Two-Door Time Capsule: 1989 Chevrolet S10 Blazer 33K Mile Survivor – Sold?

February 28, 2022 Update – We just confirmed the listing for this “Classifind” expired, so with no replacement found we’re assuming this ride “Sold?” While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call us directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.

In the market for a new two-door SUV? Supply chain issues aside, try to find such a model. We could only come up with three: The Jeep Wrangler (of course), the new Ford Bronco, and the Land Rover Rover Defender.  The latter two have only been available in the U.S. for less than two years, leaving the Wrangler as the lone two-door SUV for nearly two decades. No surprise then that it continued to sell so well, even after it too, started offering a four-door unlimited version.

That wasn’t always the case. Before the early 1990s, SUVs were rarely offered in a four-door body style. This 1989 Chevrolet Blazer originally listed in January 2022 on Craigslist in Gambrills, Maryland (Baltimore) epitomizes how popular the two-door compact SUV was up until the late 1980s. An unmolested, well-maintained example featuring only 32,805 original miles, it’s now offered for sale by the original owner.

With both Hagerty Insurance and the Collector Car Market Review not offering valuations for this truck, the J.D. Power NADA Guides Online Valuation Tool reveals the original owner’s asking price is well above this guide’s current “Low”, “Average”, and “High” retail value range of only $2,459, $4,035, and $5,966, respectively.  A check of Bring A Trailer, however, revealed that website successfully auctioned this 1989 Chevrolet S10 Blazer at No Reserve for a winning bid of $21,989 in October of 2021. We note that S10 only had 140 miles and has a rebuilt title after being stolen in April 1989 and apparently recovered several months later that year. We would not be surprised if the seller of the S10 Blazer featured here is using the long BaT sale as their benchmark.

Chevrolet and GMC offered badge-engineered S10/S10 Blazer and Jimmy SUV and compact pickup twins from 1983 through 2005 across two generations.  Considered compacts when launched, these models were 14.5 inches shorter and 14.9 inches narrower than the full-size K5 Blazer, leading to the nickname of ‘baby Blazer’. The S-series Blazer and Jimmy were for a long time, like their full-size counterparts, only offered in a two-door body-style.

The S-series Blazer and Jimmy did not feature removable hardtops and until the 1990 model year were only offered as a two-door.  GM replaced the original 2.0 Liter inline-four engine with the larger 2.5 L Iron Duke engine for the 1985 model year. The V6 was refitted with a throttle-body fuel injection system for 1986 in order to improve performance and fuel economy.

In order for it to keep being competitive, the Blazer and Jimmy received a new 4.3 L (262 cu in) V6 option for 1988.  Based on the Chevrolet Small-Block V8 engine, producing a respectable 150 hp. Power output was increased to 160 horsepower for 1989, while the four-cylinder engine was dropped.

The MotorWeek Retro Review Channel features this test drive from when Chevrolet first launched the S10 Blazer in 1983:

Just went you went weren’t looking, mint 1980s vintage SUVs started selling for more than what they cost when new.  Our only pet peeve with this example is the seller rounding the 32,805 miles shown on the odometer down to 32K instead of up to 33K miles. If you wanted a Chevrolet S10 Blazer in 1989 but could not afford one then, now is your chance to own a like-new example.

Here’s the seller’s description:

“1989 Chevy S10 Blazer. 32,000 miles on this well kept 4X4. A/c, auto, 4.3 V6 Bulletproof motor, new tires. One owner
$19,000 or best offer.
NO text messages please! Phone call or email only.​“

Show or go: what would you do with this 1989 Chevrolet S10 Blazer?  Comment below and let us know!