Yup, that caught a lot of us. Although for what it's worth, "explorer" was still a ford thing even back then. It was a trim package for their fullsize pickups. Much like the "ranger" name, for that matter.
I remember my mom had a white With bright Red Rear drive it was a pretty clean car when I was young. I do miss that little Thing. It was a two door as well.
It was the early 80s, you'd actually still see people riding horses if you got outside the city. It wasn't super common, like you didn't see it every day, but you'd see it a couple of times a week.
@talldude123 why everybody cares about 0-60 it doesn matter anymore if its a purpose built race car or a garbage truck all of it needs to be fast. Vehicles like the s10 back in the day were built for one purpose to haul crap around town not to race around if it were any faster it would be unsafe.. I dont see the reason why minivans have 300hp today no airbag or crumple zone will save you from your own stupidity..
Whenever I hear the prices of these 80’s era vehicles my first reaction is, “I’ll take two of them!” These were such good looking little trucks - to this day I give them a long admiring look if I happen to see one driving down the highway!
I got a used one of these in 1988 when I was 17 years old. I loved it because it was just the right size for my girlfriend and I to go into the woods and utilize the fold down rear seat for some fun. The good old days! Lol
@@nlpnt - yeah, but all vehicles are far better than they were, in terms of features from almost 40 years ago. It's all relative. But what is not relative is the fact that manufacturers gouge people on P/U's and SUV's. And so long as people are dumb enough to pay the premium prices - the manufacturers will keep gouging them. Trucks and SUV's (especially the more loaded/higher end ones) are some of the worst new vehicle buy's in America right now. Sure, they are great - but their prices are often ridiculous.
I’m not much of a GM fan, especially from this era, but I have to agree. The S-10s/Blazers were a bright spot in the Chevy lineup even though they were very slow and didn’t handle well by today’s standards. Initial reliability wasn’t great due to the usual laissez-faire build quality shown by Detroit in that period but these were well-designed and rugged for long-term durability. I don’t see too many Bronco IIs on the road compared to these...
I had an 86 stripper model with the 2.8l & 4wd. Pretty good truck but under powered. The fix for me was to swap out the tbi intake for an Edelbrock carb intake and made an adaptor for the tbi. Worked really well.
My folks owned one when I was a kid, and I remember how underpowered that 2.8 liter was. It’s amazing to see what current model SUVs have for HP compared to their counterparts in the 80s. I think the 2.8L V6 had a whopping 120hp. 😄
Had one too. It belonged to the (ex) wife before we were married. She hated it and wanted to get a Dodge Neon. I liked the beast, but the engine was definitely underpowered if you wanted to do truck stuff with it. I guess it was fine if you treated it like a station wagon with better clearance. I believe GM intended to have the S-10 with a four hanger only when first designed. Even that small 6 had to be shoehorned in. Later generations allowed more room under the hood.
This isnt a real SUV, it's a reworked G body that was a pretty poor compromise between capability and car like drivability. The new Blazer like ot or not curb stomps this thing in every way possible short of accepting lifting blocks and tires that prematurely destroy the ball joints.
@@DrewLSsix Yea the new Blazer perhaps the best street CUV SUV and with the 3.6 Camero tuned motor sprints to 0 to 60 in around close to 6 seconds and that puts in 1960s muscle car range GT0 range. It will outrun any stock Jeep Cherokee. It has plenty of the 2000 type techo . It could take days to learn it all. I guess modern people love that. So in those categories, it beats old Blazer. But the old Blazer was not bad on the highway . In fact, Chevy invented it to ride better on the highway than a Jeep wrangler. And be a good offroad. And then you realize A S10 Blazer could go anywhere off-road as a Wrangler. And then it comes clear it is better off-road than new Blazer RS. The new Blazer Rs would battle in the snown mud sand goat pasture fire road wooded trail, but then rock crawler RS is dead S10 goes on and could get as you say lift kit for extreme rock. Old S10 Blazer not too bad Chevy. Hey, CHevy build a new little S10 truck and two-door S10 Blazer for the offroader you have enough family four-door and many people want a small affordable small truck.
Always wanted one of these as a kid. Still a great looking SUV 37 years later. Notice how there was no “SUV” term in ‘83. They called them covered pickups.
TargetRender - there was an SUV term back in '83, but then it was only for Jeeps, IH Scouts (remember those?) OG / 2G Broncos and full-sized Blazers and Jimmys. The smaller ones (today's midsizers) would be akin to OG Toyota 4Runners / HiLux Surfs, the original "covered pickup" (looked the part too).
I had a 84 . The guy I bought it from must have ordered it as it was set up with 16" wheels and tires and swing out rear spare but it was a plain Jane otherwise. 2.8 V-6(DOG) with a 5 Speed(YES) 4X4, rubber mat, not carpet, no A/C. Tilt, PWB and a nice stereo were about the only options. For a 21 year old that liked to hunt, fish, hang out with his dog and beer drinking buddies it was the ultimate truck. It would go through snow and mud (Uniroyal Laredo's) and was easy to keep clean. It was a North Dakota truck that was rust free until the Iowa DOT salt brine destroyed it by 1999. :( All in all if they would make something like this again with a modern 4.3 I would buy one in a heartbeat.
