The Classic 1973 Chevy Blazer: A History
Genevieve Fraser
· 5 min read
The
Chevy
Blazer is one of the iconic models that has survived years of change. It was initially produced for the 1969 model year as Chevy’s response to the Ford Bronco that debuted in 1966. A few years later, the 1973 Blazer arrived in unique style.The Blazer flourished, evolving with the times despite a decade-long retirement along the way. Let’s explore the incredible history of the Chevy Blazer, including the classic 1973 edition.
Big and powerful: a look at the 1973 Chevy Blazer
According to
Car and Driver
, the Chevy Blazer was a four-wheel-drive SUV, although a rear-wheel variant went into production in 1970.The Chevy Blazer had a lot in common with Chevy’s C/K-series pickups when it debuted in 1969. It came with a six-cylinder or eight-cylinder engine, the same front-end bodywork, and also borrowed aspects of the pickups’ frames and suspensions.
Chevy redesigned the Blazer for the 1973 model year. The second-generation 1973 Blazer was bigger, with a wheelbase 2.5 inches wider and a chassis seven inches longer.
Full-time four-wheel drive was included on the automatic-transmission V8 option for 1973.
Stylistic features for the 1973 Blazer included “squared-off fender openings and [an] integrated roll-down tailgate window,” according to Car and Driver.
One of the most unique features of the 1973 Chevy Blazer was a roof that could be removed for a cool open-air experience. But by 1976, this feature was partially gone. A fixed roof covered the front passenger area, although there was a removable roof panel in the rear.
The outdoorsy feel of a roofless 1973 Blazer was surely missed, though a future update was geared toward nature-lovers.
In 1977, a
camping-ready
Blazer Chalet, with an extendable-top fiberglass camper hit the scene, capitalizing on the new roof design.Today, classic 1973 C10 Blazers are valued at an average of $10,800, according to
Hagerty
, though figures range from $6,100 to $28,400, depending on vehicle condition.Let Jerry find your price in only 45 seconds
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The Chevy Blazer received a refresh in 1981
Car and Driver noted that Chevrolet refreshed the second-generation Blazer in 1981. A 6.2-liter V8 diesel engine became available, as did a new transmission: a four-speed automatic.
While the transmission was available for most Blazers, the V8 only featured on four-wheel-drive versions.
Two years later, Chevy introduced an S-10 Blazer that was smaller and based on the S-10 pickup. Buyers could choose between a standard 2.0-liter inline-four engine delivering 83 hp or an optional 2.8-liter V6 with a boosted 110 hp.
Styling and performance continued to evolve with the times.
A larger, four-door S-10 joined the Chevy Blazer family in 1991. The following year, Blazers could be equipped with 200-hp 4.3-liter V6s—a change that accompanied a significant redesign.
What are the modern Blazer redesigns and how do they differ from the 1973 classic?
MORE: Critics and Consumers Disagree Over the 2021 Chevy Blazer
1992 saw the Blazer and Chevy’s larger SUV, the Suburban, share underpinnings. With this came some major design changes that delivered better performance and modern styling compared to classic editions like the 1973 Blazer.
Among the changes were an upsized interior thanks to a longer wheelbase, and a 5.7-liter V8 engine putting out 210 hp. The standard transmission was a five-speed manual, with a four-speed automatic optional.
One of the most remarkable updates was to the roof, which was now fully steel, with Chevy having axed the rear fiberglass section.
Names changed with a 1995 redesign. The Blazer was now the Chevy Tahoe, and the S-10 assumed the Blazer name. Among other updates, the top-tier LT trim Blazer got a full-time all-wheel-drive system.
The 1998 refresh added Chevrolet’s now-characteristic split-bar face. A new trim called the TrailBlazer was introduced in 1999. Comfortable and initially equipped with a powerful 270-hp 4.2-liter inline-six engine, it clearly performed well enough to become its own model from 2002-2005.
The Trailblazer has been redesigned several times since. Introduced in 2003, the EXT offered a longer wheelbase and an exclusive 5.3-liter V8. This engine was offered on the standard TrailBlazer in 2006, producing 300 hp and 330 lb-ft of torque, though the base 4.2-liter inline-six was still powerful at 291 hp.
Also added that year was an SS model, delivering improved brakes, springs, and anti-roll bars, as well as 395 hp from its 6.0-liter V8 with a four-speed automatic transmission.
The revival of the Blazer
Consumers bid adieu to the TrailBlazer in 2009. But after a ten-year hiatus, the Blazer returned in 2019 and it was a far cry from the classic styling of 1973.
The new Blazer offered modern, Camaro-inspired styling and two engine choices: a 2.5-liter inline-four delivering 193 hp, or a more powerful 3.6-liter V6 offering 305 hp.
The Chevy Blazer is still going strong today. Having endured plenty of redesigns over the last 50 odd years, it has come a long way since the 1973 Blazer’s fully-removable roof and square styling.
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