A restomod shop just priced a 50-year-old Chevy above a brand-new Bentley. That single fact tells you everything about where the classic SUV market is heading in 2026.
ECD Automotive Design, the Florida-based builder best known for turning old Land Rover Defenders into rolling luxury suites, has officially added the 1972 Chevrolet K5 Blazer to its lineup. The first completed build sold for $245,000, which is roughly $35,000 more than a factory-fresh Bentley Bentayga. Build slots are open now for anyone with the budget and the nerve.
At a glance
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Base vehicle | 1972 Chevrolet K5 Blazer |
| Builder | ECD Automotive Design |
| Engine | Modern 6.0-liter V8 (output undisclosed) |
| Price as built | $245,000 |
| Tires | 35-inch BF Goodrich All-Terrain |
| Suspension lift | 2.5 inches |
| Bentley Bentayga MSRP | ~$210,000 |
Why ECD picking the K5 Blazer changes everything
For years, the restomod world has orbited around 3 trucks: the Ford Bronco, the Land Rover Defender, and the Toyota Land Cruiser. Builders have squeezed every dollar out of those platforms, and buyers have happily paid $150,000 to $300,000 for the privilege. The K5 Blazer, though, has mostly been left to garage hobbyists and Bring a Trailer flippers. ECD just changed that calculus overnight.
The company was founded in 2013 and built its reputation on Defenders before expanding into the Jaguar E-Type, Ford Mustang, and Range Rover Classic. Adding the Blazer signals that ECD sees real demand from collectors who want something American, rugged, and different from the usual suspects. I think they are reading the room correctly. The early Blazer has a silhouette that photographs like nothing else on the road.
What ECD is not saying about the power under the hood
Here is the catch. ECD dropped a modern 6.0-liter V8 into the Blazer but will not disclose the horsepower or torque figures. That is unusual for a build at this price point. Most competitors in the 6-figure restomod space publish full dyno sheets because the numbers are part of the sales pitch. The engine wears period-correct orange paint and black Chevrolet script valve covers, so it looks the part. It routes through a column-shifted automatic gearbox, which keeps the interior clean and the driving experience old-school.
Without confirmed output, I have to assume the 6.0-liter is running in a relatively mild tune, likely somewhere in the 350 to 400 horsepower range based on similar GM crate setups. That is perfectly adequate for a lifted truck on 35-inch rubber, but it is not the kind of number that makes a poster. For $245,000, I would want to know exactly what I am buying.
Bentley charges $210,000 for less character — think about that
The comparison to the Bentayga is not just clickbait math. A new Bentayga gives you a twin-turbo V8, a hand-stitched interior, and a warranty. The ECD Blazer gives you none of those things. What it does give you is a vehicle that turns every parking lot into a car show. The 2-tone Dark Olive Poly and Frost White paint, the strip of wood trim along the flanks, the polished Chevy Scottsdale 17-inch wheels — this truck has a presence that no factory SUV can replicate.
Inside, ECD reupholstered the original seats in Buffalo Vinyl with Pepita Green houndstooth inlays. Both front seats are heated and cooled. The rear bench is heated. The dashboard is wrapped in leather, and the gauges are new units styled with green markings, orange needles, and black faces. A Vintage Air climate system, Retrosound radio, power locks, power windows, and automatic headlights round out the hidden tech. The real story is that this interior walks a tightrope between nostalgia and livability, and it mostly sticks the landing.
The one catch nobody is talking about
Panel gaps. On the first completed build, the fitment around the doors and hood was visibly uneven. On a $245,000 vehicle, that is hard to ignore. I asked myself the same question you are probably asking: how does a quarter-million-dollar truck leave the shop with visible alignment issues? ECD acknowledged the problem directly, stating they are “now using a different method of panel alignment, so they’ll come out the way they should.” Photos of a second Blazer build scheduled for July 2026 show noticeably tighter gaps.
That transparency matters. Restomod buyers at this level expect bespoke quality, and first-build teething problems are common across the industry. The fact that ECD corrected course quickly is a good sign. But if you are putting down a deposit today, I would make panel tolerances a line item in your build contract. A roll bar is also available as either a 4-point or 6-point cage, which adds both safety and visual aggression to the package.
How it stacks up
| Model | Base price | Engine | Tire size | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECD K5 Blazer | $245,000 | 6.0L V8 | 35-inch | Rarest platform, strongest visual identity |
| Velocity Bronco | ~$200,000 | 5.0L Coyote V8 | 35-inch | Proven platform, huge aftermarket |
| Arkonik Defender | ~$230,000 | 6.2L V8 | 33-inch | Global brand recognition |
| Bentley Bentayga | ~$210,000 | 4.0L Twin-Turbo V8 | 22-inch | Factory warranty, luxury benchmark |
Why this matters
- The K5 Blazer enters the 6-figure restomod tier for the first time
- ECD expanding beyond Defenders signals a maturing restomod market
- Clean K5 Blazer donor trucks will spike in value fast
The verdict
ECD’s K5 Blazer is the most interesting restomod launch of 2026 so far. It is not for the buyer who cross-shops on spec sheets — it is for the collector who already has a Defender build and wants something nobody else at the country club is driving. The undisclosed horsepower figure and first-build panel issues are real concerns, but neither is a dealbreaker if ECD delivers on its promised corrections. If donor K5 Blazer prices have not already started climbing, they will by the end of summer.
If this build caught your attention, I would recommend reaching out to ECD Automotive Design sooner rather than later. Build slots at this level tend to fill quickly once the first truck hits social media, and clean 1970s K5 Blazers are only getting harder to find. Lock in your spec while the platform is still fresh on their roster.
