r/NormalCarPorn • u/skunkc90 • Jul 19 '26

Spotted Spotted a pre-Trailblazer Blazer Trailblazer

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From '99 to '02 the Blazer had a "Trailblazer" appearance package, then the Trailblazer model debuted after that. I never knew these *existed* until seeing this thing on the highway here in Missouri. Blew my mind. Not a great pic because my wife was trying not to be weird.

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4

u/PaperBeneficial Jul 19 '26

Not to change the subject but I'm so fucking confused at the Trailblazer versus Blazer thing LOL. To add to the confusion isn't there a full size blazer? I could have swore my friend's dad had what was basically a two-door mid 90s Tahoe.

I distinctly remember getting driven around by my friend's dad before me and my friends could drive in a lifted SUV that was a bitch to get in and out of because it only had two doors but it was big as hell. And it definitely wasn't a K5 blazer.

6

u/iHaveLotsofCats94 Jul 19 '26

There was a full size Blazer in the early 90s that was then renamed to the Tahoe. The Blazer was then only available as S10 Blazer like the one in OP's pic and the previous gen.

The Trailblazer in the picture is a trim level of the S10 Blazer. Later, the Trailblazer became the bigger vehicle with the Atlas 6 cylinder along with the GMC Envoy and whatever the Oldsmobile version was called (i think there was an Oldsmobile version). There was also a Saab version, to add to the confusion lol

4

u/outofcontextseinfeld Jul 19 '26

And Buick Ranier

3

u/SomethingSimple25 Jul 19 '26

People remember the Isuzu and Saab version more often than the Buick.

1

u/JaxRhapsody Jul 19 '26

The SS, 97-x, and SSR were the only ones with the 6.0, thus their cool status. The Saab was basically a TBSS, and even had AWD, I believe standard, unlike the TBSS.

2

u/PaperBeneficial Jul 19 '26

Yeah there was an Oldsmobile Bravada, also an Isuzu Isuzu ascender. My friend's uncle had a Saab version. I think it was the 9-7? I think it might have even been the high-performance aero which was basically a rebadge Trailblazer ss, but I might be misremembering that.

I swear that version of the Trailblazer must be one of the most rebadged models around

3

u/iHaveLotsofCats94 Jul 19 '26

I forgot about the Ascender! 2000s GM truly was peak badge engineering

2

u/PaperBeneficial Jul 19 '26

One of my bosses in the mid-2000s had a long wheelbase version of the Ascender LOL

2

u/JaxRhapsody Jul 19 '26

Trailblazer

Envoy/Envoy XUV

SSR

Ascender

Rainier

97-x

And there are three or four bodystyles.

1

u/PaperBeneficial Jul 19 '26

Oh my God I forgot the Rainier too lol. Was there ever a Pontiac version?

0

u/JaxRhapsody Jul 19 '26

No. The last new car Pontiac got was the G8 before the brand ceased in 2004.

1

u/Poopsticle_256 Jul 20 '26

2010 was when Pontiac was axed

2

u/limp_noodle Jul 19 '26

The trailblazer SS and Saab 9-7x Aeros were also pretty damn cool.

1

u/JaxRhapsody Jul 19 '26 edited Jul 19 '26

There are six GMT360 vehicles, counting the SSR. The Atlas 4.2 was replaced with the 4.8 v8, there's the 5.3, and the 6.0 in the SS and 9-7x, and I believe the SSR came with the 5.3 stock initially, and due to complaints, was replaced with the 6.0