1979 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Cheyenne, 4-speed, 50k miles, unrestored
An honest, unmodified Cheyenne with a manual and the hardtop, priced at the bottom of the driver range.
1979 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Cheyenne
Why we picked it
Why we picked it: unmodified square-body K5s with a manual gearbox are getting harder to find. This private-party Cheyenne has its original 350, a four-speed manual, the factory transfer case, a nearly complete original blue vinyl interior and its removable hardtop. The seller says it runs and drives and reads about 50,500 miles.
At $22,000 it costs about 23% less than the middle of what similar original K5s have sold for. The known flaws are peeling paint on the hood and rust at the bottom of both rockers, so this is the right starting point for a restomod rather than a preservation car.
The value check
The seller is asking $22,000. Comparable cars in the same condition have sold for $22,000–$35,500, so the middle of the market is about $28,750. That put this car 23% under.
Unrestored or lightly used 1976-80 K5 Blazers sold for about $22k-$35.5k on Bring a Trailer, Mecum and Cars & Bids this year; the cleanest low-mile Cheyennes went for $38k-$61k.
- 1980 K5 Blazer original, BaT, $22,000 (Jul 2026)
- 1978 K5 Cheyenne, Mecum, $27,500 (Sep 2026)
- 1976 K5 Cheyenne, Cars & Bids, $28,000 (Aug 2026)
- 1978 K5 Cheyenne, BaT, $35,500 (Aug 2026)
- 1979 K5 Cheyenne 4x4, BaT, $38,500 (Sep 2026)
What to check
- The seller reports rust at the bottom of both rockers; also check cab corners, rear wheel arches, the tailgate, the rear floor and the hardtop's lower seal channel
- Confirm the mileage with paperwork; nothing in the listing documents it
- Title status is not stated (the seller says it is registered as a vintage vehicle in Utah); confirm a clean title
- Check for frame rot at the rear spring hangers and for leaks around the hardtop that rust the floors
- Inspect the steering box mounting area on the frame rail for cracks
Making it drive like new
A classic K5 path: front disc brake refresh and a hydroboost, a modern steering box and frame brace, a fuel-injected small-block or LS with the four-speed (or a modern five-speed), new leaf springs and shocks, and a full rocker repair before paint.
3 builders make a complete chassis for the 1973–91 K5 Blazer, second generation. Compare them side by side, along with what it takes to stiffen the factory frame.
What 1973–91 K5 Blazer, second generation cars sell for
| Condition | Sales | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Project | 5 | $4,600 | $11,350 | $14,178 |
| Driver | 28 | $9,000 | $25,625 | $40,700 |
| Collector | 5 | $45,000 | $49,500 | $73,700 |
| Pro-build | 1 | $99,000 | $99,000 | $99,000 |
Recent sales
| Car | Condition | Result | Date | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 K5 Blazer Cheyenne | Driver | $29,500 | Oct 15, 2026 | Bring a Trailer |
| 1980 K5 Blazer Silverado | Driver | $13,250 | Oct 12, 2026 | Hagerty Marketplace |
| 1980 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Silverado, Arizona-titled no-reserve project with fresh 350 | Project | $14,178 | Oct 12, 2026 | Hagerty Marketplace |
| 1973 K5 Blazer Cheyenne 4x4 | Driver | $15,007 | Oct 5, 2026 | Bring a Trailer |
| 1991 K5 Blazer Silverado | Driver | $22,750 | Sep 30, 2026 | Bring a Trailer |
| 1977 Blazer 2WD | Pro-build | $99,000 | Sep 26, 2026 | Mecum |
| 1985 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Silverado | Collector | $73,700 | Sep 26, 2026 | Mecum |
| 1990 Chevrolet K5 Blazer | Collector | $49,500 | Sep 25, 2026 | Mecum |