I had one of these I bought used from an old neighbor for $1,500. It was a base version with a bench seat and four wheel drive and the 4.3 V6. It ate gas but I loved it! Mine was the four door.
That 4.3 was a good engine. I drove a 91 throughout highschool then my dad drove it til about a year ago. Had over 300k miles on it. He sold it and still see it riding around town
The 4.3 wasn't THAT bad in gas. Considering it was one of the most powerful V6s produced at that time. The 4.3 to me is like the 440 to old Mopar heads of old. I raced 4.3l with my 4.0L all the time. The 4.3 was not a weak motor or a slow one
I still have my original 87 S10 blazer 2.8 L in 2wd. It was a great vehicle for what I needed it for on paved roads. Now I live in snow country and wish it was the 4.3L with 4wd. I mostly use it for running around on errands when there is no snow. It is a pleasure to work on it as the engine bay allows you to get your hands to the parts you need to remove. Still looks good and runs well. Lots of memories with it with bird hunting, dogs and fishing. Wish I could find a replacement y pipe as the original has a hole that I keep patching.
I love watching these videos & shows of older/classic vehicles back in there time periods, in 2020 getting a kick out of how much these cars were worth brand new until now.. About 20 years later & $40,000 more expensive :( i won't ever be able to afford a new car in my life due to how insane these vehicles are now.. To upgrade from my 98 silverado to a 2020 silverado your looking at at least $50,000 price tag.. I know currency has changed from the 90s era but now its like literally the only way to afford a new truck now adays is only if that truck is making you money to help pay its self off. I do enjoy watching these videos seeing how shiney & beautiful they once were, from the glimmering factory paint jobs to the new plastic interiors.. Basically untouched from wear/tear & weather.. Its like a modern Back in the day carshow!! Thumbs up!!
Here's an idea, don't buy new. In 2009 I bought a 2007 Trailblazer EXT 4x4, fully loaded, literally every single option, had a sticker of almost $50k, and in 2009 it was still under warrant and only had 23k miles - and it cost me $12k. However the thing was so boring to drive, I only had it for a few months before I traded it in on a 2005 GTO w/ 400hp, now that was worth driving, not some dullard SUV.
Our family had a 1993 Jimmy 4-door with the 4.3L Vortec motor - it certainly had power. The biggest fault was that the ABS computer packed up after 10 years and would apply the ABS when not necessary. Oil changes and regular maintenance - it was reliable, though.The Vortec made the car much more enjoyable to drive than the standard 4.3L TBI V6.
It's well worth the search! My dad and I have ours for 5 years now and no major breakdown, which is a miracle considering we bought it for 4000 PLN (about 1000 USD at the time). Only needed a few fixes and it served us ever since.
My first vehicle was an 1984 2WD S10 Blazer. Then I bought a lowered hot rod style 1986 S10 Blazer. I loved those things haha. Very cool look and lots of room inside.
My sister's first car was a 1983 S-10 Blazer 2wd V6. Good Lord it was a gutless wonder! It seemed like such an old car at the time, but it was only 11-12 years old when she got it. Stuff was always breaking. We had to stuff a reman long block in it at some point. It still wouldn't get out of its own way. I can't imagine one with an 83 hp 2.0L 4 cylinder.
Thank you for sharing this Chevrolet/ GM footage. I appreciate. I hope to see more GM and footage from its brands past and present. I would like to see the downsized 1985 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight.
I had one. Was my first vehicle from 2011 to 2012. Had rust issues big time, water leaked through the roof, Digital transfer case didn't work right, Transmission slipped like driving on butter, had two engines replaced (going on it's 3rd), over heating cooling system, blower motor had to have a bypass switch installed, brakes were spongy, but *I LOVED that thing* It ended up getting totaled by a person rear ending me at a stop light. Oh well. Great memories.
Sadly I don’t own a blazer, but I do own a 1992 Chevy s10 pickup Tahoe trim. It’s my daily and she’s a beaut to drive around town and haul things around. For a small pickup she handles well and outstands me every time when my bosses bigger and beefier dodge rams can’t keep up with the work we do but I bring my truck to work and she handles all day long and still takes me home. This platform 10/10 I plan to keep trying to find and restore.
Uncle had a 1985 top of the line S10 Blazer in brown with tan interior. All I remember was the constant loud roar of the cooling fan making the 2.8 V6 sound like it was struggling to move the truck. Always sounded like it was at near redline, lol. Classic design though.
This older model Blazer is reliable than the new one we see today. I still see a few of the old Blazers. The new Blazer will have problems with or without being under warranty, and cannot go off-road, which it was meant to be.
Literally no true, new cars are dramatically more reliable than previous generations of vehicles. I'm so sick of poor people who are on welfare talking about how old stuff is so great, and they only reason they say it is because they can't afford anything new.
-BS! The NEW Blazer is already on Consumer Reports SHORT list of "Best Used Cars". The OLD blazer was NEVER on any "best" list except in car magazines car ads!
