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Uncut Project: 1973 Chevrolet K5 Blazer

When it comes to square body trucks these days, the word you love to hear is “uncut.” Broncos, Scouts, Blazers – it doesn’t matter which make or model. The likelihood of an older rig like those models having been modified for off-road use is so high that it’s a downright event when you find one with its original fender wells still attached. That’s why the seller of this 1973 Chevrolet K5 Blazer is so excited about his truck and likely why bidders are responding accordingly, as it’s listed here on eBay with bids to over $11,000 and no reserve. The seller notes the Chevy also comes with lots of documentation, including a letter from Chevrolet to the first owner.

Now, that’s not to say this is a perfect truck as it clearly has some rust issues for the next owner to sort out. That being said, most square body enthusiasts would rather deal with some rust on an original truck than have to untangle a twisted web of poorly-executed modifications. The truck comes with its original removable hard top, and while the paint is tired, it’s way more enjoyable to try and restore an original finish than to simply wipe down a respray (in my opinion.) The Chevy rides on aftermarket wheels that are very period-correct and are seemingly the biggest deviation from stock condition – even the bumpers appear to be original.

The 350-equipped Blazer is said to fire up and run nicely, with no major driveability issues reported. It comes with an engine block heater which may suggest the Blazer resided in a mountain region where temperatures got downright low from time to time. Perhaps this is also a clue as to why it’s survived in decent, but not perfectly rust-free, condition. The seller doesn’t specify whether the Blazer is numbers-matching, but given how many of these trucks were workhorses where engine removals and replacements were an everyday occurrence, I wouldn’t worry too much about an engine replacement. It is a factory A/C truck, which is another bonus for the next owner.

The interior is in driver-quality condition, but certainly decent enough that you can live with it while the truck is refreshed. The interior shows matching paint with the exterior, which would seemingly suggest the orange finish is how it left the factory. The dash pad is in really nice shape, which is potentially another clue that the Blazer resided in a high mountain region or otherwise sunny but not too sunny part of the country. It has the cheesy oversized “Big Sky Country Montana” mudflaps that seem to be all the rage these days, but that’s not a guarantee that it’s from there. Regardless, the Blazer is an unspoiled survivor that will likely be completely restored or potentially carefully refreshed without stripping away all of its originality.

Comments

  1. Avatar geomechs Member

    I would actually prefer this over the shiny red and white one. No part of this you can’t fix. They still ran points on these but GM had the best system. Some rust to fix but not hopeless. Good quality parts readily available. And when the weather is right take the top off and play Sheriff Brody. You just need a shark…

    Like 11
  2. Avatar geomechs Member

    I would actually prefer this over the shiny red and white one. No part of this you can’t fix. They still ran points on these but GM had the best system. Some rust to fix but not hopeless. Good quality parts readily available. And when the weather is right take the top off and play Sheriff Brody. You just need a shark…

    Like 4
    • Avatar geomechs Member

      How the devil does that happen? Sometimes I submit a comment and it just disappears. This time I submit ONCE, and only once and what do I end up with? (2) identical comments. Just ignore the first one, guys…

      Like 10
      • HoA Howard A Member

        Solar flares,,,points, by golly, that dates you my friend. I wonder what goes through a Snowflakes mind when you say “adjust the points”,,I think GM had the best setup with the little “window”. That allen wrench adorned everyones glove box, just in case, you know. I never did figure out how to keep the points from moving just a little bit when tightening the screw. I’d set it sloppy, and tightening the screw would be about right.I never had some fancy “Dwell tach”,,

        Like 6
  3. Avatar Boatman Member

    They cut early Broncos, not Blazers.

    Like 4
    • Avatar nlpnt

      Big fiberglass flares were available for these, no cutting required, just bolt or Bondo them on over the parts of the fender that had already rusted away. If they’re big and serious enough to cover the real estate meant for the sidemarker lights, just swap on a pair of round ones from a ’68 Mopar.

      Like 1
  4. Avatar Rbig18

    I would take this one over the red one as well.

    Like 0
  5. Avatar Cam W.

    I still love these. Got my first one, brand new in 1976.I was really disappointed that GM changed the roof from ’76, and only the rear section was removable. I knew “someday” I would have a ’73-75 full convertible. I started searching hard in the mid 90s, but found mostly rusty beaters or highly modified mudders and customs. In about 2002, I spotted a really nice ’75 at a local garage. It belonged to a customer, and the garage had just about finished restoring it. It was not for sale. Several months later it was still there. The Blazer ‘s owner was apparently having “financial difficulties”. Months turned into years, and there it sat. By this point the garage owner and I had become friends. He was unsuccessful at working out payments with the Blazer owner, and eventually decided to keep it. I asked if he would sell it about once a year. The answer was always no. He never licensed it , or even started it. It was turning into typical barn-find condition. It stayed parked, outside under a tree behind the garage for about 7 years. One day the garage owner called me and asked if I still wanted it. He told me that he was still annoyed about the customer not paying, and every time he looked at the Blazer he got angry. He offered me a great “As-Is” deal on the condition that I remove it within the hour, and never bring it to his garage or speak of it. I got it out of there quickly, Vise Grip Garage style. It took a major cleanup, new tires, brakes, and fuel system overhaul. It came up nicely and only gets driven in nice summer weather (roof off) for cruise-nights and fun. It is not for sale…..
    I still look for convertible Blazers, and rarely see decent ones like the orange one for sale here. It appears to be remarkably unmolested, other than the aftermarket wheels. It is also somewhat unusual that it has base model trim, but has factory air-conditioning. Most units ordered with A/C had nicer interiors, chrome bumpers, and Cheyenne trim.
    This appears to be a project with decent potential. While the price would have been considered way to high a couple years ago, I believe it to be “market-correct” for todaay

