Used Car of the Day: 1989 Chevrolet Blazer

Tim Healey
by Tim Healey

Today we feature a 1989 Chevrolet Blazer off-road rig that needs some work but could be a fun rig to take to your local off-road park.


This one has a 350 mill under the hood, Dana 60 front axle, crossover steering, Eaton rear locker, Atlas springs, 4.5-inch lift, Fox shocks, and fiberglass quarter panels, hood, and front fenders. The grille and front lights are from a 2006 Silverado. There's a skid plate, fog lights, and a custom spare-tire mount. There's power steering, windows, and door locks. The heater works, and so does the A/C, though apparently, it doesn't get cold.

Caution flags include a "small" transmission leak, no tailgate, and no carpet, flooring, and headliner.

It's for sale in California for $9,800 and has a tick over 95K miles on the odometer.

[Images: Seller]

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Tim Healey
Tim Healey

Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.

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  • Tassos Tassos on Jul 12, 2023

    Why are you stealing your colleague Murilee Marlin's lunch, Tim???? THis kind of junk is typical of what HIS column peddles every damned day. DO we really need another one?


    Isn't that other dude, who has penned 46 (and counting!!!) very lengthy and verbose columns about those other UTTER LOSERS, the Lincolns, bad enough taste for you???


    TTAC has really gone to the DAWGS.


  • Goatshadow Goatshadow on Jul 12, 2023

    Have they ruined it forever or can you still put K-5 body panels back on it? They put the ugliest possible trash on the poor thing.

  • Jeff One less option will be available for an affordable midsize sedan. Not much can be done about GM discontinuing the Malibu. GM, Ford, and Stellantis have been discontinuing cars for the most part to focus on pickups, crossovers, and suvs. Many buyers that don't want trucks or truck like vehicles have moved onto Japanese and South Korean brands. Meanwhile large pickups and suvs continue to pile up on dealer lots with some dealers still adding market adjustments to the stickers. Even Toyota dealers have growing inventories of Tundras and Tacomas.
  • Lorenzo This car would have sold better if there was a kit to put fiberglass toast slices on the roof.
  • Lorenzo The Malibu is close to what the 1955 Bel Air was, but 6 inches shorter in height, and 3 inches shorter in wheelbase, the former making it much more difficult to get into or out of. Grandma has to sit in front (groan) and she'll still have trouble getting in and out.The '55s had long options lists, but didn't include a 91 cubic inch four with a turbo, or a continuously variable transmission. Metal and decent fabric were replaced by cheap plastic too. The 1955 price was $1765 base, or $20,600 adjusted for inflation, but could be optioned up to $3,000 +/-, or $36,000, so in the same ballpark.The fuel economy, handling, and reliability are improved, but that's about it. Other than the fact that it means one fewer sedan available, there's no reason to be sorry it's being discontinued. Put the 1955 body on it and it'll sell like hotcakes, though.
  • Calrson Fan We are already seeing multiple manufacturers steering away from EVs to Hybrids & PHEVs. Suspect the market will follow. Battery tech isn't anywhere close to where it needs to be for EV's to replace ICE's. Neither is the electrical grid or charging infrastructure. PHEV's still have the drawback that if you can't charge at home your not a potential customer. I've heard stories of people with Volts that never charge them but that's a unique kind of stupidity. If you can't or don't want to charge your PHEV then just get a hybrid.
  • AZFelix The last time I missed the Malibu was when one swerved into my lane and I had to brake hard to avoid a collision. 1 out of 5⭐️. Do not recommend.
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