I had an 85 s-10 blazer. My first vehicle. Rebuilt the motor, then the auto trans started to slip. Had that rebuilt. Motor (2.8)v6 lasted another 2 years, then cracked block. Junk yard motor swap, then months later, the trans started slipping again. Sold it for $500. I still have the "committed to excellence" keychain and the memories.
Wish I saw more of these, see a bunch of lost 1990s and early 2000s and sadly 2019/2020 models I’ve only seen 1 blazer and 1 jimmy from this generation this entire year
I actually like this Blazer, and having sat in a late 90s one, feels like it runs better too. Just can't get over that high-speed breaking test where the end came around. Definitely take ABS for granted these days.
My father owned several of these trucks. Each one never had a problem with running. He beat the piss out of these, and they took every bit of punishment. Only after a decade of driving in harsh winters did they start falling apart due to rot. Hands down the best running little trucks money could buy, until 1997. And then the quality dropped right off a cliff and into a lake.
When I was in the market for a small SUV way back in 85, I couldn't even get two salesmen to talk to me at Merollis Chevrolet, they pointed to sales brochures on the wall, I walked out and went to Roy O'Brian Ford and had a saleswoman who took me for a test ride in a Bronco II. What a totally different sales experience, bought the Ford that day.
My P.E. Coach at Little Woods Elementary in New Orleans, Louisiana to be exact, had one of these in the early 1990s until he died in early 2000s. It was a 4 door Jimmy from GMC
I love my Blazer to bits! It's the perfect size for me (talking about 4 door version)- not so huge I can't park it anywhere here in Europe, but also large enough for me to sleep in it when I'm going on a trip around the country. Also the 4.3 is surprisingly economical- 12l/100km isn't bad for a car this size with an engine that big. The only thing that's bothering me is the lack of serious suspension lifts- there used to be a 5 inch lift kit but now I can't find it anywhere and It would be very helpful to fit larger tires and just do better off road.
My step-mom bought one of these in the early 90's. I think it was an '88. I liked it as a kid. It looked and felt rugged. For some reason they hated it thought and got rid of it real quick. I think it had a 2.8L V6.
0-60 in 15.8 seconds lol. I bought one of these back in 1985 with the V6 and 5 speed. I really liked it and only sold it because the Rabbit GTI caught my eye, which you can see on the track in this video. This was before the SUV craze hit full stride and I really enjoyed the practicality it gave me when frequently moving in college. Never had any trouble with it although I only owned it a couple of years.
Ive got one word to describe the early S10 Blazer....here it is. Squeak squeak squeak My dad had an 86 Blazer and everything made noises when you drove down the road . From the back glassto the door panel left of you. Squeaky
Had one when they first came out. Had to have it so I paid $3000.00 over list. At 20,000 miles, they'd replaced 3 rear main seals. By 50,000 miles, the monthly repair bills were more than the payments so I traded it (I think for a used full sized Blazer). Drove nice when it was running, though.
Remember the version with the racing stripes? Hah. My buddy in high school had the S10 pickup truck version with the racing stripes and I remember seeing Blazers having the same option. Wasn’t it called Xtreme or something? Hilarious.
I bought one for my wife as a back up vehicle when we lived in the mountains. The 2.8 v6 was horrible climbing to over 4000 ft but it always made it. I still prefer k5s and full size Tahoe's though.
My neighbor once owned one of these beasts, and by the time he got rid of it, there was a rust hole in the front left fender the size of a silver dollar. EDIT: I don't remember what model year, but he replaced it with...a used 90s Blazer. Because of course he did.
The S10 Blazer was not meant to be a speed demon ... but a decent SUV at mpg, towing, and off and on-road getting around... The 2.8 or 4.3 were more torque than speed. As well as the later Vortec 4.3. Today the 3.6 is in Colorado and will get to 0 to 60 in some models in 6.1 seconds as fast as some muscle cars but some truck people say they would want the 4.3 for low-end power .. All in all,S10 Blazer was decent work and play SUV...
Still like the looks of those blazers. Friend had an early one with the 2.8 v6 and man it was slow. I can’t imagine the 4cyl in one. Be fun to find a nice survivor and put a VW tdi engine in one.
I bought the 1993 S10 Blazer Tahoe version It needed a few work such as fuel pump and a new starter, will be finishing up on the mechanical payment for it on the September 30th 2022 can't wait to for a new adventure in it, it also the same year that I was born in
That moment you sit there and realize at one point when your Blazer was new it was super quiet..now due to rust its hog ass loud with exhaust ticks and squeaks and rattles.. but I got to say 260 plus thousand miles and I just rebuilt the transmission.i think its a real work horse in my book.i may not drive it across country but around town shes my hard worker
I owned one of these gutless wonders. It was a pretty truck, drove fine and was reliable. That being said, it was the most gutless vehicle I have ever owned. When they raised the speed limit from 55 to 65, it was underpowered. It would downshift from OD to 3rd running 65 on flat terrain. I would assume that when the 4.3 became an option, that remedied the underpower problem. For an intown errand runner, it was great.
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was downed telephone poles a thing?
0:46 Mr John Davis just gave Ford some naming inspiration...
