Ringbrothers’ Chevrolet K5 blazer hides Toyota secrets

We spared no effort to make this K5 Blazer the ultimate luxury off-road vehicle

When you combine a heavily modified 1972 Chevrolet K5 Blazer body with a 6.2-liter LS3 V8 engine, a new transmission, and a long list of other modern upgrades (all built on the chassis of the 2016 Toyota Tacoma), you What will you get? This is what you get. Called “Tuka,” it was brought to life by Ringbrothers and debuted at the SEMA show in Las Vegas.

The American company has extensive experience in upgrading and restoring cult classics, and it shows with this Blazer. Gone is the SUV’s original chassis, replaced by the skeleton of the 2016 Toyota Tacoma. It also features an upgraded King suspension designed specifically for the Tacoma, as well as Toyota’s anti-roll bars and steering rack.

Read: Ringbrothers ‘Tusk’ 1969 Dodge Charger Has 1,000-Horse Hellephant V8

Although the chassis is Japanese, the engine proudly screams “USA! USA! USA!” The rowdy LS3 sits under a custom carbon fiber hood and delivers 525 horsepower and 487 pound-feet (660 Nm) of torque. It’s equipped with a Bowler Tru-Street GM 4L60E automatic transmission and NP208 transfer case, and should drive like new thanks to the Tacoma underpinnings.

Ringbrothers spent more than 3,700 hours building the Chevrolet and also extensively customized the vehicle’s body. The tailgate and box sides have been raised two inches, there’s a new fiberglass rear roof with a panoramic roof, and the rear window has been lifted from the Jeep Wrangler.

The all-black paint scheme is contrasted with some subtle orange accents, including the front and rear tow hooks and “R” badging, giving the car an undeniably menacing look. The most eye-catching feature is the HRE’s 18-inch wheels with a dark bronze finish.

Drew Phillips

Gabe’s Custom Interiors was responsible for the overhaul of the K5’s cabin, which featured a carbon fiber dashboard, new gauges, billet machined and 3D printed switchgear, and a carbon fiber steering wheel. Ringbrothers also installed a rearview mirror/camera system, a Vintage Air Gen IV HVAC system and a custom sound system. Every square inch of the interior looks new, but it still has a similar rugged charm to the original K5 cabin.

“Nearly every piece of this Blazer is custom-made,” Ringbrothers co-founder Mike Ring said of the product. “We wanted to leave no stone unturned to create something completely unique, designed to embrace the open road and the unbeatable. This truck is built for stylish driving and modern comfort. It wouldn’t be worth it without the likes of BASF, Dynamat, Gentex Corporation and HRE Wheels Nothing would have been possible without a trusted partner who helped us realize our vision and bring this building’s features to life.”

In the Tuka, Ringbrothers have managed to create something that is both a love letter to the original Blazer and a forward-thinking machine designed to devour miles. It’s a tribute that goes its own way without hesitation, like a true American classic should, even if it relies on Japanese bones to hold it all together.

Louis Weir