Over the last few years, one thing has become evident: the popularity of Sport Utility Vehicles is here to stay. From Broncos and Blazers to FJs and Scouts, the 2023 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction will be home to some of the hottest SUVs around. Both modern and classic SUVs have come to represent one of the fastest-growing and most popular segments of the collector car hobby with endless possibilities to customize and modify for any terrain.
“We’re continually asked about ‘the next big thing’ in the collector car hobby,” said Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. “The strong and sustained demand has fully established SUVs as one of those major trends. From classic to late-model, custom and imports, classic SUVs are incredibly popular among collectors today – not only for their timeless allure, but for their utilitarian purpose. They’ve evolved into the epitome of cool.”
Of the SUVs that cross the block, Broncos and Blazers continuously lead the pack with significant sales. The first-generation Bronco, which spans from 1966 through 1977, is among the most popular generations of Broncos to cross the block, as is the first-generation Blazer, which spans from 1969 through 1972.
Check out these SUVs ready to cross the 2023 Scottsdale Auction block, January 21-29, all with No Reserve. Register to bid today to make one of them yours.
LOT #1422.1 – 1972 CHEVROLET K5 BLAZER CUSTOM SUV – NO RESERVE
Pictured above, this custom Hogan Built 1972 K5 Blazer is refinished in a PPG “Mint my Mind” and Mercedes Cirrus White two-toned paint job. The fiberglass top has been completely redone, gel-coated, retextured and refinished in factory satin. The top has been upgraded with rear gas shocks, new weatherstripping and brand-new glass. Even the chassis was completely reworked and all holes have been welded.
The frame also features custom-fabricated crossmembers, suspension hangers and shackles. After the fabrication was completed, the chassis was powder-coated, then sanded and refinished in a gloss black. The underside is finished off with a fully polished 3-inch TIG-welded stainless-steel exhaust with MagnaFlow mufflers. In addition, a 14-bolt rear axle and a high-pinion Dana 44 front axle were installed, along with Fox 2.0 shocks. Stopping power is provided by 4-wheel Wilwood disc brakes backed by CPP Hydro-Boost. Powering this K5 is a GM crate 6.2-liter 500hp LS engine backed by a Hughes 4L80E transmission and equipped with an advanced adapter to support the Atlas transfer case.
Open the doors to an immaculate interior with triple Twine Tan throughout, featuring factory front bucket seats and a bench spanning the rear using Snowden foam. Also inside are Classic Instruments gauges, a half-wrapped billet steering wheel, a new steering column, a TIG-welded roll cage and a brand-new Vintage Air system. A RetroSound radio was installed in the dash and plays through four Infinity 6.5-inch components, with two 10-inch subwoofers inside custom-made speaker panels. Dynomat is installed under the German square-weave, edge-bound carpet. This K5 had a true nut-and-bolt, body-off concours restoration using only the best parts available while pushing the limits of extreme attention to detail.
LOT #1432 – 1972 CHEVROLET K5 BLAZER CUSTOM SUV – NO RESERVE
This custom 1972 Chevrolet K5 Blazer received a professional frame-off rotisserie restoration with customizations and modern upgrades. Powered by a GM 6.0-liter LS V8 engine mated to a 6L90 6-speed automatic transmission and a rebuilt NP205 transfer case with advanced adapters, this K5 has a 1-ton Dana 60 front axle with new 4.56 Yukon gears and Grizzly lockers with Yukon locking hubs. The rear is a 1-ton 14-bolt with new 4.56 Yukon gears and Grizzly lockers.
This Blazer has a 4-inch lift using Offroad Design (ORD) suspension with FOX shocks, cross-over steering, sway bar and PSC power steering. Stopping is handled with Hydro-Boost power-assisted disc brakes at all four corners. Rubber meets the road with 17-inch KMC beadlock wheels wrapped in 35×12.50 BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A tires. The interior features factory seats redone in new brown upholstery, custom door panels, a center console, Classic Instruments gauges and a Vintage Air system.
Additional features include an aluminum radiator with dual electric fans, ceramic-coated headers feeding a custom dual-exhaust system and Dirty Dingo motor mounts. A restored single-wall hardtop is also included. 85 test miles since completion. Includes all build photos.
LOT #976.1 – 1976 INTERNATIONAL SCOUT II CUSTOM SUV – NO RESERVE
This custom 1976 International Harvester Scout II Traveler 4×4 SUV started as a rust-free Scout before it began a meticulous restoration. It is powered by an IH 304ci V8 engine mated to a 4-speed manual transmission with a PerTronix electronic ignition. It was recently refinished in Cement Gray Metallic paint with new badging and a red Rallye decal kit. This SUV has custom GRC-fabricated front and rear bumpers, front and rear tow hooks, a WARN 10,000-pound winch, Bushwacker fender flares, a billet mesh grille and LED headlights. This vehicle rides on new 17-inch Raceline wheels with 33×12.50 Toyo Open Country M/T tires tucked nicely under the 4-inch Rough Country lift and upgraded suspension, including new shocks and leaf springs. Steering enhancements include heavy-duty steering linkages, Borgeson in place of a rag joint, and a Straight Steer brace across the frame.
