The first year that Chevrolet introduced the Blazer was 1969 when it adapted its K-10 four-wheel drive pickup trucks to compete with the other manufacturers who were offering stylish 4X4s to the general public. The move was a success for Chevrolet, for within a year, Chevy more than doubled its output of the Blazer. The Chevy K/5 Blazer had a Turbo-Fire 307 cubic-inch V-8 engine that offered 200 horsepower at 4000 rpms. An optional 350-cubic inch Turbo-Fire V-8 was available that upped the gross horsepower to 255. The Blazer was nearly a foot wider and over two feet longer than its closest competitor, and thus had a much more commodius interior. The K-10 Pickup came with just a driver's seat but the Blazer could be ordered with a front passenger seat and/or a three-passenger rear bench. It also offered an optional fiberglass top with either a black or white textured paint finish.

As the Chevy pickup truck improved over time, the Blazer benefitted from these continued advancements, whereas the competition's 4X4 models were more or less locked into their design and engineering for an extended period of time because of their low production numbers.

While the Blazer was Chevrolet's first foray into the mainstream off-road four-wheel drive market, it has definitely found its niche and has continued to appeal to the public over the years. Now, the introductory 1969 Chevy K/5 Blazer is dramatically recreated in an exciting die-cast replica. Meticulously crafted and precision-engineered in the 1:43 scale, the 1969 Chevy K/5 Blazer is produced by - and available only from - Matchbox Collectibles.

(1999)

Scale: 1:43