@Eat Jat bro... It wasn't to be taken literally
This lamb concurs.
I was thinking the same.
I love the first generation of Chevy S19 Blazer 1985-1988 is my favorites
At least i got these retro reviews to watch during quarantine
True
I heard that
Real
This 4 wheel drive "explorer"...the s10 blazer. You stumbled into the bronco ii replacement and didn't realize it.
I was literally thinking the same thing.
Something something "outback" in there too.
If you squint your eyes it kind of looks like a 1st generation Explorer before it existed.
Yeah. I thought that was pretty ironic.
Yup, that caught a lot of us. Although for what it's worth, "explorer" was still a ford thing even back then. It was a trim package for their fullsize pickups. Much like the "ranger" name, for that matter.
I quite like the design. It looks friendly.
@Donald Trump is a Ghetto trick I may be a weirdo but I like that boxy design very much. I definitely prefer it over the 2nd gen S10.
@@edim108 tough looking and stright-to-the-point vibe is inspiring
@@hermanman8235 yeah. wish more cars were like that. simple and honest.
same with the 1973 to 1979 Chevy trucks, I don't like the 80's ones as much they looks more aggressive
I remember how cool they seemed at the time. The later models with the 4.3L V6 were a lot better.
I remember my mom had a white With bright Red Rear drive it was a pretty clean car when I was young. I do miss that little Thing. It was a two door as well.
Cool little trucks. Too bad GM dont make em anymore
We has a 1986 with the aluminum side steps
"alright guys, let's get a shot of a guy walking a horse in front of the blazer"
Maybe that was "Blazer, the Horse," of course 🤪
It was the early 80s, you'd actually still see people riding horses if you got outside the city. It wasn't super common, like you didn't see it every day, but you'd see it a couple of times a week.
Much different than the blazer we have now
Much better than the Blazer we have now 🤦🏾♂️ smh lol
New one is GARBAGE
At least this one goes off-road
@talldude123 why everybody cares about 0-60 it doesn matter anymore if its a purpose built race car or a garbage truck all of it needs to be fast. Vehicles like the s10 back in the day were built for one purpose to haul crap around town not to race around if it were any faster it would be unsafe.. I dont see the reason why minivans have 300hp today no airbag or crumple zone will save you from your own stupidity..
@@rikidiki8940 I agree
I love the two-tone exterior paint combinations on these S-10 Blazers.
They were cool. There's beauty in a two tone paint scheme.
80s-90s retro suvs reviews and comparisons are the best ☺
The era when SUVs were really meant to go offroad and haul stuff and people bought them for it. Beautiful times!
Whenever I hear the prices of these 80’s era vehicles my first reaction is, “I’ll take two of them!”
These were such good looking little trucks - to this day I give them a long admiring look if I happen to see one driving down the highway!
But earning 15k at that time would've probably been harder than today
@@Movableobjectnot considering how much easier it would have been to survive back then with out the millions of illegal immigrants in this country 😂
I got a used one of these in 1988 when I was 17 years old. I loved it because it was just the right size for my girlfriend and I to go into the woods and utilize the fold down rear seat for some fun. The good old days! Lol
Was my first car. A brand new 94 Tahoe blazer. Lots of fun in the back
You mean your boyfriend.
Even with inflation, this doesn’t get near the price of the new “blazer”, which tops out around $50,000.
And the new Blazer can't go far off-road, either.
@@daniellowell2157 and the new blazer looks cheap and ugly...
The fully loaded blazer in 1983 is the equivalent to $40,000 so sure it's less but look at how much more you get today by comparison
@@TheRamGuy Yeah, apart from stuff like two-tone paint and slightly nicer upholstery cloth this is more comparable to a base model today.
@@nlpnt - yeah, but all vehicles are far better than they were, in terms of features from almost 40 years ago. It's all relative. But what is not relative is the fact that manufacturers gouge people on P/U's and SUV's. And so long as people are dumb enough to pay the premium prices - the manufacturers will keep gouging them.
Trucks and SUV's (especially the more loaded/higher end ones) are some of the worst new vehicle buy's in America right now. Sure, they are great - but their prices are often ridiculous.
Still see these out on the road. Best GM built small truck/SUV. At least imo.
These were junk.
4.3 blazer/Astros were solid
I’m not much of a GM fan, especially from this era, but I have to agree. The S-10s/Blazers were a bright spot in the Chevy lineup even though they were very slow and didn’t handle well by today’s standards. Initial reliability wasn’t great due to the usual laissez-faire build quality shown by Detroit in that period but these were well-designed and rugged for long-term durability. I don’t see too many Bronco IIs on the road compared to these...
I drive an 85 s10 blazer 4x4 2.8 v6 daily lol good little truck just kinda slow lol
The later models from this gen probably around 88-93 were far better than these early ones
Love the retro reviews. Always humorous to see what was considered good back then when compared to today. Thanks for sharing.
My dad and uncle had a S10 in 1989 when I was a kid....It was a monster in the snow.
I could have sworn these things came with rust from the factory.
I had an 86 stripper model with the 2.8l & 4wd. Pretty good truck but under powered. The fix for me was to swap out the tbi intake for an Edelbrock carb intake and made an adaptor for the tbi. Worked really well.
