Chevrolet K5 Blazer

Chevrolet K5 Blazer
Overview
Manufacturer	Chevrolet (General Motors)
Production	1969–1991 (North America)
Assembly	Janesville, Wisconsin, U.S. Flint, Michigan, U.S. Fremont, California, U.S. Dover, United Kingdom Seoul, South Korea Oshawa, Canada Montreal, Canada Ottawa, Canada
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size SUV
Body style	2-door Station Wagon
Layout	Front engine, rear-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
Chronology
Successor	Chevrolet Tahoe GMC Yukon

First generation
Overview
Also called	GMC K5 Jimmy
Model years	1968–1972
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door SUV
Powertrain
Engine	250 cu in (4.1 L) I6 292 cu in (4.8 L) I6 307 cu in (5.0 L) V8 350 cu in (5.7 L) V8
Transmission	3-speed TH-350 automatic 3-speed manual 4-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	104 in (2,642 mm)
Length	177.5 in (4,508 mm) 180"(1971)
Width	79 in (2,007 mm)

Second generation
Overview
Also called	GMC Jimmy, Full size Blazer
Model years	1973–1991
Powertrain
Engine	250 cu in (4.1 L) I6 292 cu in (4.8 L) I6 305 cu in (5.0 L) V8 307 cu in (5.0 L) V8 350 cu in (5.7 L) V8 400 cu in (6.6 L) V8 6.2 L Detroit Diesel V8
Transmission	4-speed SM465 manual 3-speed TH-350 automatic 3-speed TH-400 automatic 4-speed 700-R4 automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	106.5 in (2,705 mm)
Length	184.8 in (4,694 mm)
Width	79.6 in (2,022 mm)
Height	73.8 in (1,875 mm)

See also

The K5 Blazer was the smallest full size SUV version of the Chevrolet C/K family. Introduced to the Chevrolet line in 1969, the full-size Blazer was replaced in 1995 by the Chevrolet Tahoe. In 1970, GMC introduced its own model of the truck, called the Jimmy, which was discontinued in 1991 and replaced by the GMC Yukon in 1993. Both were based on the short wheelbase trucks and were available with either rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. The Blazer's long wheelbase relative (with an integrated rear body, and doors for 2nd row passengers) is known as the Chevrolet Suburban. The "Jimmy" name was chosen to reflect the GMmy sound in a similar manner in how Jeep was a pronunciation of GP in the competing market.

The K5 Blazer and Jimmy had "full convertible" removable tops until 1975. In 1976, GM introduced a half-cab design that was less prone to leaks and slightly safer in a roll-over. These half cabs are convertible starting at a few inches behind the driver/passenger doors all the way back to the tailgate.

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.

...
Wikipedia