Here's the thing, my fellow gearheads: what really makes the 'best' type of vehicle build? Honestly, it’s totally subjective. Some of us go bonkers over full-blown restomods with every modern gizmo stuffed under the vintage skin. Others are all about a concours-level nuts-and-bolts restoration. Then you've got the rat rod and radical custom camps. And hey, to each their own! But if you ask me, there's one style that just hits different – the OE Plus build. You know the type: a vehicle that's been heavily modified for mind-bending performance and modern comfort, yet it still looks like it could have rolled off the factory line yesterday. The perfect embodiment of 'sleep, then slay.' Well, hold onto your hats, because I recently stumbled upon the most epic example of this philosophy: Lance Coury's 1972 Chevrolet Blazer, a rig that pumps out a casual 1,200 horsepower on a stock-looking body. Absolutely bonkers.

Lance Coury, for those not in the know, is a freestyle motocross legend. That means the dude lives and breathes adrenaline; backflipping dirt bikes is just another Tuesday. So it's no shocker that his four-wheeled taste is equally extreme. Sure, you can't exactly backflip a '72 Blazer (though I’d pay to see someone try), but with this level of power and poise, it’s a thrill ride that’ll plaster a grin on your face wide enough to split it. He recently dropped jaws on Autotopia LA alongside host Shawn Davis, and let me tell you, I’ve rewatched that episode more times than I’d care to admit. Every frame is pure eye candy.

At first blush, you'd be forgiven for thinking this is just a mildly tinkered-with classic SUV. The gorgeous deep blue paint with a matte white roof is period-perfect, and the body remains uncut. No bulging fender flares, no wild scoops screaming for attention. The only hints that something’s up are the decidedly 21st-century wheel and tire package, along with a stance that drops it low over the asphalt. Even then, it still flies under the radar — a wolf in sheep’s clothing that doesn't flex until you turn the key.

Pop the hood, though, and the game changes instantly. Holy cow! Nestled in that immaculate engine bay is a monstrous LS 427 breathing through a supercharger. While it can theoretically crank out a neighborhood-leveling 1,200 horsepower, Coury has it currently ‘detuned’ to a very manageable 750 horsepower and a pavement-rippling 850 lb-ft of torque at the rear wheels. Good grief. That’s enough grunt to rearrange your internal organs and leave a permanent smile on your face. All that fury heads to the ground via a thoroughly massaged 4L80 four-speed automatic, so it’s still a peach to cruise when you’re not busy melting tires.

But here’s the real kicker that elevates this build from “cool” to “OE Plus masterpiece.” Delmo Speed and Customs — the wizards responsible for this thing — didn’t just shove a giant motor in and call it a day. Every single detail is a masterclass in subtlety. The plumbing and wiring are so meticulously routed they could pass a concours inspection. The air intake? Cleverly tucked into the fender, completely hidden from casual view. Nothing screams “aftermarket.” Frankly, if you weren’t told, you’d swear GM’s engineers had a really, really good day back in 1972. It’s that clean. That’s the whole philosophy: modification without visual ego. I tip my hat to the Delmo crew — they’ve got the sleeper game on lock.

Slide inside and the theme continues to slap you softly in the face. At a glance, it’s a stock interior — period-correct gauges, seats that look like they were pulled from a 1972 dealer brochure. But look closer. Those seats are actually stitched with custom upholstery that offers a touch more bolster, keeping you planted when the supercharger whines. The steering wheel diameter has been subtly reduced for a bit more thigh room and a sportier feel, yet it still wears a classic Chevy horn button. Everything is just slightly tweaked for modern comfort without breaking the vintage trance. Chevrolet could have built this interior in an alternate universe, and absolutely nobody would bat an eye. It’s a masterpiece of restraint.

Now, let’s talk about the chassis, because a 750+ HP monster needs some serious underpinnings to keep the shiny side up. This Blazer rides on a full Choppin' Block chassis, an aftermarket frame that transforms its handling from vintage truck wallow into modern sports car territory. Combined with the lowered suspension and massive brakes peeking from behind those custom wheels, it carves corners in a way that seems wholly illegal for a nearly 50-year-old SUV. When Coury and Davis take it for a rip, the sheer composure of the thing is mind-blowing. The supercharged V8 roars like an angry lion, the chassis shrugs off the torque like it’s nothing, and that 1,200-horsepower potential lurks just a quick tune away. Pure, unadulterated goosebumps.

The beauty of an OE Plus build like this is the unspoken flex. It doesn't need a ten-foot wing or neon underglow to announce its presence; it just calmly destroys supercars at the stoplight, then rolls into a car show and steals all the trophies while the judges argue about whether it's restored or modified. It’s for the connoisseur who values the drive as much as the aesthetic. Lance Coury’s Blazer is the final boss of that world. It’s a rolling testament that you can have your cake and eat it too — all the vintage charm, all the modern insanity, rolled into one impossibly clean package.

In an era where some restomods go so overboard they look like video game props, this 1972 Chevrolet Blazer resets the bar. It’s a symphony of high-performance engineering and vintage style conducted by absolute masters. As a gamer and a gearhead, I can’t help but respect the grind that went into building something this dialed-in. It’s the automotive equivalent of a no-hit speedrun: flawless execution, zero wasted moves. So, the next time someone asks you what the best type of build is, just point them to this Blazer. Case closed. 🔥💨