Details of Cars

GMC Jimmy: the compact SUV that shared everything with the S-10 Blazer

GMC

1989 compact SUV, the model sold by GMC as the Jimmy
A 1989 example of the compact SUV that GMC sold as the Jimmy. Photo by RL GNZLZ from Chile, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

The GMC Jimmy, also known as the S-15 Jimmy, was a compact and later mid-size SUV built by GMC from the 1983 to 2005 model years. It was the rebadged counterpart of the Chevrolet S-10 Blazer and shared its chassis with the GMC S-15 and Sonoma pickups.

GMC Jimmy at a glance

GMC Jimmy key facts
Class compact, later mid-size SUV
Production 1983-2005 model years
Chevrolet counterpart Chevrolet S-10 Blazer
Basis GMC S-15 and Sonoma pickups
Bodies two-door from 1983, four-door from 1991
Wheelbase, two-door 100.5 in
Four-door wheelbase 6.5 in longer than the two-door
Early engines 2.0 L four, 2.8 L V6, 1.9 L Isuzu four, 2.2 L Isuzu diesel
Later engines 2.5 L Iron Duke, 4.3 L V6 from 1988
4.3 L V6 output 150 hp, 160 hp from 1989
Gearbox five-speed manual available
Built in Pontiac, Linden, Moraine, Shreveport and São José dos Campos

Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Chevrolet S-10 Blazer, which covers the same vehicle GMC sold as the Jimmy. The photograph shows the Chevrolet-badged version.

History of the GMC Jimmy

First generation (1983-1994)

GM introduced the Chevrolet S-10 Blazer and its rebadged GMC S-15 Jimmy as 1983 models, based on and co-developed with the 1982 Chevrolet S-10 pickup. They were 14.5 inches shorter and 14.9 inches narrower than the full-size K5 Blazer, which earned them the nickname baby Blazer. Unlike the full-size models, the compact Jimmy had no removable hardtop, and for its first eight model years it was offered only as a two-door. Interior space was comparable with the bigger K5 thanks to better packaging, with 21.0 cu ft of luggage space against 20.1.

Engines over the years

Base power came from GM’s 2.0-litre overhead-valve four with up to 83 hp, with a 2.8-litre 110 hp V6 as an option. In California an Isuzu-built 1.9-litre four replaced the 2.0 for emissions reasons, and an Isuzu 2.2-litre diesel with 58 hp was also available. The 1.9, 2.0 and 2.2 were dropped after 1984 in favour of the larger 2.5-litre Iron Duke, and the V6 gained throttle-body fuel injection for 1986. For 1988 a 4.3-litre V6 based on the Chevrolet small-block V8 arrived with 150 hp, rising to 160 hp for 1989, when the four-cylinder was dropped and the 4.3 became the only engine. A five-speed manual transmission replaced the BorgWarner T-5.

Four doors and the second generation

In March 1990 four-door versions of the S-10 Blazer and Jimmy were introduced as 1991 models with a 6.5-inch longer wheelbase and a one-piece front grille; early four-door production was four-wheel drive only. This came just months before the Ford Explorer replaced the Bronco II. The second generation arrived for 1995, when the larger Blazer was rebranded as the Chevrolet Tahoe and the compact SUV was launched simply as the all-new Blazer. GMC’s full-size Jimmy had already become the Yukon for 1992.

End of production

In the United States retail sales of four-door Blazer models ended in 2004, although fleet production of two- and four-door models continued into 2005; in Canada four-door Jimmies were sold to the 2004 model year and two-doors to 2005. The Brazilian version, based on the second-generation S-series, stayed in production until 2012 with its own body stampings, which were also used for Chinese, Indonesian and Russian versions. In GMC’s range the Jimmy was replaced by the Envoy.

Design and features

  • Compact packaging: smaller outside than the K5 Blazer but with comparable luggage space.
  • S-10 basis: shared chassis and engines with the Chevrolet S-10 and GMC Sonoma pickups.
  • Two-door first: four-door bodies only arrived for the 1991 model year.
  • 4.3 V6: the small-block-derived V6 that became the only engine from 1989.
  • Four-wheel drive: available throughout, with two-wheel drive as an alternative.

GMC Jimmy versions

  • Two-door Jimmy (1983-2005): the original compact body with a 100.5 in wheelbase.
  • Four-door Jimmy (1991-2005): the longer wagon body introduced as a 1991 model.
  • Diesel Jimmy: the early 2.2-litre Isuzu diesel option.
  • 4.3 V6 models (1988-2005): the most common later specification.
  • Brazilian S-10 based version: built until 2012 outside North America.

The Jimmy was the compact stablemate of the GMC Suburban and the full-size Blazer, and it was replaced by the GMC Envoy. More cars are in the GMC collection.

Sources

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