Steve McQueen's 1970 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Exits Long-Term Storage, Looks Brand-New

Personally, I’m a bigger fan of the second-generation models, but these first-gen K5 Blazers did have a certain pizzazz, and if you’re in the market for a retro people hauler (as many people seemingly are), it’s either this or the Bronco.

Anyway, it’s time to focus our attention on a very specific first-gen K5 Blazer, a 1970 model year example that used to belong to none other than Steve McQueen (its original owner, no less). That’s right, the “King of Cool” himself bought this car, along with four other Chevy models, for his Baja race team – we're talking two 4WD pickups and two other Blazers.

This specific K5 Blazer is believed to have been used as a tow vehicle for Baja races, and it was McQueen’s race team that changed the front grille to a four-headlight Jimmy configuration for additional lighting in desert conditions. They also installed Positraction front and rear differentials.

Come 1971, the vehicle was purchased for $1,500 by one Bob Bianchi, who looked after it until 2022. Following a 13,000-mile road trip in 1972, the truck was then used as a family car until 2001, when it made Big Bear, California its permanent home. Since then, it’s only been used sparingly for mountain range cruising during weekends.

It’s hard to say just how long this vehicle sat in storage throughout the decades, although we can all agree that it’s been refurbished at one point. The exterior, at least, looks pretty darn good. The interior? Not quite as good, but not bad either – it's got a certain charm to it.

In terms of specs, McQueen’s Citrus Green K5 Blazer is powered by a 350 ci (5.7L) small-block V8 engine, mated to a TH350 three-speed automatic gearbox. This engine still features its factory-standard air conditioning unit, plus a set of Edelbrock valve covers. Meanwhile, the odometer reads 81,235 miles.

Interior highlights include the front bucket seats, a roll bar, column shifter, pedal brightwork, and a carpeted rear section which looks quite comfy. As for the wheels, they boast a chrome finish and BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A rubber.

So then, why are we showing you this truck? Because it’s getting auctioned off, obviously. The auction starts on May 17th, and we expect this classic Chevy to fetch a pretty penny. The ad doesn’t say anything about the price, but if I may, I’d like to point to this fully refurbished and tuned 1971 K5 Blazer we showed you a while back, which ended up selling for $78,250.

It’s a lot nicer than McQueen’s Blazer, but then again, it didn’t have McQueen as its original owner. All things considered, how much do you reckon this King of Cool-owned K5 Blazer is worth?