Blazer prices - WTH?

[demian5]

So my friend contacts me looking at a 72 blazer in Massachusetts. Its $29k but mismatched seats, body sagging, no carpet, not $29k, maybe $15k. So i start looking around and what is in the water?

This guy is close to me and has some nice stuff. But $110k?
http://www.shiftbespokeautomotive.co...entory/?sold=0

A decend one can still be had in the $10s seems.

I know a couple black on black on black ones went for a pretty penny at a couple auctions, but damn!

[davepl]

That's a nice Blazer, but its restored to a less detailed level than my own truck. For that money it should be nicer than mine, that's for sure!

If it's a real Highlander Blazer with desirable options restored to Pebble Beach standards, and if there were only 1-3 of them made that way, I can see it...

There are rarer cars in the world but I think the key to "Big Money" (tm) is the rare gem example of the unit that a million other people have (ie: 67-72 trucks, Corvettes, Camaros, etc). That's what this Blazer is, or at least that's how it's priced, but I'd think it should be nicer.

BTW, it's already plenty nice, but at that price, I get to be fairly picky :-)

A decent one can still be had in the $10s seems.

If so, buy 2 and save one for later!

[Chevyland]

Blazers are on fire right now

To me it's strange how they always brought Lower prices than Broncos
It seems like they are gaining on them now
And desirable ones blowing them out of the water

There are still some deals out there
But you better hurry up if you want one
Before there aren't

[67ChevyRedneck]

Yup, in the past 5 or so years Blazers have gone bat **** crazy on price. Like more than doubled. I hardly ever see them anymore either, I have to go to a really big show to maybe see one or two.

[mike16]

Batchit is the person who would pay that much.

No way. Make sure you are paying for the truck and not the price the PO payed to have it "restored" to that level. I dont want to be the first person to tear it apart.

lets just call it a learning curve for the as of yet uneducated.........Let the lesson begin.

and lets just keep in mind that we are not the intended audience/market for this vehicle. Only one person has to buy this vehicle at that price

[67ChevyRedneck]

Well, yes, the 100K one is insane but the others are also stupid $$$ and will likely sell.

[davepl]

Originally Posted by mike16

Batchit is the person who would pay that much.

No way. Make sure you are paying for the truck and not the price the PO payed to have it "restored" to that level. I dont want to be the first person to tear it apart.

Well, let's say you WANT a Blazer restored to that level. It might well cost you $100K to do it. Many full, real, restorations run 200-300K or more. I'm talking "drop off a vehicle and a check at Musclecar Restorations". It's EASY to put 2000 hours into a resto, and if you're paying $85 an hour...

So you could pay 100K to restore one or you could buy something that someone has already restored, like this one. It's almost always cheaper to buy than build, of course.

Every time a higher end restoration or build comes up for sale people are quick to disparage it, but I don't see a shortcut to quality. Someone's got to pay at some point, even if it's in sweat equity.

If I'm wrong, feel free to point me at the quality for sale cheap.

[truckster]

I'm just glad I bought one several years ago when I could still afford it.

[davepl]

Originally Posted by truckster

I'm just glad I bought one several years ago when I could still afford it.

That's like my 1969 Camaro RS/SS 396. I bought it fully restored about 15 years ago (holy cow!) and now they're pretty much out of reach unless it's some crazy basket case. Our trucks are one of the last "classic" vehicles that a young person can buy and restore these days. Not like you can buy a rust-free '70 Chevelle for $5K anymore.

[cleszkie]

I like the increase in respect that the Blazers are getting in the market, but don't understand the crazy prices either. I own both a first gen Blazer and Bronco, and could never understand why the Broncos were pulling so much more money than the Blazers. The Broncos are tin cans with a scary short wheelbase that you can't tow much with or fit much in. The Blazer is superior in all categories, with much better road manners, and more comfortable to drive. All the increased pricing on Blazers is going to do is make them more out of reach for the average enthusiast, and make them more of a target for thieves.

[CastIron]

Asking price isn't the same as selling price. I suspect that many go for less than the listed price. I think there's plenty of them out there for a reasonable price. It's ebay and big auctions that have jacked the price up, so people think they can ask big money.

[ho70]

one sold at BJ in Scottsdale for 195K

[harpo231]

Originally Posted by davepl

Well, let's say you WANT a Blazer restored to that level. It might well cost you $100K to do it. Many full, real, restorations run 200-300K or more. I'm talking "drop off a vehicle and a check at Musclecar Restorations". It's EASY to put 2000 hours into a resto, and if you're paying $85 an hour...

So you could pay 100K to restore one or you could buy something that someone has already restored, like this one. It's almost always cheaper to buy than build, of course.

Every time a higher end restoration or build comes up for sale people are quick to disparage it, but I don't see a shortcut to quality. Someone's got to pay at some point, even if it's in sweat equity.

If I'm wrong, feel free to point me at the quality for sale cheap.

I agree 100%. As someone who has built in the past and is currently having one built. All that is necessary for the high price is the WANT and the $$$$.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1497294867

[Ekliptix]

Well, I'm glad I just bought one then. 1970 2wd. Driving it home (2,200mi) next month.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Is that a real 2wd or a conversion? There was only 985 2wd blazers built in 1970.

[Ekliptix]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

Is that a real 2wd or a conversion? There was only 985 2wd blazers built in 1970.

It's a real 2wd. Original 350/350 drivetrain. Front disk conversion, new front end components. Sold in Canada and spend time time in the US before returning to Canada.

[davepl]

I am NOT an expert (see ChipFlyer, I believe) but the VIN on that spid looks weird to me. The Canadian trucks are sometimes in a typewriter font, but this spid was printed on the standard IBM chain printer like the rest, so why would the VIN font be different?

