Yesterday, GM celebrated a neat milestone. The venerable Chevrolet Suburban turned 75 years-old and held onto the title of the longest continuously produced model in the USA. Undoubtedly you’ve ridden in a ‘Burban at some point. The trucks have gone through an interesting transformation in the social strata of America over the years. In their early iteration they were utilitarian trucks, then they became family haulers, boat movers, race car tow vehicles/campers, and now they represent one of the biggest status symbols in (sorry) suburban America. A long strange trip indeed.
Back when the 1936 model debuted as the Suburban Carryall, it was different than anything on the market. Larger than a station wagon and having the ability to seat eight people in relative comfort the truck used an all-steel body as opposed to the wooden construction of other wagons being built at the time.
Many mid-’60, early-’70s versions were just caled Carryall, and not Suburban, but everyone calls them Suburbans, anyway.
Obviously the trucks have had a strong following to last through 75 years of production, but things really started heating up with respect to sales in the late 1980s and into the 1990s when the SUV craze exploded. Until Ford counter punched with its obscenely massive Excursion, the Suburban was the largest SUV on the market. Long after the Excursion has sunk back into the earth, the ‘Burban is going strong. Reportedly, the Arlington, Texas, plant that produces them is working overtime to keep up with orders.
GM will launch a diamond anniversary edition of which only 2,750 will be made this summer. Expect that one to cost as much as a small house.
We spent more than a few nights sleeping in the comfy back area of our pal Sam’s brown 1980s Suburban (which was brown so we called it “The Cognac”) at road racing meets in college. It was ugly and slow, but that was one stone dead reliable tow truck.
Congrats Suburban! Here’s to 75 more birthdays.
Source — The Associated Press — GM Celebrates 75th Anniversary of Suburban