My folks owned one when I was a kid, and I remember how underpowered that 2.8 liter was. It’s amazing to see what current model SUVs have for HP compared to their counterparts in the 80s. I think the 2.8L V6 had a whopping 120hp. 😄
The 2.8 got awards for V6 mpg for an SUV.
Had one too. It belonged to the (ex) wife before we were married. She hated it and wanted to get a Dodge Neon. I liked the beast, but the engine was definitely underpowered if you wanted to do truck stuff with it. I guess it was fine if you treated it like a station wagon with better clearance.
I believe GM intended to have the S-10 with a four hanger only when first designed. Even that small 6 had to be shoehorned in. Later generations allowed more room under the hood.
Hey chevy? Remember when you used to build real suv! Not this new blazer crap! I always love that little truckster!
This isnt a real SUV, it's a reworked G body that was a pretty poor compromise between capability and car like drivability. The new Blazer like ot or not curb stomps this thing in every way possible short of accepting lifting blocks and tires that prematurely destroy the ball joints.
@@DrewLSsix but you can find old Blazers all day long. Let's see if a new piece of shit Blazer will be around 30 years from now in "running" condition
I knew someone would comment this stuff when I watched this video, “oh when blazer used to be real” blah blah. Times change boomer
That's not a Chevrolet blazer!
It on the Traverse platform!!
And it's made in Mexico!!
Please let people know not to buy one!!
@@DrewLSsix Yea the new Blazer perhaps the best street CUV SUV and with the 3.6 Camero tuned motor sprints to 0 to 60 in around close to 6 seconds and that puts in 1960s muscle car range GT0 range. It will outrun any stock Jeep Cherokee. It has plenty of the 2000 type techo . It could take days to learn it all. I guess modern people love that. So in those categories, it beats old Blazer. But the old Blazer was not bad on the highway . In fact, Chevy invented it to ride better on the highway than a Jeep wrangler. And be a good offroad. And then you realize A S10 Blazer could go anywhere off-road as a Wrangler. And then it comes clear it is better off-road than new Blazer RS. The new Blazer Rs would battle in the snown mud sand goat pasture fire road wooded trail, but then rock crawler RS is dead S10 goes on and could get as you say lift kit for extreme rock. Old S10 Blazer not too bad Chevy. Hey, CHevy build a new little S10 truck and two-door S10 Blazer for the offroader you have enough family four-door and many people want a small affordable small truck.
when it was a utility vehicle and not mommy’s grocery getter
My mother used to own one of these, and she primarily used it to get groceries.
@@smittywerbenjagermanjensen9802 so began the full ton SUVs wrapped around a Starbucks drive through.
This is actually the Flashpoint for when the SUV went from a truck to a family vehicle. This and the jeep XJ.
Always wanted one of these as a kid. Still a great looking SUV 37 years later. Notice how there was no “SUV” term in ‘83. They called them covered pickups.
TargetRender - there was an SUV term back in '83, but then it was only for Jeeps, IH Scouts (remember those?) OG / 2G Broncos and full-sized Blazers and Jimmys. The smaller ones (today's midsizers) would be akin to OG Toyota 4Runners / HiLux Surfs, the original "covered pickup" (looked the part too).
No, he was making a subtle joke, you dolt. People were saying sport utility at that time.
I remember the term "sport wagon" at the time.
Thank you so much. I always loved the S10 Blazer. It is one of my favorites. Either lowered or lifted. Great video and thanks for sharing.
We had a 1983 2 door GMC Jimmy 4x4 with the Gypsy package. Red on black with swing out rear spare. Sure was a great truck.
I had a 84 . The guy I bought it from must have ordered it as it was set up with 16" wheels and tires and swing out rear spare but it was a plain Jane otherwise. 2.8 V-6(DOG) with a 5 Speed(YES) 4X4, rubber mat, not carpet, no A/C. Tilt, PWB and a nice stereo were about the only options. For a 21 year old that liked to hunt, fish, hang out with his dog and beer drinking buddies it was the ultimate truck. It would go through snow and mud (Uniroyal Laredo's) and was easy to keep clean. It was a North Dakota truck that was rust free until the Iowa DOT salt brine destroyed it by 1999. :( All in all if they would make something like this again with a modern 4.3 I would buy one in a heartbeat.
@@seththomas9105 if they made a new 4 door Colorado into an SUV with 4wd and the 2014 4.3 v6 it would sell like insane and would be so badass
Good luck even finding a Gypsy package these days they are so rare!
One of my favorite vehicles from the 80s! Such a cool little SUV. But wow, the interiors of that era were so appliance like in their look!
I had one of these I bought used from an old neighbor for $1,500. It was a base version with a bench seat and four wheel drive and the 4.3 V6. It ate gas but I loved it! Mine was the four door.
That 4.3 was a good engine. I drove a 91 throughout highschool then my dad drove it til about a year ago. Had over 300k miles on it. He sold it and still see it riding around town
The 4.3 wasn't THAT bad in gas. Considering it was one of the most powerful V6s produced at that time. The 4.3 to me is like the 440 to old Mopar heads of old. I raced 4.3l with my 4.0L all the time. The 4.3 was not a weak motor or a slow one
The 4-door version was ugly as hell.
