Vehicle Description
This custom Hogan Built 1972 Chevrolet K5 Blazer was restored and
built for Captain "Wild" Bill Wichrowski of the Discovery Channel's
television show "The Deadliest Catch." This complete restoration
was taken down to bare metal and returned to a concours-worthy
finish. The exterior color was restored to the factory original
Medium Olive, two-toned with a Creme Brulee lower quarter. The
two-tone is separated by MAR-K trim with the addition of a
one-of-a-kind wood-grain insert. The chassis was sandblasted and
metal-worked, removing any imperfections or unnecessary holes.
After fabrication, the chassis was smoothed and finished in a gloss
black powder coat. The axles and brake system were completely
revamped throughout. The axles were rebuilt, smoothed and painted
to match the chassis. The brake system was upgraded with a
hydro-boost system, along with drilled/slotted rotors and Wilwood
calipers. The factory hardtop was perfected and returned to better
than new, with gas shocks, new weatherstripping and brand-new
glass. To get the stance right, front and rear Deaver leaf springs
were added with the addition of Fox shocks. The K5 sits on 17-inch
Black Rhino Primm beadlocks paired with BFG KO2 tires. The Blazer
is powered by a 500hp factory 6.2-liter GM LS3 engine equipped with
CVF front drive, mated to a Hughes 4L80E transmission and NP205
transfer case. To keep a vintage look in the engine bay, a classic
16-inch filter was added to the Holley intake along with SBC valve
covers with hidden coil packs. To improve the power and output, a
custom 3-inch fully TIG-welded, fully polished exhaust with
MagnaFlow mufflers was fabricated. In the rear there is a polished
24-gallon Boyd fuel cell with a custom fuel cradle. The custom
interior features Triple Twine Tan throughout with custom bucket
seats utilizing the Hogan Built front seat brackets, allowing the
front seats to function like factory. A beautiful German
square-weave carpet along with custom door panels were installed to
provide a sense of elegance inside. There is a custom
leather-wrapped steering wheel attached to a CPP color-matched
steering column. Look just past the steering wheel to see Classic
Instrument gauges that have been painted to match the build. A
Vintage Air system has been added to keep things cool no matter
what the weather, and there is also a RetroSound stereo and
American Auto wire harness. This Blazer features a fully custom
stereo featuring four 6.5-inch component speakers and a built-in
10-inch subwoofer. Dynamat is installed throughout to keep road
noise out and the music in. This build had a true nut-and-bolt,
body-off concours restoration using only the best parts while
maintaining the classic K5 style for which Hogan Built is known.
