'50 barn doors.
In 1967, the Sub had another major redesign, and it was the first year for three doors (the driver's, plus two on the passenger side). By 1969, someone alerted management that the grille hadn't been redesigned for two years, so it happened that year and again in 1971. In 1973, the third-generation Sub was introduced and featured four doors. Four years later, yup, more grille action, with only 15 openings as opposed to 32. With 1980 right around the corner, there was no better time for another new grille, this time with 33 openings. Three years later, well, you can guess what happened. And for 1992 and the GMT400 platform, the pickup's styling was borrowed. In 2000, we met the GMT800's new look, and five years later brought the death of barn doors. The GMT900's face arrived in 2007.
The '67 Suburban.
Growing Pains: Vehicle Measurements
When the Carryall debuted in 1935, it had a 112-inch wheelbase, and stayed that way until 1940, when it was stretched to 1131/2 inches. In 1941, it grew to 115, and then in 1947 it added another inch. For 1955, things downsized to 114 inches, then back up to 115 in 1960. In 1967, the wheelbase jumped to 127 inches, and was 1311/2 by 1992, but then down to 130 inches in 2000. Its overall length at birth was almost 184 inches, growing to 1941/2 by 1937, and continued to get longer, longer, and longer, clocking in at 199 in 1941, which stayed through early 1947, save for a switch to 198 from 1943 to 1945. From late 1947 through 1955 the overall length went to a bit over 196 inches, until 1955's version cleared almost 198 inches, followed by 200-and-change over the next few years. It jumped all the way to 201 inches in 1960, and by 1967, the Sub was 215 inches long, with steady increases until it reached 222 by 2007.
Overall height stayed in at the 77-inch-and-change mark until 1949, increasing then to nearly 79 inches. It finally reached 79 in 1954 and hovered there until 1959. From 1960 to 1963 it was a little over 72 inches; 1963 to 1991 brought the low- to mid-'70s range. For 1992, it got shorter, to the tune of 69, but then back up in 1995 to 70 inches, more than 73 by 2000, and more than 75 inches until 2006. It hit close to 77 inches by 2007.
An LTZ Sub.
The Major Trim Levels
It seems that around 1967 marked the model year when different trim levels were officially offered, starting with a base model, Custom Appearance Option (Z61), and Custom Comfort Option (Z62). The following year it became the Custom Comfort and Appearance Option. In 1971, trim levels were base and Custom Deluxe, while in 1974 things changed to Custom as the base, Scottsdale, and Silverado. Come 1988, Scottsdale was the new base model, and Silverado remained. To keep you on your toes, 1992 introduced the Cheyenne as the base model; Silverado was still hanging on, but that ended in 1995, when the available trims were base, LS, and LT. In 2002, the base was dumped, leaving LS and LT, and in 2006, those two were joined by the LTZ, which remain for 2010.
| $$$: What They Cost |
| Base price, '35 Suburban Carryall |
$700 |
| Base price, '10 Suburban |
$41,585 |
The '73 K-10.
The 4x4 Suburban
Chevy offered a four-by Suburban starting in 1957, featuring the NAPCO Powr-Pak system, the same year the 3/4-ton model became available. In 1960, a new independent front suspension for two-wheel drives was unveiled, or "Torsion-Spring Ride," as Chevy called it, replacing the previous I-beam technology, while the four-bys had tapered leaf springs at all four corners. The 1/2-ton rear has run coil springs, while the 3/4-ton has sported leaf springs; rear coil springs were available in standard format or heavy-duty. The '63 Sub saw the introduction of a coil-spring front suspension. The front coilover design came in 2007.