    Like 6
  6. Avatar Cam W.

    The options on this Blazer make me think it was originally a fleet order. For example, the Leonard pipelines fleet was typically ordered in orange with white bumpers. They were building and maintaining pipelines during this period from oilfields in Alberta, down to refineries in Texas. My late father had 2 similarly painted and equipped ex-Leonard trucks on his hobby-farm: a ’72 Jimmy(foremans truck) , and a ’74 Chev 3/4 4×4.

    Like 3
  7. HoA Howard A Member

    I’m sure most that went to the shiny red one saw what happened to most in my area, so no need to post again. I’m still a notch off, the red one is up to a whopping $24,500, and I suppose justified for what you are getting, this is a beater, and I wouldn’t give them half of what they want. You want something to “nickel & dime” you, here you go, ( I see the brake master has already leaked), No guarantee the shiny red one won’t either, just looks prettier. When you buy a truck like this, just be prepared to replace just about everything bolted to the motor, and work your way back.You’ll eventually catch up and have a nice dependable truck, it’s clearly it’s rarity that drives the prices up. People up north are probably the bidders, as they haven’t seen one in years.
    You know, if demand really is that great, and by what comes through here, it might, I was just looking at FB Marketplace, with a filter of “1980” max, 500 mile radius, I won’t bother you with their long links( that seem to screw up BF’s sometimes) there was a TON of trucks out here, mostly 4×4’s, in the range of between $1500 for a non-running beater( still no rust) and maybe $5,000 for a drivable one, so I just don’t understand where these 5 figure beaters are coming from. I sure know where they are going. If I was a more ambitious person ( get up and go, got up and went) I’d get myself an old Pete again and a flatbed, and drag some of these trucks back up north,,late at night of course. I knew guys that did that in the 90’s, and made a killing. I bet one could still do that today, and with alleged 5 figure prices tags on every one, be a win-win, I’d be buying that new KWhopper for $247,000 in no time,, not a misprint, that’s what a new large car KWhopper costs today,,,eeep..
    It’s a nice find, no question, and that’s another thing, all these “squarebody” trucks that come through, I never see one with the custom gauge package, with full gauges and a tach, like mine. It was a $67 dollar option,,IDK, well worth it to monitor engine functions. A light is too late.

    Like 2
  8. Avatar John L.

    Hasn’t anyone noticed how rusty, and beat up this thing is? Be interesting to know where this came from originally, it’s certainly not a California rig. And that letter from Chevrolet to the original owner, everyone who bought a new Chevrolet in 1973 got one, I got one when I bought my 1973 Nova SS.

    Like 1
    • Avatar geomechs Member

      ’73 and ’74 had a tendency to rust more than the newer ones. I’ve worked on lots that showed this amount of rust and it was confined to the fender radius and the lower rear quarter panels. One place I would want to check out is the torque boxes that allow the truck to sit straight without jamming the doors. I’ve yet to see one that has been out west all its life rusted out in that area. True some had some rust but I’ve never seen them cratered…

      Like 0
      • Avatar Terry Bowman

        Yes, my 73′ had its share of rust. Cab, lower front fenders and a bent hood, due to hinge binding. Bed was fine. bought new and sold it 2007.

        Like 0
  9. Avatar t-bone BOB

    Located in:
    Ventura, California

    Like 0
  10. Avatar Bob Washburne

    My buddy had one of these he used to deliver Philadelphia Inquirers. It was a ’74, inline 6, three-speed manual on the floor. Wish I’d been there when he got rid of it.

    I’m one of the NE crowd watching this, have wanted one for years. My chief concern looking at this one is the weird shut-lines at the hood, door & cowl. I put a front clip on the ’74 for my buddy after he hit a wall; we did it in an afternoon. I don’t remember any of the front-end body lines not lining right up when properly adjusted and shimmed. The doors look like they are where they are supposed to be so it makes me wonder if something’s not right with the frame mounts.

    The door will be a fun repair.

    Sooo tempting, but I’d have to sell my ’65 Econoline pickup first (or fast!)

    Like 0
    • Avatar Terry Bowman

      Maybe you can make a trade with your Econoline, if it is in better condition.

      Like 0

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