Next month, this 1970 K5 Chevy Blazer, once owned by legendary actor and racer Steve McQueen, will head to Mecum’s Indy 2024 event, offering up a thick slab of automotive history to the highest bidder. Known for his roles in “Bullitt” and “LeMans,” not to mention his real-world racing prowess, McQueen’s ownership adds a storied provenance to this classic American SUV. Not only did McQueen drive this Blazer, but he even used it during his motorsport career, and now, it’s looking for a new home.
McQueen acquired this 1970 Chevy Blazer on Christmas Eve in 1969, per the original dealer invoice listing McQueen as the purchaser via McQueen’s production company, Solar Productions. The SUV would go on to serve as a support vehicle for McQueen’s attempt at the grueling Baja 1000 race. Equipped to navigate the demanding desert terrain, McQueen’s race team outfitted the Chevy with front and rear Positraction differentials, while the front end was upgraded with a four-headlamp grille from a GMC Jimmy for enhanced nighttime visibility. Under the hood lies a 350 cubic-inch V8 engine paired with a TH350 automatic transmission.
Although McQueen’s Baja race endeavor ended in a DNF, the Blazer continued its journey, eventually finding its way to Bob Bianchi in 1971 through a Penny Saver ad. As the story goes, Bianchi purchased the SUV for $1,500, picking it up from a warehouse in Bellflower, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. Bianchi enjoyed the vehicle, taking it on a 13,000-mile road trip in 1972 and driving it regularly through 2001, after which the Blazer was only used occasionally for cruises. The Bianchi family owned the SUV until 2022.
The odometer currently shows roughly 81,600 miles. The exterior looks crisp and clean, with Citrus Green paint matched to a green interior.
Now, this 1970 Chevy K5 Blazer will hit the auction block as Lot R203 at the Mecum Auctions Indy 2024 event. How high do you expect the final bid to go?
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Comments
Chevy Blazer with a GMC Jimmy grille. Usually it’s the other way around.
I worked for a GMC dealer back in 1972, and it was amazing how many pickups came in with Chevy tailgates and horn buttons.
Those first blazers were great , and the styling, and size still are the best some 50 years later!!
GM should use the current Colorado chassis and make a modern day Jimmy/ Blazer with styling to match this.
With modern technology and the 2.7 T HO engine , this would be an instant hit!!
They were. Reported here about 3 months ago, insiders at GM reported there was a GMC Jimmy based on the canyon that was going to receive both the 2.7 and 6.2 in the AT4 trims….. but the project got shelved to focus on the hummer EV 😡hindsight is 2020 they say, and it would have been in salt smart for GM to never made an EV, built the GMc jimmy, and introduced several hybrids. But 4 years ago the cartel we call Washington vowed to outlaw anything but EV’s. GM is doing fine. Not great but fine. The Canyon Elevation is a great all around vehicle that I personally think is hotter than the new blasphemous looking broncos.
Steve McQueen must have had a thing for dark green vehicles.
All Marines lean toward green – Semper Fi.
I was there a couple years ago and it was up for auction. I didn’t check to see if it sold but the Mecum estimate was outragous!
To some, it’s all about “identity by association”.
It might be a K5 Blazer, but it ain’t a Chevy! Looks like something titled as GM Authority would be quicker than that!!
Definitely GMC grill!
The article explains why. Anyway, the VIN tells all.
$275K
I was in Florida a couple years ago and witnessed the Mustang that Mc Queen drove in the movie Bullet sell at 3.3 Million. It was a family owned car they drove regularly in North (possibly South) Carolina as a regular driver. Still beat up from the chase in the movie.