The S series trucks and SUVs in their first generation still might be GM's best post-classic era design.
I loved my bare bones four cylinder S-10. I finally sold it after 250,000+ miles without a single breakdown.
0:46 - He called it an Explorer 7 years before that vehicle existed.
Maybe it’s where Ford came up with the name...!
@@RoadCone411 maybe so but they've used that name as a trim level on some of their vehicles before it existed.
The Explorer name was used on their full size trucks years before this.
I still have my original 87 S10 blazer 2.8 L in 2wd. It was a great vehicle for what I needed it for on paved roads. Now I live in snow country and wish it was the 4.3L with 4wd. I mostly use it for running around on errands when there is no snow. It is a pleasure to work on it as the engine bay allows you to get your hands to the parts you need to remove. Still looks good and runs well. Lots of memories with it with bird hunting, dogs and fishing. Wish I could find a replacement y pipe as the original has a hole that I keep patching.
35 yr later my high country blazer is running like top
I love watching these videos & shows of older/classic vehicles back in there time periods, in 2020 getting a kick out of how much these cars were worth brand new until now.. About 20 years later & $40,000 more expensive :( i won't ever be able to afford a new car in my life due to how insane these vehicles are now.. To upgrade from my 98 silverado to a 2020 silverado your looking at at least $50,000 price tag.. I know currency has changed from the 90s era but now its like literally the only way to afford a new truck now adays is only if that truck is making you money to help pay its self off. I do enjoy watching these videos seeing how shiney & beautiful they once were, from the glimmering factory paint jobs to the new plastic interiors.. Basically untouched from wear/tear & weather.. Its like a modern Back in the day carshow!! Thumbs up!!
Here's an idea, don't buy new. In 2009 I bought a 2007 Trailblazer EXT 4x4, fully loaded, literally every single option, had a sticker of almost $50k, and in 2009 it was still under warrant and only had 23k miles - and it cost me $12k. However the thing was so boring to drive, I only had it for a few months before I traded it in on a 2005 GTO w/ 400hp, now that was worth driving, not some dullard SUV.
The styling was so right on the money. Timeless and classy
My family had an 87 for many years, and was my first car. Great truck!
Our family had a 1993 Jimmy 4-door with the 4.3L Vortec motor - it certainly had power. The biggest fault was that the ABS computer packed up after 10 years and would apply the ABS when not necessary. Oil changes and regular maintenance - it was reliable, though.The Vortec made the car much more enjoyable to drive than the standard 4.3L TBI V6.
I am going to be getting my aunts 93 S10 Tahoe 2.8 5spd 2nd 235k soon I will be the 3th owner
@@mccrackenphillip keep up the regular maintenance and it will last another 5-10 years, assuming there is no rust.
Yeah, but the 4-door model was really ugly.
I love these old school Blazers, I wish I could get my hands on one that's still in good shape or the owner doesn't want a million bucks for it..lol
It's well worth the search! My dad and I have ours for 5 years now and no major breakdown, which is a miracle considering we bought it for 4000 PLN (about 1000 USD at the time). Only needed a few fixes and it served us ever since.
Not bad looking especially the wheels for an 83!!
They kept that wheel design to 1994 I believe. I had a 94 GMC Jimmy. I loved that thing. I can't believe I sold it!!!!
They were such great wheels that Jeep copied them.
Donald Trump is a Ghetto trick What motor wasn’t anemic back in 1983??
Always loved these
My first vehicle was an 1984 2WD S10 Blazer. Then I bought a lowered hot rod style 1986 S10 Blazer. I loved those things haha. Very cool look and lots of room inside.
THE CHEVY S10 BLAZER TOTALLY ROCKS!!!
THANK YOU MOTORWEEK!!!!!
I had a 91, very similar, Great truck.Wish I still had it.
I had a 94. I sold it a few years back. Must have been smoking crack to let it go!
@@VanquisherUSMC LOL, Yeah, I know what you mean.
thats literally 8 years newer than the one in this video lol
Alexander1485 damn bro youre good at math
Still driving my 89 S15 Jimmy, Best truck I've owned
My sister's first car was a 1983 S-10 Blazer 2wd V6. Good Lord it was a gutless wonder! It seemed like such an old car at the time, but it was only 11-12 years old when she got it. Stuff was always breaking. We had to stuff a reman long block in it at some point. It still wouldn't get out of its own way. I can't imagine one with an 83 hp 2.0L 4 cylinder.
this is the truck I grew up in. Red interior, 4x4 and V6
Thank you for sharing this Chevrolet/ GM footage. I appreciate. I hope to see more GM and footage from its brands past and present. I would like to see the downsized 1985 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight.
I had one. Was my first vehicle from 2011 to 2012. Had rust issues big time, water leaked through the roof, Digital transfer case didn't work right, Transmission slipped like driving on butter, had two engines replaced (going on it's 3rd), over heating cooling system, blower motor had to have a bypass switch installed, brakes were spongy, but *I LOVED that thing* It ended up getting totaled by a person rear ending me at a stop light. Oh well. Great memories.
