ORIGINAL PAINT SURVIVOR

1972 Chevrolet Blazer CST Additional Info:

I don’t imagine you’ll find many like this.

Not pristine by any means, this 1972 Blazer CST is nonetheless a beautifully preserved example. The Medium Bronze metallic paint is a stunning factory color, and has a beautiful 'see thru' natural patina on some upper surfaces only found with original paint. No ‘antiquing’ tricks here, just a coat of cleaner-wax every six months. There are a very few minor scratches and small ‘whiskey dings’ from a lifetime of use, but the factory paint on this truck is in fantastic condition, the panels are straight and look to be all original. There is a small crease from a mirror bracket on the passenger door that can be ironed out by a paintless dent repair tech, but that and the mirror mounting holes are the only real visible defects in the body above the trim line as it came from the factory, with the exception of the tailgate, which has been treated like, well, a tailgate...

Trim, bumpers, grille and other exterior badging also appear to be all original – not the flimsy re-pop stuff you will find on many restored trucks. Those interior pieces that needed replacement were substituted with reproduction pieces in black, as opposed to the factory Saddle Brown color. Mostly though, the original pieces throughout the truck show well, even with substantial wear and evidence of use.

When I got this truck a dozen or so years ago, it had likely been used as a ‘mudder’ at some time - it had a 3” suspension lift and a 3” body lift, all of which I removed. The body mounts, shims, cushions and bolts used to restore the body to stock configuration were new, so creaks and rattles are at a minimum. The non-original engine is a warmed-over 350 I installed several years ago. Both differentials and the factory Spicer front hubs have been rebuilt, as well as all of the associated seals, so you can leave this rig all night in your girlfriend’s driveway and her old man won’t even know you’ve been there! Brakes were upgraded to ¾ ton truck components.

Less impressive, though, is the rocker area of the truck. Even with the 6” lift, previous owners apparently didn’t clear all obstacles, so most of the undersides of the lower panels have dents and/or rust pockets from mud left on the underside. I did a creditable ‘shade-tree’ cosmetic repair of the lower exterior panels to make the truck look good on the street, but any comprehensive restoration will require at least repair and possibly replacement of some of these panels, as well as the door bottoms and driver's side torque box, which are in fair to poor shape. Other than the rocker panels, I left most of the truck as was so as not to conceal any potential issues. The good news is that as a CST, any repair transitions can be hidden behind the stock lower body trim, so the original paint of the rest of the body can remain undisturbed. Or you can do as I did and embrace its ‘experience factor’ and just drive it as is.

This is a solid truck that needs nothing. It starts easily, idles perfectly and drives out as it should. All of the gauges except the gas gauge work, and all exterior lights and dashboard controls work except for one turn signal indicator arrow on the dash and the horns.

There is a white hardtop that comes with the truck if you want. The top itself is in good shape, but the tailgate is cracked and the latches no longer function.

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