Maybe it’s the sound of bottle rockets ringing in our ears…but when this amazing Blazer rumbled into the Summit Racing retail store parking lot, we could’ve sworn we heard Dinah Shore playing quietly in the distance.
That’s because, orange paint job aside, this delightfully original K/5 has plenty of all-American flair.
And it starts up front with an iconic license plate.
The early Chevy “USA-1” plate designs began with Chevy’s “See America’s First” advertising campaign in the 1950s, but the familiar Star-Spangled plate on this Blazer came about during the 1960s—and that design ultimately became the Chevy standard in the decades that followed.
Moving in closer, we noticed another subtle patriotic touch: hand-painted “USA #1” pinstriping atop its beltline.
We’re guessing that wasn’t a factory option, though it definitely should’ve been.
Either way, it looks totally cool in our book, which is why this K/5 had to be a Lot Shots feature.
And if you’re into patriotic Chevrolets, you might enjoy this article too: Ever Hear About Chevy’s 1974 “Spirit of America” Special Edition Cars?
Admittedly, we’re not Blazer experts around here—but our pal Craig Artzner sure as heck is.
So we phoned-a-friend to get some insight on this particular rig.
The grille design easily gives this one away as either a 1971 or 1972 model, but Craig told us to check out the interior door panels.
That’s because, in 1971, the door panel was essentially flat and the entire armrest was a separate, screw-on piece. But in 1972, Blazers got fancier door panels with a molded-in armrest support, with just a small foam pad that screwed in on top.
Craig also mentioned that, in 1972, the Blazer adopted sort of a two-piece style front turn signal lens on the fender; earlier models used a much simpler design.
Thanks to some clues like the armrest, marker lens, and the appearance of disc brakes up front, we’re pretty darn sure this one’s a 1972 model—meaning it was the last year of the first-gen Blazer before it shifted to the beloved Squarebody-derived styling.
In case you were wondering about the “K/5” part, the designation was borrowed from the Chevy C- and K-Series trucks, specifically a nod to the four-wheel drive “K” series truck line—which makes a lot of sense, because the Blazer itself used a shortened frame derived from the full size Chevy truck models.
While you had a handful of engine options in 1972, the “350 – 8” fender emblem tells us that this one carries the trusty 350 Chevy V8. The presence of a column shift is a giveaway that there’s a TH350 behind that V8 too.
And although there was a two-wheel drive Blazer option around for 1972, the locking hubs up front are a clear tell that this one is 4WD.
Back in 1972, you could get a Blazer with either a soft top or a hard top. Interestingly enough, due to the way Chevy implemented the ordering process, all Blazers were inherently “topless” off the assembly line, until either a hard top or soft top option was selected on the order sheet.
That means, since it wasn’t indicated on the VIN, the only way to know what top a Blazer was originally equipped with, is to check the build sheet.
And that roll bar is likely an aftermarket upgrade. From what we’ve read, there were dealer-installed roll bar options during the 1970s, but the bar itself was not offered direct from the Chevy factory.
Craig explains that GM did install as factory standard equipment single tube/single-hoop roll bars for the last two years of the full-convertible Blazer (1974 and 1975), but in 1976 the Blazer design changed to an enclosed cab with an integral roll bar and the roll bar was no longer a required safety necessity. As a result it became primarily an aftermarket accessory.
Judging from the clean, original condition of this Blazer, we can clearly see that it’s got some stories to tell—unfortunately, we couldn’t track down the owner to hear any of them.
…Maybe they were inside buying supplies for “beach closed” signs in preparation for the July 4th holiday?
(Just kidding, we all know Chief Brody’s glorious Blazer was a 1974 model.)
At any rate, with the top off, the radio cranked, and a V8 burbling under our right foot, we couldn’t imagine a better way to cruise the backroads of America.
And if you’ve got a classic car or truck like this, we hope you’re able to enjoy some cruising this weekend too.
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