Vehicle Description
Looking like a paramilitary vehicle built for suburban warfare
(because frankly that's what it was originally built for), this
awesome 1986 Chevrolet K5 Blazer M1009 is the ideal choice for just
about any adventure. With 6.2L diesel power, tough olive drab
bodywork, a lifted stance, and plenty of attitude, it's going to
get attention everywhere it goes.
The CUCV (Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle) was a program from the
mid'80s that produced militarized versions of the civilian K5
Blazer, and in the last couple decades these predecessors to the
HUMVEE (in fact, the military K5 CUCV was built by Vic Hickey,
father of the HUMVEE) have found there way into the collector car
world via government auctions. Most of them have beaten to an inch
of their lives, or stored outdoors until Mother Nature brought them
the everlasting peace they didn't find on the battlefield, but a
select few like this 1986 example have been neatly preserved and
repurposed. The body was recently refinished with a spray-on
bedliner material dyed a military style Olive Drab, and it's the
perfect complement for this warrior's chiseled bodywork. The body
and the removable top got the same treatment, and this bedliner
paint will practically last forever and it's impervious to just
about anything you can throw at it, which means the paint itself
embodies the very spirit of this truck. Off-road accessories
include a color-matched brush guard up front, giant blacked-out
bumpers fore and aft with bright red tow hooks attached, and a full
roof rack that carries a matching spare and giant LED lightbars
front and back. The blacked-out grille was typical CUCV-spec as
well, but it's been filled with modern blacked-out LED headlights,
along with a trio of LED light bars mounted in the brush guard.
Those tow rings and the industrial tow-package under the rear
bumper mean it's serious about going into the brush and tubular
step plates make it easy to climb up into the tall 4x4. Fender
flares were painted to match and mounted over the giant beadlock
wheels, and desert stars and American flags were added to the paint
scheme to give this M1009 a very unique look that we absolutely
love.
With plenty of upgrades and modern materials, the interior shows
quite well in this bruiser. Swapped-in leather buckets from a
late-model Chevy SUV are all-day comfortable and leagues ahead of
what would've come stock, and they brought the matching rear seat
as well to match for some friends (or co-conspirators, depending on
what you're doing with this truck). The factory gauges, steering
wheel, and locking center console mean it's easy to get comfortable
behind the wheel, and although the burgundy door panels and dash
pad don't exactly match, they do the trick. A heavy-duty black mat
was added up front and cleans up easily, while the storage area in
the back still shows off the truck's original paint and
demonstrates just how solid this K5 actually is. Extra switches and
12-volt plugs were added to a custom console just below the dash
and most of the original switches are still clearly labeled, so you
can put them to work immediately, while an upgraded Boss
AM/FM/CD/USB/BT stereo is ready to bang out 'Fortunate Son' at any
moment.
GM's rugged, reliable, and torquey 6.2 liter diesel V8 is a great
choice in the Blazer, getting the big truck moving without a lot of
effort and never getting tired when slogging through the rough
stuff. Given its durability, it shouldn't be a surprise that it has
never required a major rebuild, although it has been
conscientiously serviced by the looks of things under the hood.
You'll need to master the starting procedure since it still uses
glow plugs, but you'll also discover that as long as this engine
has fuel and air, it'll run, making it incredibly reliable. The
M1009's unique split 24/12-volt electrical system with it's
multiple batteries is still place and working as it should, and a
giant radiator was added to keep the heavy-duty diesel nice and
cool under all conditions. The heavy-duty TH400 3-speed automatic
transmission and two-speed transfer case feed heavy-duty �-ton
axles and they've added dual exhaust with chambered mufflers so it
has an intimidating voice. A full Rough Country lift with fresh
shocks and steering stabilizers were added for the tall stance, and
the suspension was tuned right because this Blazer actually drives
really well, further assisted with a big sway bar and front disc
brakes. Heavy-duty beadlock off-road wheels look butch and carry
giant 315/70/17 all-terrain tires that will climb over boulders the
size of beach balls without a scratch.
This is one bad Blazer that should satisfy anyone's urge to have an
adventure. Heck, just driving it to work should make you feel like
Rambo, and if you're a serious off-roader, you'll appreciate its
upgraded capabilities. USA and Slava Ukraine! Call today!
