Rare Trailering Special: 1976 Chevrolet Blazer 4×4
This 1976 Chevrolet Blazer isn’t your run-of-the-mill SUV. Located in San Francisco, California, it has spent its entire life in the Bay Area. Besides the originality, this blazer features the rare “Trailering Special” option, which gives this ride a GCW of 8000 lbs.! Although the short wheelbase of a Blazer or Bronco isn’t ideal as a tow vehicle, this one could easily pull a good-sized boat or a small camper. It can be found for sale here on Craigslist with an asking price of $8,800. Let’s check out more of this rare ride and thanks to local_sheriff for the tip on this Blazer.
Here you can see the badge that calls out the Trailering Special options. An internet search didn’t produce any concrete results on what exactly the options were, but most vehicles set up to tow have a lot of the same attributes. Heavy-duty suspension and/or axles, receiver hitch and wiring, maybe a heavy-duty alternator with oversized radiator and/or transmission cooler? If you know what the specific options would have been for this Blazer, leave us a comment.
The engine is a 400 cubic inch V8 and supposedly has less than 72K original miles. You can see the alternator looks new. Other than that, there isn’t much information in the ad other than it runs well and has good compression on all eight cylinders.
There are a few photos of the interior and there is only one photo of the grille in the ad. Overall, the condition is very nice and appears original as the seller indicates. There are an aftermarket lift kit and stereo, but that is no big deal. The condition looks really good and will probably be a great addition to someone’s driveway. What do you think?
Auctions Ending Soon
1977 Datsun 280ZBid Now22 hours$600
1969 Ford MustangBid Now2 days$500
1965 Ford Falcon Station WagonBid Now5 days$1,000
2002 Jaguar XK8 ConvertibleBid Now6 days$100
Comments
Nice truck at a decent price, but I wouldn’t want to tow a very big trailer with that short wheelbase.
In reference to the stereo, doesn’t the term “head unit” imply that there is an amplifier and other equipment elsewhere in the vehicle? I saw nothing. Maybe something is hiding in the door cards, bonnet or bumper over riders. Sorry, I’m an American dinosaur.
It looks really nice. If I was in the market for an old car I’d check this one out even though I have no need for a 4×4. I like the old dish mags.
The listing is 10 days old, I’m surprised it hasn’t sold, it’s a clear demonstration how Craigslist isn’t what it used to be. Most of my friends shop exclusively on Facebook market place.
Steve R
Disagree. Craigslist is perfectly fine for selling a vehicle and has nothing to do with this not selling. Could be that it’s over priced.
Which – Facebook Marketplace – ain’t all that…..same endless messaging on the same adds that were on CL. Have friends on Facebook sending me adds all the time….not going to tell them to stop even when I’ve seen the same add on EBAY….CL….and BarnFinds…before.
A shame it isn’t one year older with the full removable roof. Beautiful regardless
Agree. While it normally shouldn’t be an issue in this vehicle’s area, the half convertible solution is usually what helps preserve K5s – simply as the concept just offers half the fun to drive with off, leading to the top hardly being removed ever!
The full convertible tops could best be described as water-resistant; they don’t entirely manage to keep the elements on the outside.I’m speaking from experience…
It’s been for sale like 2 months. Been discounted $4000 already
I wouldn’t mind owning this Blazer ask for the towing package it would be right at home towing a 26 ft or longer camper bumper pull growing up my old man had a 76 Ramcharger with a 360 four-wheel drive no it’s not the same thing but similar and it could pull a 30 foot camper all day long no problem at all. Those mirrors would have to go though ASAP for some tripod folding mirrors that would have been on the trucks back in the day if you’re going to pull that way you can see what’s behind you.
The trailering package came with different axle gearing, tranny cooler, receiver hitch, & might have had some tranny differences also. Not sure if there was a tranny temp gauge.
The Cheyenne package was a nice upgrade. It included extra body mouldings, the 2-tone paint, & all of the interior upgrades.
Nice Blazer!
IF I had a spare $8K at the moment I’d be ALL OVER this one!! :-)
These were good with a 20 ft. camper trailer. I wouldn’t want anything longer as it would tend to steer the truck. The 400 was a fairly good engine (my ‘79 GMC went over 300K miles) but it tended to use oil. The best mine ever got was 1000 miles to a quart. I had a few customers who figured that it shouldn’t use ANY. It was during the ‘76 run that they started using a heavier chain in the transfer case. There was the odd transmission case failure because of the weight of the transfer case. A set of brace rods running up to the reinforced bellhousing inspection cover fixed that, but not until ‘78. Overall, a good truck that I sure wouldn’t kick off my driveway…
Now that’s a SUV for you.
I agree, California about the only place you’ll find one this nice. They’d kill for this north of I-70. I don’t know anymore what price is correct. I mean, something like this, try and find another. They were all driven hard, in all sorts of weather. Great to see one like this again. I know you’ve seen this before, but in case some folks don’t know what happens to vehicles like this where I come from, this was a good one. ( and I realize the irony of it parked next to a beer sign)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/eyellgeteven/29691632601
This is how I remember them in the UP Howard
Yup, the one you pictured is how they look here in Milwaukee.
I had a 1975, full top 2 wheel drive. It was the same green as this one. Came from the factory with heat delete. Cold ride in the winter!
It had the 250 inline 6 & 3 on the tree. Other than being really cold in the winter, it was a great truck. I really miss it!
Hi Howard! I’m North of I-70, and you’re right! If kill for this! I ALMOST wish I’d held off buying my 95 BMW convertible!
Grille is newer replacement ’77-’78 type, and hood is from 1979-’80. Engine size emblem is inside because they don’t fit on the later grilles. Government tightened rollover safety standards in the mid-’70s which killed off the full fiberglass tops on Blazers, thus the front section of roof being steel. Did not affect the Dodge Ramcharger or Ford Bronco as they both had removable all steel roofs which were more than strong enough to pass the new safety standards. When new Bronco was released for ’78, it had the rear half removable fiberglass top similar to the ’76 and later Blazers. Towing with such a short wheelbase vehicle is not ideal by any stretch of the imagination, and as Geomechs pointed out, trailers should be limited to 20 foot or less in length. Assuming the Blazer weighs around 4,500 ish pounds as it sits, the 8K gross combined weight gives you 3,500 pounds for combined weight of trailer, passengers, and other stuff placed in the truck. Nice Blazer here, new owner will hopefully take great care of it.
It’s the tighter rollover regulations from ’76 onwards that usually gets the blame for killing the full convertible K5. GM could’ve simply solved this issue as AMC did with their CJ; by making a tubular rollbar standard equipment.
It’s my belief GM concluded that most K5 owners hardly removed the full tops due to their rather bulky nature. Plus the half top was designed to improve weatherseal properties
nice..