Inside, the custom upholstered bucket seats are finished in a red diamond stitch with matching rear seat and door panels. The Tuffy locking center console provides secure storage and cup holders. Additional features include a custom Grant wood steering wheel, JVC in-dash Bluetooth stereo with four Memphis Audio speakers, LED instrument and under-dash lighting, as well as a GRC powder-coated roll bar with 3-point retractable seatbelts in front. Also features power steering, power brakes and a Softopper top with roll-up side and rear windows.
LOT #1317 – 1977 FORD BRONCO CUSTOM SUV – NO RESERVE
This 1977 early Ford Bronco has undergone a 2-year, body-off rotisserie restoration by Carmichael. This one-off vintage SUV is powered by a 5.0-liter Coyote engine mated to a 6R80 6-speed transmission. The engine house was enlarged for easier serviceability. This 410 torque, 435hp-producing engine is paired to a refreshed Dana 44 axle and a 9-inch rear axle with posi-traction. This Bronco is riding on Fox Reservoir shocks and James Duff 3.5-inch-long arms, with Progressive coil suspension, Heim joint steering components from Hellwig, and front and rear sway bars that improve the handling and performance at highway speeds. Its superior stopping power comes from a 4-wheel disc Hydro-Boost brake system that has been drilled and slotted. Finished in Diamont BC/CC Lithium Gray paint, all panels are new metal, and the SUV comes with a custom bumper with a spare tire carrier and a color-matched lithium house jack, neatly located below the grille.
The interior features original seat frames covered in black Mellohide and iconic houndstooth inserts, maintaining its vintage appeal. Fitted with Dakota Digital gauges and a polished tilt wheel, this Bronco also has a Tuffy locked console and a glove box. For safety, the car includes a 6-point padded and covered roll cage with six handles. The temperature is controlled by a Vintage Air system. RetroSound gives it a Bluetooth stereo system with Kicker components. This car has AMP power steps for easy entry and features 20-inch, one-piece Fuel Off-Road wheels and 35-inch Gripper M/T tires.
LOT #1319 – 1969 CHEVROLET K5 BLAZER CUSTOM SUV – NO RESERVE
This custom 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer is powered by a supercharged 6.2-liter LS3 V8 engine mated to a 4-speed 4L80E automatic transmission with an NP205 dual-range transfer case. It rides on modified suspension with King shocks and King bump stops, 2.5-inch coilovers, a Dana 60 front axle with 35-spline, chromoly axle shafts and WARN hubs. This car also features a 14-bolt rear axle, ARB lockers, an onboard air system, Wilwood disc brakes, 4-link suspension and a Currie rear sway bar. A custom driveshaft and an aluminum fuel tank are also utilized, areas of the frame have been boxed to increase rigidity and the rear truss was refabricated in 2022.
This K5 rolls on 17-inch KMC wheels with 37-inch Nitto Trail Grappler M/T tires. Finished in blue, the exterior features aftermarket bumpers and lighting, with LED headlights and taillights. The interior features a custom roll cage, PSC power steering, heated Corbeau front and rear seats, a Vintage Air system, a Bluetooth audio system with two 12-inch subwoofers and Performance Steering Components power-assisted steering. The build was conducted by Rock Bottom Off-Road of Riverside, CA, beginning in 2020. This Blazer is tuned for E85 gas but will run on premium also.
LOT #1336.1 – 1966 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN CUSTOM SUV – NO RESERVE
This custom 1966 Chevrolet Suburban nicknamed “Black Listed” is professionally built with an integrated unibody and a tubular space frame chassis. It is also equipped with PSC hydraulic steering and double-triangulated 4-link suspension front and rear, along with torsion sway bars front and rear.
Power is supplied through a new crate Ram Jet 502ci engine backed by a built-up Turbo 400 transmission. The Suburban’s 4-wheel drive goes through an NP205 twin-stick transfer case down to a Dana 60 front axle with 5.13 gears. The stainless-steel exhaust system is finished with Borla mufflers, while the rear end is a 14-bolt heavy-duty axle with 5.13 gears and 4-wheel disc brakes.
The exterior of “Black Listed’s” body was shaved and sculpted with modifications to every panel, from a one-piece molded fender and grille surround with a reverse reticulating front hood and a hidden WARN winch to custom-made running boards and rear barn doors with hidden hinges. Finished in PPG Jet Black base coat; clear coat was applied and then refinished a second time with a glamour clear coat, cut and polished to the sheen of a black pearl. Clear bra film and ceramic coating have been applied for additional paint protection. “Black Listed” rides on a FOX 14-inch 2.0 reservoir shocks and Nitrogen bump stops at all four corners with air-bag suspension supplied by two VIAIR pumps, and it also features an Airlift Performance management system.
The dash has many modifications, including a molded center-floor console built into the chassis, a smooth gauge cluster and AutoMeter gauges, along with a tilt steering column. The gray and black custom interior provides comfort for all six passengers and also features a Vintage Air system, 4-point harnesses and the original seat frames bolted directly to the roll cage, providing improved safety.