Vehicle Description
Jeep invented the personal 4x4, Ford made it popular, and trucks
like this dialed-in 1979 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Cheyenne 4x4 perfected
the breed. Blending the perfect amount of go-anywhere truck
durability with creature comforts and practicality, the Blazer was
a mainstay of popular automotive culture for decades, and few are
better suited to that legacy than this beautifully restored
original 4x4.
The very attractive and vivid Blue Metallic paint job closely
replicates the factory color (GM offered several shades of similar
blues for their '79 K5s) and still looks great on the Blazer's
squared-off body lines. There's plenty of Chevy pickup truck DNA in
there, but who can argue with the result when it looks this darn
good? The proportions are ideal for a big yet personal SUV, and
with the removable white hardtop out back, it's fairly easy to
transform it into a fun-in-the-sun machine for a day at the beach.
The idea of having fun in this truck was clearly the driving force
behind the restoration, since it isn't trailer queen perfect, but
rather a great blend of restored and original components that
ensure you won't think twice about climbing behind the wheel and
putting it to use. The driver-quality repaint was done right when
it was finished a few years back, much nicer than we usually see on
these big brutes, and when combined with the bling of the Cheyenne
body trim and white hardtop, the curb appeal is off the charts. It
fits together very well, the big doors close easily, and there's no
evidence that it has ever been wrecked or abused. The egg-crate
grille up front is brand new and really pops with those shiny
chrome outlines on the front clip, heavy-duty bumpers fore and are
the perfect endcaps, and that aforementioned Cheyenne trim on the
profiles and tailgate is new and bright as can be. Whether on the
trail or at the car show, this Blazer turns heads.
Twin high-back bucket seats with custom white-and-blue seat covers,
durable black vinyl flooring, and a new black dash pad and matching
new door panels anchor a stylish and functional interior that
proves how well-built and well-cared for this K5 Blazer really is.
Today, we might find the inside of the Blazer absurdly spacious
(especially when you consider that this is a 2-door truck), but
that's the great thing about old vehicles like this, particularly
when they're also practical and functional. The white vinyl with
blue suede inserts upholstery is in great shape wrapped around
those durable front buckets, and that beautiful matching white
vinyl was continued onto the rear bench - meaning this K5 is a
comfortable 4-passenger vehicle (5 in a pinch) that'll truly go
almost anywhere. By 1979, the Blazer was getting more luxurious,
and it feels great to settle behind the big 3-spoke tilt wheel for
a long cruise or a crawl down your favorite trail. A black center
console splits the buckets and provides cup holders and extra
storage, the black Cheyenne dash pad was finished to match, and
both the column shifter for the automatic transmission and
floor-shifter for the 2-speed transfer case are a short reach away.
The Pioneer AM/FM/CD/AUX head unit powers up from the factory dash
slot and there's cool-looking black headliner up above that houses
a full set of speakers, although we had trouble getting sound so
they made need a little attention. Other choice options include
factory A/C (compressor only), power windows and locks, a tilt
column, and a full set of seatbelts front and back. Roll down the
rear electric window and open the tailgate to reveal all that cargo
space, which can be more than doubled when the rear bench is
removed. And when the removable white top is taken off, this Blazer
turns into an open-air cruiser than can also double as a 4x4 pickup
truck. Sweet!
The neatly detailed 350 cubic inch V8 under the hood that powers
this bruiser is the perfect companion if you're going somewhere
remote, or if you're just cruising around town to impress the
locals. It's mostly a stock set-up, which is great for reliability,
and frankly it might just be a little too clean to spend any time
playing in the dirt. They resisted the urge to add a bunch of
flash, opting instead for a set of subtle finned valve covers and a
matching Edelbrock air cleaner as dress-up. With a big Holley
4-barrel carburetor and Holley performance intake atop the motor
it's breathing easy, and the horsepower is kicked up a bit thanks
to a set of block hugging long-tube headers at the flanks. It runs
superbly, starting easily and idling with a muscular rumble from
the H-pipe Flowmaster dual exhaust system below. The powerful small
block is backed by a capable TH350 3-speed automatic transmission
plus a 2-speed transfer case that feeds power to the heavy-duty
axles at both ends (10-bolt front; 12-bolt rear). With that lifted
ride height, it'll climb over big obstacles and the upgraded
shocks, springs, and steering stabilizers keep it from being too
rough a ride. Power steering means this Blazer is easy to drive for
everyone, and power front disc brakes help it stop on a dime.
Bullet hole mag alloys are in great shape and carry beefy
35x12.50-15 Cooper Discover all-terrain radials that complete the
go-anywhere look.
Vintage Blazers are big fun, and with this southern truck (never
left Alabama) that was built ready to hit the trails, you can
combine work and play without changing a thing. Nicely restored and
as clean as they come, this dialed-in K5 won't last long. Call
today!
