on those, PRA4SNW!
Sold on 7/5/2026 for a high bid of $16,900, there were 38 bids from 15 bidders.
Steve R
Thank you, sir!