Chevrolet has called its latest Blazer, “the trendsetter.” It’s a nice SUV, for sure, and there’s an EV version in the wings, but there’s nothing about its design that really sets it apart from all of the other four-door sport-utilities on the market.
Now, the original Blazer… that was a trendsetter. The aim was to build a sporty, open-top, two-door, off-roader to compete with the Jeep CJ, International Scout, Ford Bronco, etc. In the early 1960s, Chevrolet had plans for an all-new vehicle with a compact footprint comparable to those trucks. But, instead, the Chevrolet Blazer/ GMC Jimmy twins were based on full-size, half-ton trucks, shortened from a 115-inch wheelbase (the shortest pickup chassis) to a trim 104 inches. The revamped body had no barrier between the cab and the bed (so passengers could access the optional rear seat), the window frames on the doors were eliminated, and a full-length, removable top made open-air motoring possible.
The Blazer arrived in ’69 and Chevrolet built just 4,935 copies in its debut year. (The Jimmy was released in