Sadly I don’t own a blazer, but I do own a 1992 Chevy s10 pickup Tahoe trim. It’s my daily and she’s a beaut to drive around town and haul things around. For a small pickup she handles well and outstands me every time when my bosses bigger and beefier dodge rams can’t keep up with the work we do but I bring my truck to work and she handles all day long and still takes me home.
This platform 10/10 I plan to keep trying to find and restore.
Uncle had a 1985 top of the line S10 Blazer in brown with tan interior. All I remember was the constant loud roar of the cooling fan making the 2.8 V6 sound like it was struggling to move the truck. Always sounded like it was at near redline, lol. Classic design though.
This older model Blazer is reliable than the new one we see today. I still see a few of the old Blazers. The new Blazer will have problems with or without being under warranty, and cannot go off-road, which it was meant to be.
Mine still drives great I have a 1991 Chevy S10 blazer 4x4 4door the 4.3 v6 330,000 on the truck still drives like a champ
Literally no true, new cars are dramatically more reliable than previous generations of vehicles. I'm so sick of poor people who are on welfare talking about how old stuff is so great, and they only reason they say it is because they can't afford anything new.
-BS! The NEW Blazer is already on Consumer Reports SHORT list of "Best Used Cars". The OLD blazer was NEVER on any "best" list except in car magazines car ads!
My mom had a blue one. I still think they're one of the best looking SUVs of all time.
Oh man, I remember when your mom had this, it was cool.
I loved the 85 blazer. I had a 85 Jimmy. What a great suv
I love this chevy S10 Blazer and GMC Jimmy 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988 is my favorites, i love this SUVs
I had an 85 s-10 blazer. My first vehicle. Rebuilt the motor, then the auto trans started to slip. Had that rebuilt. Motor (2.8)v6 lasted another 2 years, then cracked block. Junk yard motor swap, then months later, the trans started slipping again. Sold it for $500. I still have the "committed to excellence" keychain and the memories.
I had an 87 model as my first vehicle. Loved that old thing.
I had this blazer, an 87. It was quite good, even by today’s offerings.
Wish I saw more of these, see a bunch of lost 1990s and early 2000s and sadly 2019/2020 models I’ve only seen 1 blazer and 1 jimmy from this generation this entire year
I actually like this Blazer, and having sat in a late 90s one, feels like it runs better too. Just can't get over that high-speed breaking test where the end came around. Definitely take ABS for granted these days.
I miss old-school truck-based SUVs like this. Glad that there's more interest in them nowadays thanks to cars like the Bronco and Defender
the blazer is a future classic.
howtobebasic 2 it already is a classic
My father owned several of these trucks. Each one never had a problem with running. He beat the piss out of these, and they took every bit of punishment. Only after a decade of driving in harsh winters did they start falling apart due to rot. Hands down the best running little trucks money could buy, until 1997. And then the quality dropped right off a cliff and into a lake.
Those white-outlined sidewalls are nice looking. I also like the 2-tone paint treatment.
Classic blazer I love it's style
"This four wheel drive explorer" Lol.
Someone at Ford "Hey guys, that multi passenger truck you're designing? I got the name."
I still drive an 03 s10 blazer zr2. I love her and will never get rid of her. She takes me anywhere.
I just dug out my 1987 S10 Blazer. It's still in decent shape despite the rust. I need a short 4x4 up here in the winter and this one will do.
I can't wait for you guys to post the Audi 4000 review
We'll be live streaming via facebook soon. Starting with season 4 in its entirety
When I was in the market for a small SUV way back in 85, I couldn't even get two salesmen to talk to me at Merollis Chevrolet, they pointed to sales brochures on the wall, I walked out and went to Roy O'Brian Ford and had a saleswoman who took me for a test ride in a Bronco II. What a totally different sales experience, bought the Ford that day.
Power of a 4 and mpg of an 8. Not to mention rods through the block. Gotta love those old s10’s.
Sounds about right!
Didn’t they eventually offer a swing out tire carrier on the lift gate?
They did, also, he made a mistake....these never had 16" wheels, on 4wd models 205/75R15 tires was standard, with 235/75R15's optional
His 1st reaction to it was how "cute it looked." 🙄
I thought that Blazer looked "darling"..
Hey MotorWeek, do you have any Joyce Braga segments?
My dad had a black one with a giant car phone in the center that barely worked lol. Gorgeous vehicle
I drove an 86 my senior year. It was a party on 4 wheels.
My P.E. Coach at Little Woods Elementary in New Orleans, Louisiana to be exact, had one of these in the early 1990s until he died in early 2000s.
It was a 4 door Jimmy from GMC
I like this MW 🎵 music🎵 reminds me of the great 80s when times were good.
The "Regan era", "Mr. Gorbachev tear down that wall"!
I love my Blazer to bits!
It's the perfect size for me (talking about 4 door version)- not so huge I can't park it anywhere here in Europe, but also large enough for me to sleep in it when I'm going on a trip around the country.
