Ringbrothers’ 1972 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Bully, packing 1,160 horsepower, is heading to Mecum’s Nashville auction.
There is no shortage of custom 1972 Chevrolet K5 Blazers, but there is only one called Bully. Built by Ringbrothers, one of America’s best-known custom car builders, this open-air K5 is now being offered at public auction for the first time, as far as we know.
Bully made its public debut at the 2022 SEMA show after Ringbrothers spent more than 8,500 hours bringing the project to life. The original upper body panels are gone, leaving the truck with a completely different character and an aggressive open-air profile.
Underneath, the K5 rides on a Roadster Shop chassis equipped with a four-link suspension system from the same company. Baer braking hardware handles stopping duties, while 18-inch HRE Ringbrothers Edition truck wheels wrapped in Cooper Discoverer STT tires keep the build planted.
The proportions are unusual. The wheels look almost small compared with the rest of the build, while the K5 itself has a surprisingly compact appearance despite everything packed into it.
Inside, the Blazer takes a very different approach from the rugged K5s that inspired it. The cabin features four custom seats, specialized upholstery, Dakota Digital gauges and a dedicated Ringbrothers carbon-fiber steering wheel. Every part of the interior was designed and crafted to match the high-end character of the build.
But the engine is what turns Bully into something far beyond a heavily modified classic SUV.
Ringbrothers installed an LS3 Wegner Motorsports stroker engine displacing 416 cubic inches, up from the standard 378 cubic inches. The naturally aspirated V8 is paired with a 2.9-liter Whipple supercharger, pushing output to a staggering 1,160 horsepower.
A Bowler automatic transmission is responsible for putting all that power to work. On the exhaust side, the engine breathes through a Flowmaster stainless-steel system fitted with custom headers fabricated in-house by Ringbrothers.
Once the mechanical work was complete, the one-off luxury utility hypertruck was finished in Bashful Blue. The exterior color is paired with a cognac-colored interior, giving the K5 a combination that stands out without overwhelming the design.
Now Bully is finally heading to auction.
Mecum will put the unique K5 under the hammer at the end of the month in Nashville, Tennessee. No estimate has been given for how much the truck could bring, leaving its eventual sale price to be decided once the bidding begins.