70's era Checvy Blazer

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I’m looking for a 70’s era Chevy Blazer in HO,does anyone know if and by what manufacturer it is/was available? Thanks for any help that can be provided.

Tom

2

Trident makes one in HO, it’s the 1984 (square headlight) military CUCV version. A little paint, and it’s a civilian version.

A little brass to replace the leaf springs, and it can be lifted a few scale inches…(Yes, I’m allso a 4X4 nut)

Now, does anyone knnow where I can get a set of O scale 44 inch Boggers? [:D]

3

Probably off of a cheap 4x4 from Wal Mart.

4

I haven’t actually done this, but it would probably work quite well - start with one of the Reel Rides Chevy pick-ups …

Then add the rear box cover from a Trident Chevy Blazer …

The Reel Rides pick-up is a short box, so the conversion might be pretty simple (?)

Mark.

5

Thanks…I was aware of the Trident 80’s era model with the square headlights,and might have to use it as a standin if I can’t find something with the 70’s round ones. Hopefully I can find one that fits that era,or an easy bash of the front grille. If anyone has any ideas,I’d love to hear them!

Tom

6

Ohhh - You’re looking for a later 70’s model … I figured you were after an EARLY 70’s model as the Trident model was so readily available.

You just want to fine-tune the Trident grill to match an earlier version of the same body style (?)

Mark.

7

Your best bet - and probably only option - is to use the grill from a Trident Chevy van …

It has the correct single round headlights and is a direct size swap with the rectangular headlight piece.

Mark.

8

Thanks for posting that info Mark!

I have models of both the van, (custom painted root beer metallic like the wife’s camping van) and the Blazer in US Forestry Service livery on my layout. I’ll look at changing the grilles on the models, since the wife’s 1:1 van has rectangular headlights.

Rotor

9

Mark

I’m looking to model a 75 K5 Blazer to be exact. Now I understand finding an exact match is remote,but I’d like to come as close as possible. Your info helps quite a bit. If I use the Trident Blazer,is the body style close? whta is the approximate year of the Trident Blazer? I’m thinking then I can use the grille off the van to get the correct round headlights? If that’s the case,that is close enough for me!

Thanks again for the lead…Tom

10

The Trident Blazer is a 1984. All of the military CUCV’s were 84’s. (makes that one easy)

Now, speaking from the experence of one who’s head was under the hood of the '73-'87 vintage Chevys WAAAAY too much, I can add this.

The only difference between a 73 and a 79 is the trim around the headlights, and a door over the gas tank filler neck (trucks only, the Blazer had that all along)

In 1980, the headlights went square.

In '82, the front fenders got a re-vamp adding a slightly more pronounced slope (which may not even show up in HO scale) and a slightly different hood (this will almost definatly NOT show up in HO scale. It barely shows un in 1-1 scale[:D])

This body laster till '87 in the Pickups, and till '90 or '91 on the Blazer and Suburban. The full sized Blazer didn’t last too long into the 90s, as it was superceded by the S-10 line.

So, from what I’m reading here, you could swap the grilles between the Mil Blazer (we called both the Blazer and the P-U a CUCV pronounced cut-vee and as a piece of trivia, CUCV stands for Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle) and the Chevy Van (neat song title, gotta get writing[:-^]) to get a “close enough” model of the Blazer.

11

Beat me to it ! [swg]

Here’s a photo comparison showing pretty much the ONLY differences between a 75 and an 84 …

Mark.

12

Thanks again for the assisstance. I went ahead and ordered the Trident Blazer (I’m assuming the military body style is the same as the one used in the various state police Blazers that Trident makes?) I also ordered the Chevy van and will swap the grilles to get a close enough match for a 75 Blazer. Any other advice is most welcome.

Tom