- Joined
- Apr 16, 2005
- Location
- Sharon, SC
To the surprise of no one who has spent more than 30 minutes talking to me, I'm a bit of a car mutt.
I grew up a die hard Ford fanatic. I've owned over 20 mustangs over the years and still have 3 today. (All 60s models fwiw). I have also had an affinity for CJ7s that I'm not really sure where to trace its roots but Ive likewise had double digit 7s over the years.
But when it comes to offroad vehicles nothing is closer to my heart than a Chevy Blazer. I think they are the perfect combination of full width, short-ish wheel base, topless action for cruising and wide enough to fit a fat boy like me comfortably. Factory V-8s and full widths round out the package. Consequently I've built a few over my life. For one reason or another every previous iteration I've put together has been a compromise between want, need, afford and common sense. As my kids have gotten older and more involved in extracurricular activities and with my wife not enjoying wheeling as much anymore because of some back issues, time to get away and wheel the way I enjoy has been harder and harder to squeeze in and even harder to justify. So late last year I sold the buggy and since then I have been on the hunt for the right vehicle to start my next project.
I want a vehicle that is as much at home at a local cruise in as it is a mild to moderate trail. A vehicle that will both perform and look good. Is comfortable, reliable, safe, and family friendly. The build plan is going to be a bit boring for many here but it fits where I am and where my family is right now.
So enough intro...I initially went out looking for fully removable top K5 this put me into the 69-74 range. But as I looked and evaluated various vehicles I really settled into looking for a 69-72 as there is just something timeless about the look of those 1st gens. I've traveled as far as GA and TN in the last 3 months looking at vehicles that never fit the mold for one reason or another....then a fellow NC4x4 member put me onto a long forgotten parked vehicle behind a local business in Charlotte. Just a few miles from home.
A quick phone call confirmed it was available but "It's really rough. Was running when parked but its just good for parts. Been sitting 15 years or so since daddy died. It was his" ...This was going to require proceeding with some trepidation and kid glove handling IF it was the right one. Me and my son went and checked her out last weekend and it was fairly described...typical rocker panel rust, some floor boards and rear fenders were showing the signs as well. However...this was a pretty darn virgin piece of old iron. And not just any one either a 1972 Chevy Blazer Custom Camper Special truck. This meant 350/350/205 drivetrain, factory A/C (all the items remain and are intact), factory tilt wheel and factory disc brakes on the front Dana 44. In a few short minutes a deal was struck and yesterday we drug her home.
Where it has sat and rested for 15 years:
Loading it up in the rain:
Here is an interior shot showing the factory A/c and not so factory push button start:
Driver rocker is gone:
Passenger Floor board isnt any better:
But the frame is 100% solid. And shockingly the rear wheel wells still had the factory undercoating and were mint.
Spent a couple hours cleaning it out and pressure washing it.
More to come as we get into it in the next couple weeks...
The thread title is a line from a song my son loves. When we picked it up he said it reminded him of that song...
I grew up a die hard Ford fanatic. I've owned over 20 mustangs over the years and still have 3 today. (All 60s models fwiw). I have also had an affinity for CJ7s that I'm not really sure where to trace its roots but Ive likewise had double digit 7s over the years.
But when it comes to offroad vehicles nothing is closer to my heart than a Chevy Blazer. I think they are the perfect combination of full width, short-ish wheel base, topless action for cruising and wide enough to fit a fat boy like me comfortably. Factory V-8s and full widths round out the package. Consequently I've built a few over my life. For one reason or another every previous iteration I've put together has been a compromise between want, need, afford and common sense. As my kids have gotten older and more involved in extracurricular activities and with my wife not enjoying wheeling as much anymore because of some back issues, time to get away and wheel the way I enjoy has been harder and harder to squeeze in and even harder to justify. So late last year I sold the buggy and since then I have been on the hunt for the right vehicle to start my next project.
I want a vehicle that is as much at home at a local cruise in as it is a mild to moderate trail. A vehicle that will both perform and look good. Is comfortable, reliable, safe, and family friendly. The build plan is going to be a bit boring for many here but it fits where I am and where my family is right now.
So enough intro...I initially went out looking for fully removable top K5 this put me into the 69-74 range. But as I looked and evaluated various vehicles I really settled into looking for a 69-72 as there is just something timeless about the look of those 1st gens. I've traveled as far as GA and TN in the last 3 months looking at vehicles that never fit the mold for one reason or another....then a fellow NC4x4 member put me onto a long forgotten parked vehicle behind a local business in Charlotte. Just a few miles from home.
A quick phone call confirmed it was available but "It's really rough. Was running when parked but its just good for parts. Been sitting 15 years or so since daddy died. It was his" ...This was going to require proceeding with some trepidation and kid glove handling IF it was the right one. Me and my son went and checked her out last weekend and it was fairly described...typical rocker panel rust, some floor boards and rear fenders were showing the signs as well. However...this was a pretty darn virgin piece of old iron. And not just any one either a 1972 Chevy Blazer Custom Camper Special truck. This meant 350/350/205 drivetrain, factory A/C (all the items remain and are intact), factory tilt wheel and factory disc brakes on the front Dana 44. In a few short minutes a deal was struck and yesterday we drug her home.
Where it has sat and rested for 15 years:
Loading it up in the rain:
Here is an interior shot showing the factory A/c and not so factory push button start:
Driver rocker is gone:
Passenger Floor board isnt any better:
But the frame is 100% solid. And shockingly the rear wheel wells still had the factory undercoating and were mint.
Spent a couple hours cleaning it out and pressure washing it.
More to come as we get into it in the next couple weeks...
The thread title is a line from a song my son loves. When we picked it up he said it reminded him of that song...
Last edited:
