Original or custom brings more money?

[jmillsUT28]

Before I start restoring my blazer I wanted to check with you guys that might know the going values for these k5s. And i relize it's worth what someone is willing to pay...

Will my Bazer be worth more if I restore it as original as I can or does it matter anymore?

Blazer info:
1972 Blazer
5 speed
One owner
Unmolested
Has ac
Throttle option
CTS
White with black top
All paperwork and manuals

[GMC-YA68]

If I was building to potentially sell then I'd go the original route.

[truckster]

I don't believe a 5 speed was an option on any 1st generation Blazers.

As far as the value of restoration vs custom, the really big bucks seem to run in the custom crowd, but there's a lot more risk there as well. If you want to be relatively sure you'll recover your investment I'd go the stock route, as long as everything works.

[ATL Golfer]

Did someone say cover your investment?

Ha!

[tjsblazer]

If you are planning on trying to maximize resale typically a factory correct restoration on a totally original, numbers correct vehicle is your best bet.

If you are planning on keeping it I would say restore it to suit yourself.

[Hotrod1972GH]

Hello I'm in Knoxville I'm building a 1972 blazer and I'm going back 100% original

[GMC-YA68]

All great points thus far. These things are hard to come by sometimes. You have had a couple...maybe 3rd time is a charm and keep it in the family? If not, dump it now for a profit. What you want for it? I'd love to make you an offer and have another...

[LuckyScott]

Been doing this for about 40 years, I remember taking off stock stuff and replacing it with cheap Pep boys crap. Then decades later spending top dollar to buy the exact same stuff i threw away.
If you are building for yourself, do it however you want. Make yourself happy.
But if you want an investment, go stock.
Fads change, remember how cool the paint that changed color was?

[hemi43]

I always say customize it to your liking, but any changes you do should be reversible. I have a 5.3/4L60E in mine which may or may not hurt it's value, but I know down the road the original 350/350 combo can easily be put back in because I didn't cut anything up. My 2 cents.

[ClassicStyle]

I got 28 for my last one, it was done with the factory in mind, wasn't correct color inside or out, no a/c, just built it as nice as I could.

I think anything radical custom is a hard sale and you'll never get your money out, but a couple modern conviences go a long way, so a mild resto-mod type of build in my opinion brings the most. Keep its classic appearance and character, make it more convienent for today's world.

[HO455]

Originally Posted by ClassicStyle

I got 28 for my last one, it was done with the factory in mind, wasn't correct color inside or out, no a/c, just built it as nice as I could.

I think anything radical custom is a hard sale and you'll never get your money out, but a couple modern conviences go a long way, so a mild resto-mod type of build in my opinion brings the most. Keep its classic appearance and character, make it more convienent for today's world.

I also believe this is the way to go, unless you have a rig that came with lots of desirable options from the factory. Options make complete restorations much more valuable. Think GTO's. If a GTO had a tripower from the factory = 15% to the selling price. You can get more money, but the number of buyers is smaller.

[Rickenbach]

I've seen the most money spent on factory original restored Blazers. If we were talking about old Corvettes I would restomod it for the money, but the Blazers seem to be worth more in an original form.

[harrisoncole4]

Factory original is a safe bet. With that said, You don't see stock blazers selling for $100k+ like these monsters.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAOmUSO-piQ&t=827s

[Rickenbach]

Originally Posted by harrisoncole4

Factory original is a safe bet. With that said, You don't see stock blazers selling for $100k+ like these monsters.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAOmUSO-piQ&t=827s
Attachment 1592282

Take the Icon emblem off and how much would you pay?

[harrisoncole4]

Originally Posted by Rickenbach

Take the Icon emblem off and how much would you pay?

While you are correct, there is a difference between what it is worth and what I would pay. I would never buy a $100k blazer. Yet if you add up the costs for this vehicle (10k axles, 6k brakes, 4k suspension, etc) you can see how they would easily approach the six figure price tag.

[tjsblazer]

Originally Posted by Rickenbach

I've seen the most money spent on factory original restored Blazers. If we were talking about old Corvettes I would restomod it for the money, but the Blazers seem to be worth more in an original form.

That is an interesting observation. My experience has been the opposite. C1 or C2 mid-years seem to command the big money when they are properly documented, complete matching numbers original. Especially some of the target ones like a 63 Fuelie or a 67 Big block tri-power.

[Rickenbach]

Originally Posted by tjsblazer

That is an interesting observation. My experience has been the opposite. C1 or C2 mid-years seem to command the big money when they are properly documented, complete matching numbers original. Especially some of the target ones like a 63 Fuelie or a 67 Big block tri-power.

I would amend my statement to exclude some documented, matching number, low production number examples, but for the run of the mill C1/C2 most restomods bring more than an NCRS award winner.

[ClassicStyle]

Have a shop full of 150-200k cars. There are plenty of guys that's pay. Hell one car was 575k.

It's been my experience that the average buyer wants to relive a experience or time in their life, they remember it a certain way, typically forget how mechincally operated vehicles are. So give them the what they remember, make things better and easier to use. Wives don't like the new 30k truck that is tempormental in the cold, or she flooded it the one time she drove it.

[mgkgmc]

Id say Blazer is worth more original Broncos seem to pull more custom. Not sure why.

[harrisoncole4]

Originally Posted by mgkgmc

Id say Blazer is worth more original Broncos seem to pull more custom. Not sure why.

Thats interesting, you would think they would both be the same. I guess the bronco did lack the luxury features and driveline improvements found in the blazers. They must not hold up to the test of time like the K5