User:Paul mcvicker245
The GMC Jimmy is a full-size sport-utility vehicle that was built by General Motors. GM's smallest full-size SUV, it is part of the Chevrolet C/K truck family. Introduced to the Chevrolet line for the 1970 model year GMC introduced its own model of the truck, called the Jimmy, which was discontinued in 1991 and replaced by the Yukon. The "Jimmy" name was chosen to reflect how GM may sound in a similar manner to how Jeep was thought to be a pronunciation of GP in the competing market.[citation needed] Both were short-wheelbase trucks and available with either rear- or four-wheel drive. ,
| GMC K1500 Jimmy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | General Motors |
| Model years | 1970–1991 |
| Assembly | Janesville, Wisconsin |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Full-size SUV |
| Body style | 2-door SUV |
| Layout | Front engine, rear-wheel drive (1970-1982) / four-wheel drive |
| Related | Chevrolet C/K |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon |
The K5 Blazer and Jimmy had "full convertible" removable tops until 1975. For 1976, GM introduced a half-cab design that was less prone to leaks and slightly safer in a roll-over. These half cabs had the convertible top begin a few inches behind the driver/passenger doors and run back to the tailgate.
The Blazer's long-wheelbase relative, with an integrated rear body and doors for second row passengers, is called the Chevrolet Suburban.
1970–1972[edit]
| First generation | |
|---|---|
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| Overview | |
| Model years | 1970–1972 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Related | Chevrolet C/K (G2) |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | |
| Transmission | |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 104 in (2,642 mm)[1][2] |
| Length | 177.5 in (4,508 mm)[1][2] 180"(1971)[3] |
| Width | 79 in (2,007 mm) [1] |
| Curb weight | 3,875 lb (1,760 kg)[2] |
The original K1500 jimmy was built on the K10 pickup truck platform with a wheelbase shortened to 104 in (2,600 mm), designed and marketed to compete with the International Harvester Scout (which had been introduced in 1960 for the 1961 model year) and the Ford Bronco (1965/66) utility vehicles.[2][4] The Scout and Bronco were originally aimed at the Jeep CJ series and consequently all three vehicles were much smaller than the K1500 jimmy. Because the jimmy was developed from a shortened pickup truck, this innovation both increased interior space and lowered the cost of production by using a shared platform.[5] The jimmy quickly became popular. For the first time, it married the off-road capabilities of competing utility vehicles with "luxury" features like air conditioning and automatic transmissions that routinely were available on pickup trucks.
By 1970, the jimmy was already outselling both of its older rivals. Ford, Dodge, and even Jeep would counter with similar shortened full-size pickups, including the Dodge Ramcharger and Jeep Cherokee, both introduced in 1974, and the revised Ford Bronco (1978).[5]
For its first model year (1970), the K1500 jimmy was available with part-time four-wheel drive only. As an option, a removable hardtop or a soft convertible-top could be specified;[6] passenger seats also were optional on the base model.[4] For 1970, a rear-wheel drive model was added, and the truck was also rebadged as the GMC Jimmy.
| Year | Production |
|---|---|
| 1970 | 11,527 |
| 1971 | 17,220 |
| 1972 | 44,266 |
Mechanical[edit]
There were four choices for power plants, matching the contemporaneous pickup truck options: the 250 straight-6, the 292 straight-6, the 307 V8, and the 350 V8.[4]
There was also a choice between a three-speed automatic transmission, the Turbo-Hydramatic TH350, or one of two fully-synchronized manual transmissions: a three-speed, or a four-speed (SM465), which included a "granny gear" low-ratio 6.55:1 first gear.[4] The 350 was offered only with the SM465 or TH350; manual locking front hubs were optional.[2]
The four-wheel drive version had a solid front axle and used leaf springs front and rear. The two-wheel drive version came with independent front suspension and rear trailing arms, both with coil springs. Both versions used drum brakes on all four wheels until 1971, when the entire GM light truck line was fitted with front discs as standard equipment. A tachometer was optional.[3] Two transfer cases were offered: the Dana 20, available only with the manual transmissions, or the NP-205, available with both types of transmissions. The Blazer had 8 inches (200 mm) of ground clearance and an approach angle of 35°.[1]
- Engines
- 250 in³ (4.1 L) I6 (1970–1984)
- 292 in³ (4.8 L) I6 (1970–1971)
- 307 in³ (5.0 L) V8 (1970–1973)
- 350 in³ (5.7 L) V8 (1970–1991)
- Transfer cases
- NP-205 - gear driven part-time four wheel drive
- Dana 20 - gear driven part-time four-wheel drive
1973–1991[edit]
{{Infobox automobile |name=Second generation
|image=
|caption=1985–1988 Gmc jimmy |model_years=1973–1991
|engine=
|wheelbase=106.5 in (2,705 mm) |length=184.8 in (4,694 mm)[7] |width=79.6 in (2,022 mm) |height=77.8 in (1,976 mm)
|transmission=
- ^ a b c d "Directory Index: GM Trucks and Vans/1969_Trucks_and_Vans/1969_Chevrolet_Blazer_Brochure". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
- ^ a b c d e Wright, James W. (May 1969). "K5 Blazer: Chevy's New Off-Road Four-Wheel Drive Car". Popular Science. Vol. 194, no. 5. New York City: Popular Science Publishing Co. p. 65. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
- ^ a b "Directory Index: GM Trucks and Vans/1971_Trucks-Vans/1971_Chevrolet_Blazer_Brochure". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
- ^ a b c d Hunting, Benjamin (December 18, 2020). "The History of the Rugged, Full-Size Chevrolet K Blazer". Motor Trend. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
- ^ a b Stocksdale, Joel (July 21, 2022). "Chevy Blazer history: from bare-bones convertible to modern EV". Autoblog. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
- ^ "Directory Index: GM Trucks and Vans/1969_Trucks_and_Vans/1969_Chevrolet_Blazer_Convertible_Top". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
- ^ "Directory Index: GM Trucks and Vans/1973_Trucks_and_Vans/1973_Chevrolet_Blazer_Brochure". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2011-11-20.