Ringbrothers K5 Blazer Offers Absolute Perfection at a (Lofty) Price
Classic ’79 Blazer hammered for a staggering $300,000, but can you really put a price on perfection?
As the old saying goes, you can’t put a price on perfection. But at least in the case of this pristine 1979 Chevy Blazer, you most certainly can. It just so happens to be a pretty lofty one, and likely a record for Chevy’s beloved utility vehicle. But we’d expect nothing less from a vehicle built by the legendary Ringbrothers, who are arguably the masters of the restomod, racking up countless prestigious awards for their creations over the years.
So it goes without saying that this K5, which recently crossed the block at Bring a Trailer, generated an incredible flurry of bids. Things got so heated, in fact, that the Blazer ultimately hammered for a mind-boggling sum of $300,000. Now we love a classic Blazer as much as anyone, but that’s essentially unicorn muscle car territory. Regardless, you can’t argue with the quality of work and craftsmanship that went into making this perhaps the finest Blazer ever built.
For starters, Ringbrothers blew this old K5 apart and acid dipped the body before hammering it to perfection. And while the body might look mostly original at first glance, there’s a lot of subtle massaging that took place. Ringbrothers modified the tailgate and bedsides to eliminate any unsightly gaps. They also modified the rocker panels and wheel arches for additional clearance. All in the name of perfection, of course.
Underneath, the team proceeded to box the frame for strengthening purposes. The suspension is entirely new, along with a quartet of Classic Performance brakes. A set of gorgeous rally-like Circle Racing 17″ x 9.5″ wheels covers them and gives this K5 a factory look. That modern/original theme continues inside, where you’ll find a stunning blue factory retrofit kit by Upholstery Unlimited. The interior looks like something Chevy would have put here in the first place. But take a closer look, and you’ll find modern electronics and loads of machined-aluminum buttons, switches, and handles.
Pop the hood, and you’ll find a brand new GM Performance Parts ZZ430 350 crate motor topped with a Holley Dominator fuel-injection system. Framed in a pristine engine bay, of course. A Bowler Performance four-speed 4L80E automatic transmission sends power back to the factory rear diff, which is loaded with Yukon 3.42:1 gears. It’s a simple, proven, and rock-solid combination guaranteed to last the long run.
The result of all of this is perhaps the finest Blazer in existence. But is it worth the princely sum of $300,000? Probably not, but we doubt the buyer is regretting their purchase. While the absolutely perfect K5 isn’t likely going to see any trails or beaches again, at least they’ll be able to soak in this beauty on a daily basis.
Photos: Bring a Trailer
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