Elite Dealer

1988 Chevrolet Blazer

$37,895

Vehicle Details

Make

Chevrolet

Model

Blazer

Year

1988

Mileage

73,945 miles

Body Type

SUV

Transmission

Automatic

Drivetrain

4WD

Engine

350 V8 Throttle Body Fuel Injection

Description

1988 Chevrolet K5 Blazer 4x4 – Fuel-Injected 350, Restored & Ready This 1988 Chevrolet K5 Blazer 4x4 is a beautifully refreshed full-size SUV with classic styling and modern reliability. Powered by a throttle-body fuel-injected 350 V8 and backed by a 4-speed automatic transmission, this Blazer has been extensively updated inside and out. Features Include: 350 V8 with throttle-body fuel injection 4-speed automatic transmission Four-wheel drive Engine with less than 500 miles New throttle body New A/C compressor Cold air conditioning Power windows Power door locks New paint New quarter panels New rocker panels New front fenders New inner fenders Floor repairs completed where needed All-new interior Reconditioned removable top inside and out 4-inch suspension lift 35-inch tires Custom wheels A sharp, well-sorted K5 Blazer that blends classic square-body styling with dependable fuel-injected performance.

Whether you're cruising the streets, heading to a show, or exploring the trails, this Blazer is built to turn heads and deliver dependable performance.

Classic Chevrolet Blazer Buyer's Guide

Full guide

Robert Halloran

Classic Trucks

1969–1994

~3 min read

Updated Apr 2026

Complete buyer's guide for the classic Chevrolet K5 Blazer (1969–1994). Generation breakdown, frame and body inspection, 4WD system assessment, and current market values for drivers through to restored examples.

This guide covers

✓ 10-point inspection checklist

✓ Common issues & what to avoid

✓ In-person inspection guide

✓ Market pricing by year & condition

✓ 5 FAQs answered

✓ History & fun facts

Read the Full Blazer Buyer's Guide

Chevrolet Blazer Market Overview

Based on 41 Chevrolet Blazer listings currently on ClassicCarsArena.com

Listed Now

$50,284

Avg. Asking Price

1969–1991

Year Range

Price Position on Our Site — Average Range

This car: $37,895

Low: $8,195 High: $188,995

Transmission Distribution

Automatic 78% ◄

Manual 5%

Condition Distribution

Excellent 22%

Good 10%

Fair 7%

Poor 2%

Data from ClassicCarsArena.com listings Browse all 41 listings →

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What is this car worth?

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Classic Chevrolet Blazer Buyer's Guide

The full-size Chevrolet Blazer — the K5 — is the SUV that defined American open-air four-wheeling for two decades. From its 1969 launch through to the final 1994 model year, the K5 offered truck-based capability with a removable top, a big-block option, and enough room to actually work. Today it's one of the most collectible American SUVs on the market, and prices are moving accordingly.

What to Check Before Buying

✓

Inspect frame rails under cab and rear body — Use flashlight and screwdriver. Check boxed sections and cab mounts. Rotten rails are a structural deal-breaker.

✓

Remove rear seat and check floor pan — Full floor pan inspection including corners. Patch panels over rust holes indicate hidden structural problems.

✓

Test 4WD engagement — Engage low-range and high-range 4WD. Both front lockouts should engage without grinding.

✓

Check front axle U-joints — Worn U-joints are common on high-mileage 4WD trucks. Grab the driveshaft and check for play.

✓

Inspect removable top mounting points — Header bar and top latches rust from the inside. Check mounting flanges for cracks or rust-through.

✓

Examine tailgate and rear body corners — Rear lower corners rot behind the wheel arches. Inspect with mirror and light.

✓

Verify engine casting numbers — Check casting numbers and partial VIN stamp on block. Confirms displacement for value assessment.

✓

Test brakes — Brake pulsation usually means warped rotors or drums. Check pad/shoe thickness.

✓

Check steering box play — More than 2 inches of dead travel at the steering wheel indicates a worn steering box — rebuildable.

✓

Document everything before purchase — Photo frame, floor, engine bay, all body panels, stamps, and tags.

Common Issues

Frame rust is the primary concern — these trucks were used hard and often garaged poorly. The frame rails under the cab and at the rear body mounts are the critical zones. Body rust concentrates at floor pans, lower cab corners, tailgate corners, and the windshield header area. The 4WD drivetrain is robust but high-mileage examples commonly need front axle U-joint replacement, transfer case shift linkage rebuild, and front differential service. The 400 small-block (1970–1980) can crack the block if overheated. Verify cooling system history on any 400-powered truck.

What to Look For

Frame first, always. Use a flashlight under the truck and probe the frame rails with a screwdriver at every point you can reach. Floor pans second. Remove the carpet and the rear seat. Full-floor inspection on both sides. 4WD system third. Engage both high and low range with the truck moving slowly. Both front locking hubs should engage without grinding. Originality: a first-gen Blazer with its original 350 and matching-numbers drivetrain commands $10,000–$20,000 more than one with a replacement engine.

Price Guide

First-generation K5 Blazer (1969–1972): driver-quality examples run $28,000–$50,000. Restored correct-colour trucks: $65,000–$95,000. Big-block first-gens add $5,000–$15,000 premium. Second-generation round-headlight (1973–1980): clean drivers at $18,000–$38,000; restored show-quality at $45,000–$65,000. Quad-headlight generation (1981–1991): $12,000–$28,000 for solid drivers. Heavily modified trail rigs trade at discounts to equivalent original trucks.

Did You Know?

The K5 Blazer name referred to the full-size platform. The smaller "S-10 Blazer" launched in 1983 was a completely different vehicle — smaller, lighter, and based on the S-10 pickup platform. Today's collectors distinguish carefully between the two. The 1969 Blazer outsold the Ford Bronco in its first year of production — 4,935 Blazers against 3,877 Broncos — despite being a late-year launch.

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Elite Dealer

$37,895

1988 Chevrolet Blazer

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Model History

How the Chevrolet Blazer evolved (1969–1994) — 3 generations.

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