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Most Awesome 4x4 Trucks Ever Made |
Sold for $25,000 November 21, 2013 4x4 350 CI engine Automatic Transmission Restoration just finished New chrome and stainless New 33" tires Just over 47,000 actual miles Very Original |
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1972 Chevrolet K5 Blazer |
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The original K5 was a short wheelbase truck.
It was available in 1969 as 4-wheel drive only; in 1970, a
two-wheel-drive model was offered. There were four choices for power
plants: the 250 in straight-6, the 292 straight-6, the 307 V8, and the
350 V8. The Blazer was designed and marketed to compete with
International Harvester Scout and the Ford Bronco. Both of these were
originally aimed at the short Jeep CJ series, which were much smaller
than other trucks. The great innovation of the Blazer was to simply
offer a shortened pickup truck, which both increased interior space, and
lowered the cost of production with a shared platform. The Blazer
quickly became popular. For the first time, it married the off-road
capabilities of the Scout with the "luxury" features like air
conditioning and automatic transmissions routinely available on pickup
trucks. By 1970, the Blazer was already outselling both of its older
rivals. Ford, Dodge, and even Jeep would counter with similar shortened
pickups, with the Dodge Ramcharger and Jeep Cherokee. It also came as a
convertible. The two-wheel drive version came with independent front suspension and rear trailing arms, both with coil springs. The four-wheel drive version had a solid front axle and used leaf springs front and rear. Both versions used drum brakes at all four corners until 1971, when the entire GM light truck line got standard front discs. A tachometer was optional. There was also a choice between a three-speed automatic transmission Turbo Hydromatic (TH350), a three-speed manual transmission, and a four-speed Synchromesh (SM465) manual transmission. Two transfer cases were offered: the Dana 20, available only with the manual transmissions, or the NP-205, available with both types of transmissions. The Blazer had 8 inches (200 mm) of ground clearance and an approach angle of 35°. These first generation K-5 Blazer 4x4 built between 1969 and 1972 with the removable roof and 350 V-8 are by far the most collectible of this series. Many are now being restored and and are starting to demand strong prices. It appears these will only get more popular with collectors. |