Hopefully I learn something new about SPIDs rather than you learning something new about the truck... not to worry you, like I said, I know very little authoritative about them.

[Ekliptix]

I'm no spid expert, but I agree the ink looks little different at the top vs the bottom. The vin numbers them check out. I have no reason to believe it's not genuine but I'll have a better idea when I pick it up and find a stamped vin.
Update: I can also comment that it has a 6 lug rear bolt pattern, which was a 1970-only feature in the 2wd models.

[Boog]

The high prices some vehicles draw some times seems totally unreasonable. Some blame the auction companies and dealers. They aren't totally at fault. They can place a high price on one. It's business. It only takes one willing buyer who wants that vehicle bad enough to pay that high price. One could ask for 2,3, 4 hundred thousand and you have to know there is at least one buyer out there who would give it so you can place the blame for high prices directly on other enthusiasts. Demand and supply. Extremely nice examples of older vehicles are out there but be ready to shell out the coins for them.

Ekliptix you have found another real choice one it looks like. That's an unusual wheel/tire setup on the blazer. I like it though.

[mike16]

Originally Posted by davepl

Well, let's say you WANT a Blazer restored to that level. It might well cost you $100K to do it. Many full, real, restorations run 200-300K or more. I'm talking "drop off a vehicle and a check at Musclecar Restorations". It's EASY to put 2000 hours into a resto, and if you're paying $85 an hour...

So you could pay 100K to restore one or you could buy something that someone has already restored, like this one. It's almost always cheaper to buy than build, of course.

Every time a higher end restoration or build comes up for sale people are quick to disparage it, but I don't see a shortcut to quality. Someone's got to pay at some point, even if it's in sweat equity.

If I'm wrong, feel free to point me at the quality for sale cheap.

No, your wrong, especially when you refer to it as a high end restoration.

what ever it is its not that and certainly, simply because some fool is asking 119K.

High end restoration? Go look at NCRS high end resto's

and you got it bass akwards another way too: quality for sale cheap, no such thing but a cheap restoration for high bucks is what we are looking at anyway. And you presume alot when you state it COST 100K to build. Somebody maybe paid that much but worth that much?

And its not disparaging, when somebody puts it out there for that money. Its a reality check.

when you put it out there it will be "disparaged" the rest of us call it a lesson. But its not meant to sell to those of us who are knowlegable.

Hey if its such a good deal you buy it and drive it to pebble beach.

Sorry but you call me out, I'm ready to disparage it. 119K you tell me first whats worth 119k on it and I'll tell you what is not. Yea its rare, but 119K?

you first. and remember.. its a 119K "restoration" Oh! its nice but we're disparaging a 119K "restoration" here. The devil, sir, is in the details.

Maybe I'm being too hard here but The truck Hobby is undergoing some interesting changes now just like the the corvette hobby did and the camaro. chevelle/gto 442 hobby did. And there were some unhealthy dynamics that hurt the hobby then.

And this truck is not meant to sell to our demographic target. Its nice enough but we're talking 119K nice.

[special-K]

That Blazer isn't restored. It's personalized custom painted top looks really nice, but devalues it and disqualifies it as a restoration. So, do the rallyes & tires, but they are just bolt-on

Where are the important under hood and undercarriage pictures? It seems they'd rather waste space with pictures of Porches to show why it costs so much.

"Oh, I see. You are asking that much because it shares show room space with Porches. Makes perfect sense now".

[Ken B]

This thread kinda reminds me of a truck my boss had restored. The truck is kinda off-topic but here goes. He bought a Power Wagon in very nice original condition, a 383 4 speed truck. I tried to tell him it was way to nice to touch but he wouldn't hear it. The truck was taken down to the last nut and bolt and like the video states, EVERYTHING was new, no expenses spared whatsoever. It was literally a brand new Power Wagon with a modern drive train that you could drive anywhere. (just a little to personalized) I personally drove it and it was flawless. He had 150,000 into it for a fact. When the time came to sell it he turned it over to his buddy Wayne from the TV show Chasing Classic Cars. Wayne took it to many auctions over a long period of time and the truck was finally sold for well under 40k. The boss is worth millions upon millions so it didn't hurt him too much... Heres a video of the truck..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llVYP_pBxoU

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by Ekliptix

It's a real 2wd. Original 350/350 drivetrain. Front disk conversion, new front end components. Sold in Canada and spend time time in the US before returning to Canada.

That is so cool!

A lot of people don't know that GM never sold any 2wd blazers in 1969, they were 4x4 only the first year. 1970 was the first year for the 2wd blazer.

[cleszkie]

Just took a good look at the fleebay ad for the $119K Blazer. For a high end restoration, they sure skipped some areas. The wiring under the dash looks like any 40+ year old truck that has had several owners pawing through it (hanging down, wadded up bundles, etc). I would expect all new wiring for that price. The ad also points out the fact that there are no rocker boxes! They state this like it is a good thing - so you can see how good the floors are in the area that would be covered by the boxes. Whatever. I am also amazed at the amount of pitting visible in the frame. Granted, the frame may have been powder coated, but that's like putting a silk bowtie on a pig for a full high end restoration. For that kind of money, the frame should look nearly flawless.

I'm not trying to knock the Blazer. It is a nice truck. But far, far away from the asking price. I live a short distance from the shop that is selling it. I might drive over and take a closer look at it for chits and grins.

[GMC-YA68]

Agree. Everything is literally doubled. It's crazy. Housing market is like that (here) too. **** is going for 25% more than what it appraises at.