Overlander’s Dream: 1977 Chevrolet Blazer Chalet
Update 2/12/20 – This Blazer has been relisted here on eBay with no reserve. Better hurry though because the auction ends soon!
From 4/10/19 – Overlanding, for those unfamiliar, is all about getting out away from civilization with a vehicle capable of carrying you and everything you need to survive. It’s sort of like a Safari minus the Pith Helmets and British accents. Vehicles like this 1977 Chevy Blazer Chalet, which just happens to be for sale here on eBay in Sheridan, Wyoming, are the kind that some people dream of: A factory rig ripe for upgrades but might just be “good enough” as-is.
Even if they need some fixup, one like this is probably a lot less expensive, more adventuresome, and a lot better of a conversation starter than a six-figure rig that most people would have to re-mortgage their homes to afford. What’s the saying? “Built, not bought’?
In the case of this one, it’s one of about 1700 or 1800 built between 1976 and 1977. It had a GMC sibling, the Jimmy Casa Grande, and they were GM’s foray into smaller RVs. Many people remember the behemoth front-drive GMC Motorhome from the same era, but if you didn’t want or couldn’t afford the gigantic luxury of those iconic American beasts, these K5-based rigs were ideal.
The seller tells us that it runs and drives, but could use a tune-up, and a few other things. It’s got the 400-ci V8 mated to TH-400 transmission, 4-wheel-drive, and is showing a mere 20,000 miles on the odometer. It apparently also needs some upholstery repair and the rear door handle.
At the time I write this, the bid is at $5,000 with reserve not met. How much would you be willing to pay for something like this, either this one or one as nice as the one we featured here last month? Let us know in the comments below.
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Comments
I’m just a bit too young to remember, but it seems like campers like this, as well as the ones you’d bolt down to the bed of a pickup, were all the rage in the 70s.
What?! Another Chalet?! Considering their low production #s it’s funny how many of these pop up for sale. As for BF goes I believe this is the 4th or 5th appearing since X-mas? Makes me wonder whether their owners really cherrish them?
IMO the best thing about the Chalet would be the beefy drivetrain and cooling capacity. It’s snail shell is of lesser interest, they are however great candidates to ‘re-Blazerize’ as I’d think Chalets have lead much more comfortable lives than regular K5s. Wouldn’t pay more for a Chalet than a comparable K5; two adults can sleep comfortably in a K5 once the rear seat is gone
Nice blazer but sure looks top Heavy. Like Local sheriff says- re-blazerize!! That era blazer were great vehicles, Too bad they rusted out so Bad, refreshing to see a nice one like this. Good luck to the new owner!
Cheers
GPC
This relates to yesterdays Chevette scooter listing. I worked at a Milwaukee area Chevrolet dealership when these came out. At the time they were very expensive. A dealership promotion at the time was if you bought a Chalet Blazer (presumably at MSRP) they “threw in” a Chevette scooter.
What a deal !(?) …and completely different vehicles…
As you worked in the business;do you have any remembrance of how much a Chalet and a stripper K5 would set you back when they sold new?
Sheriff, don’t remember seeing any chalet conversions here in New yawk. Most of the ones I dealt with were loaded but did have a couple of customers with plain Janes, both with stick and truck tranny with granny gear. You could pull down a skyscraper with one of these great K5’s!!
Cheers
GPC
I have 79 K5 with the granny hear 4 speed. Best any only truck I have ever owned.
local_sheriff,
77 was a long time ago. As I remember, these rigs were priced at or about 10K plus. Options ran the prices up of course. I do remember when a loaded new (downsized) 77 Caprice came in with a sticker price north of 10K. Wow! All the mechanics had to have a look. At the time it seemed like a million.
yep….think I’ve seen this one fer sale before…….
As the guy who tracks these on my mega-spreadsheet (I’m also the current caretaker of the old blazerchalet.com site, former owner of Chalet #1747) I know I’ve seen this Chalet #0914 for sale before. Most recently, it was on ebay in 2016 where it was listed as “sold” for $5,000 (this vehicle ad aggregator site captured the listing here http://findclassicars.com/chevrolet/179137-1977-chevrolet-k5-blazer-chalet-cheyenne-sport-utility-2-door-66l.html , but the very same seller had it listed on Facebook Marketplace just weeks back for $5900 ( https://ck5.com/forums/attachments/screen-shot-2019-01-29-at-2-21-19-pm-png.293098/ ), and apparently made some kind of deal with this new dealer/flipper. The new seller’s corresponding Craigslist ad ( https://denver.craigslist.org/cto/d/sheridan-1977-chevy-blazer-chalet/6860809307.html ) puts the price at over $11 grand, more than double what it is worth in such unrestored condition. When I first saw it in a Kansas “WheelsForYou” classified in 2008, it had an asking price of $3500 in the same basic (but more dusty) condition it’s in now.
This is a rough specimen but if the price is right, it could remove some of the restoration expen$e coming to the new owner.
This vehicle may be in Wyoming but there’s an ebay picture that includes a faded, worn “..braska Department…” sticker, so was it used as a government vehicle in Nebraska or was it a sticker for a Nebraska Park? So it seems to have a Nebraska past.
Regardless, I see too much rust and heavy use for an easy restoration and it needs it, badly.
For some twisted reason, those identical double sets of taillights remind me of the Griswold Family Truckster from the film “Vacation.”
Where is Kay Parker ? These are quintessential 1970’s.
I feel sorry for the high bidder. This is a total rust bucket.
It needs everything.
Nope, too high, needs to be on at least a 1 tn or 1 1/4 tn. W/duel wheels.
Camper looks OK but not on this truck
I can see why they are selling after owning for a year and finding the gas mileage to be less than 10 mpg LOL. I had a 77 with the same drivetrain and new it was 10-12 mpg tops.