Also the 4.3 is surprisingly economical- 12l/100km isn't bad for a car this size with an engine that big.
The only thing that's bothering me is the lack of serious suspension lifts- there used to be a 5 inch lift kit but now I can't find it anywhere and It would be very helpful to fit larger tires and just do better off road.
I forget what nutless wonders these 80"S vehicles were
I remember test driving a 86 s10 blazer and thinking 10 grand is a lot of money for a truck.
Is it Thursday already?
My step-mom bought one of these in the early 90's. I think it was an '88. I liked it as a kid. It looked and felt rugged. For some reason they hated it thought and got rid of it real quick. I think it had a 2.8L V6.
0-60 in 15.8 seconds lol. I bought one of these back in 1985 with the V6 and 5 speed. I really liked it and only sold it because the Rabbit GTI caught my eye, which you can see on the track in this video. This was before the SUV craze hit full stride and I really enjoyed the practicality it gave me when frequently moving in college. Never had any trouble with it although I only owned it a couple of years.
Ive got one word to describe the early S10 Blazer....here it is.
Squeak squeak squeak
My dad had an 86 Blazer and everything made noises when you drove down the road . From the back glassto the door panel left of you. Squeaky
I had two of them starting back in 84 and I'll tell you I always had problems with the four-wheel-drive going out
Had one when they first came out. Had to have it so I paid $3000.00 over list. At 20,000 miles, they'd replaced 3 rear main seals. By 50,000 miles, the monthly repair bills were more than the payments so I traded it (I think for a used full sized Blazer). Drove nice when it was running, though.
Yeah, were typically 'garage (service) queens!
'98-'05 Blazers were and still are my favorites.
Remember the version with the racing stripes? Hah. My buddy in high school had the S10 pickup truck version with the racing stripes and I remember seeing Blazers having the same option. Wasn’t it called Xtreme or something? Hilarious.
I had a black '85 2wd in the nineties. My first car in highschool. Fun truck.
I bought one for my wife as a back up vehicle when we lived in the mountains. The 2.8 v6 was horrible climbing to over 4000 ft but it always made it. I still prefer k5s and full size Tahoe's though.
Oh man, I remember her, how she's doing?
My neighbor once owned one of these beasts, and by the time he got rid of it, there was a rust hole in the front left fender the size of a silver dollar.
EDIT: I don't remember what model year, but he replaced it with...a used 90s Blazer. Because of course he did.
My dad had an '86 two tone, blue and grey. Still see a few on the road today.
I was Live in 83, Man when the S10 Blazer came on the seen, any truck a year ago in 83 looked old so fast
I had a 91 s10 blazer with 4.3 v6 4x4 . With a rear and front locker and overhauled engine it was amazing.
Amazing that it roll down a highway WITHOUT the assistance of a tow truck?
The 2.8L V6 was slow. I couldn't imagine having a I-4. The 4.3L was the best thing that happened to the S10 truck and blazer
Yeah, I had an '83 S10 pickup with the 2.8, it couldn't get out of its on way! Now the '91 I had with the 4.3, way way better!
The S10 Blazer was not meant to be a speed demon ... but a decent SUV at mpg, towing, and off and on-road getting around... The 2.8 or 4.3 were more torque than speed. As well as the later Vortec 4.3. Today the 3.6 is in Colorado and will get to 0 to 60 in some models in 6.1 seconds as fast as some muscle cars but some truck people say they would want the 4.3 for low-end power .. All in all,S10 Blazer was decent work and play SUV...
Still like the looks of those blazers. Friend had an early one with the 2.8 v6 and man it was slow. I can’t imagine the 4cyl in one. Be fun to find a nice survivor and put a VW tdi engine in one.
Anyone ever notice the mk1 VW in the background during the braking test? That's a real throwback moment"
I bought the 1993 S10 Blazer Tahoe version It needed a few work such as fuel pump and a new starter, will be finishing up on the mechanical payment for it on the September 30th 2022 can't wait to for a new adventure in it, it also the same year that I was born in
That "mini" spare looked big af.
I liked the looks of s10 trucks and suvs....I think they ran pretty good too
That moment you sit there and realize at one point when your Blazer was new it was super quiet..now due to rust its hog ass loud with exhaust ticks and squeaks and rattles.. but I got to say 260 plus thousand miles and I just rebuilt the transmission.i think its a real work horse in my book.i may not drive it across country but around town shes my hard worker
love the dodgeball reference in the description!
Kudos on the Dodgeball reference! Love it!
I owned one of these gutless wonders. It was a pretty truck, drove fine and was reliable. That being said, it was the most gutless vehicle I have ever owned. When they raised the speed limit from 55 to 65, it was underpowered. It would downshift from OD to 3rd running 65 on flat terrain. I would assume that when the 4.3 became an option, that remedied the underpower problem. For an intown errand runner, it was great.
GM couldn't think of putting the spare in the harness, under the chassis area, at the rear of the truck? Wow 🧐🧐
Errors: The wheels were 15 inch, never 16".
The EPA MPG was never 29mpg on the 2.8l V6.
It EASILY achieved 29 MPG.............going downhill in neutral with a tailwind!