The K5 Blazer was built from 1973 to 1991, an incredible production run of 18 years. There were seven different engine choices offered over the years, along a four-speed manual transmission and three available automatic transmissions.
The Blazer was a well-loved, multi-purpose vehicle that was well suited to off-roading, family hauling, towing, plowing and more. It was even used as military vehicle. It’s no surprise, then, that YouTube car reviewer (and internet car mainstay at this point) Regular Car Reviews has some love for the K5 Blazer.
The youTuber recently reviewed a late 1990 example of the iconic SUV for his channel – the second to last year of production. The old school character of the K5 is very much present in this 1990 example, though. This is a vehicle that spent 18 years in production with the same body, after all.
Regular Car Reviews rather humorously points out that the K5 is the most modern day car made of all metal and he may be right. With a metal body and metal bumpers, the 1990 K5 Blazer is old school for only going on 30 years. He also says its toughness even makes other trucks leave him space. After all, that’s real chrome on his bumpers – not some plastic bumper covers. Then again, you probably wouldn’t want to challenge a modern vehicle in anything that old. Have you seen those retro Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash tests?
The 2019 Chevrolet Blazer is a vehicle built for a different world than K5 Blazer, but we miss the days when SUVs were made of all metal. Check out Regular Car Reviews’ video embedded above for a loving look back at one of many GM enthusiasts’ favorite vehicles, the all metal, body on frame Chevrolet K5 Blazer.
If you liked this story, be sure not to miss our other Chevrolet Blazer news.
Comments
The new Blazer is a cop-out . Not worthy of the name . but I see the dilemma .What can GM build in a new Chevy SUV that would use an existing chassis and suspension etc . Assembly costs are then lower ,and time to build more efficient . This is called the GM philosophy , I’m sure . The result will appeal to the masses and do well , GM is the hostest with the mostest , change the name plates and the grills , you too can drive a new age Chevy .
I’ll take the 90 over the new one, hands down.
Sorry, to me , they ruined the name. Yes, today’s world is different and so are the needs. But hey, look at Jeep? Still going and growing strong with the same ideas years ago.
Waahh!, So much complaining about a hillbilly fantasy. look, want a full-frame Chevy SUV?, get a Tahoe (in which the K5 Blazer was replaced by). Did the Explorer flop because it moved away from the Jurassic Park bodystyle?, Even the new rwd one is an essential a street wagon. With that statement IMO I hope a Colorado based Trailblazer returns for off-roaders.
Everytime I see one of these I’m instantly reminded of my dad! He had a number of K5 Blazers throughout our childhood, and loved everyone of them!…Some had the body or frame rusted out, some we’re stolen (we lived on the south side of Chicago in the 80s), and some simply succumbed to major mechanical issues. But regardless of all this, I’d rather have one of these all-metal 4×4 tanks than any of these overpriced and over-complicated tall station wagons everyone’s flocking to nowadays!
Had a ’79 2wd Blazer. Lotta room for kids stuff. Short wheelbase made it easy to manuever. Was good vehicle.
K5 came out in 1969 so you know. I own a 72
Exactly. The ’73-91 model run was the 2nd generation. It didn’t stop there either. The 3rd generation started in ’92 on the GMT400/415 platform and was still called a Blazer and 2-door only until ’95.
They changed the name to Tahoe in 95, I had one, but still only available in 2 dr for a couple more years. The name change was primarily due to confusion with the S10 Blazer – you could get a Blazer in either size for quite a few years. Probably my favorite of a vehicle of all time, other than needing more power. The single injector 350 only made 200 hp at the time, the Vortec 350 came out the next year and added 50 hp. You couldn’t pass a car if you had to go over 60 because you’d hit the 4000 rpm redline in 3rd gear. It was big enough to give you the full-size truck feel, yet was short enough to be easy to park and maneuver.
Bought a 1989 in Light French Blue with a white top and bottom panel. Gray cloth interior that lasted for 11 years with hardly a scratch. Sold in to get a 2001 Yukon after 245,000 miles. She was a beauty, and I’d love to buy another with modern guts. Wonder if there is a business opportunity there?
I drove to work this morning in my 1989 K5. I’ve had her for many years and it turns quite a few heads. Still get fairly good mileage with it and everything works just has it did when new. I’m the third owner.
I own a few GM utility vehicles including a ’72 Suburban I restored that was my Dad’s and a late model Tahoe but the Blazer is my favorite and always has been. It broke my heart when Mary debuted this crossover with that name.
Really? Another FWD crossover?
The Blazer was for a man, not a soccer mom, it was a tough truck that you could pull with or off road in and take your wife or Momma to church too!
This new thing may be a good crossover but it will never be a Blazer and what Mary doesn’t get is that we know the difference.
Just call it the Trailblazer like it was towards the end of its life! And offer a 2-door Tahoe as the actual Blazer.
I think a T1 Silverado SBRC with a passenger rear-cap could be called the K5 or Blazer-T1, nah don’t think GM would do that though it would make money….
Hunka hunka burnin’ love baby. I miss the good ole days.