1971-1972 Chevrolet Blazer

The Chevrolet Blazer was introduced in 1969 as a variation of Chevrolet's full-size pickups, which had been redesigned in 1967. An early sport-utility vehicle designed to compete with the Jeep CJ series, the International-Harvester Scout, and the Ford Bronco, the Blazer was larger than its competition, despite riding on a 104-inch wheelbase, shorter than any of Chevrolet's full-size pickups. Though introduced as a four-wheel-drive-only model in 1969, a two-wheel-drive version was introduced in 1970. The Blazer also featured a removable hardtop that covered the cab and bed; this one is shown with the hardtop removed. The Blazer had the same styling as Chevrolet's full-size trucks; the "eggcrate" grill on this example indicates it is from 1971 or 1972, the last two years of the Blazer's first generation. Originally, this Blazer would have been powered by either a 250-cubic-inch or 292-cubic-inch in-line 6-cylinder engine, or a 307-cubic-inch or 350-cubic-inch "small block" V8 engine, with the choice of a three-speed Hydromatic automatic transmission or a three-speed or four-speed manual transmission. The vanity license plate on this customized Blazer at the 1999 Eagles car show in Rainier, Oregon, indicates that is it now powered by a 427-cubic-inch "big block" V8 engine.

1984-1987 Chevrolet M1009 CUCV Blazer

The Chevrolet M1009 CUCV Blazer was built for the United States Armed Forces from 1983 to 1986, in the 1984 to 1987 model years. Intended as a light support vehicle for the military, the M1009 differed from Chevrolet's civilian 3/4-ton four-wheel-drive K5 Blazer in several ways. Most notably, they were powered by a 155-horsepower non-emissions 6.2-liter Detroit Diesel V8 engine with a TH400 3-speed automatic transmission, and featured a hybrid electrical system that used 24 volts under the hood for the starter, dual alternators, NATO jump start receptacle, and military radio hookups, while retaining 12 volts elsewhere. They also had heavier suspension springs and, as limitary vehicles, they naturally lacked civilian features like radios and air conditioning.

The example pictured here was a retired military surplus vehicle that was acquired by the Rainier Fire Department in Rainier, Oregon, in the 1990s. It is pictured here in the 1997 Rainier Days in the Park Parade on July 12, 1997.