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Suburban Facts and History

The Chevrolet Suburban is one of the largest Sport Utility Vehicles on the market. The Suburban is basically a passenger wagon mounted on a Chevrolet pickup truck. It has a high resale value, compared to most American-made trucks, and has proven to be a top profit generator for GM.

Chevrolet began producing this vehicle with the introduction of its all-steel "carryall-suburban" in 1934. GMC introduced its own version in 1937. Many companies have used the name "Suburban" for their windowed, station wagon-type vehicles. These companies have included Plymouth, Dodge, Studebaker, and GMC. In 1966, Dodge stopped producing their Town Wagon, to which they also applied the name "Suburban." By that time GM was the sole producer of a Suburban and, with the start of the SUV craze of the 1980s, they applied for exclusive use of the name, which they were granted in 1988.

Similar models, such as the International Travel-All of the 1970s, and the Ford Excursion in the 2000s, have since disappeared. The closest competitors in today's market are the Ford Expedition and the Lincoln Navigator.

The current Suburban is a full-sized SUV that has three rows of seats and a large V8 engine. Still mounted on a pickup truck frame, the vehicle is popular with people who have large families, not only because of its size and passenger-carrying ability, but because the Suburban has the reputation, true or not, of being able to haul anything and go anywhere. With three rows of all bench seats, the Suburban can transport nine passengers and their luggage on long trip, plus tow a trailer.

The Suburban is also used as an Emergency Medical Service fly-car, as a police chief's car and as a police car.

Both Chevrolet and GMC called their large SUVs "Suburban" until the year 2000 when GMC renamed their version the Yukon XL. Today Chevrolet is the sole producer of the Suburban.

Shorter versions of this vehicle include the GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Tahoe, and Cadillac Escalade. With a pickup bed in place of the rear cargo area, the vehicles sell as the Cadillac Escalade EXT and the Chevrolet Avalanche.

The GMT800 models were introduced in the 2000 model year in one-half ton or three-quarter ton versions. Vehicles were two-wheel drive or an optional, push-button four-wheel drive (with low-range transfer case) and included a tow hitch with trailer brake controller. Additional added features include OnStar navigation system and an 8.1 liter engine option for the ? ton in 2001; power windows and front seats, air conditioning, rear climate controls, and alloy wheels, plus the Z71 off-road package vehicle in 2002; reworked interior, quad-zone (passenger, driver, middle row and rear row) climate control, stability control and many entertainment options in 2003; automatic tire pressure monitor in 2004.

Interesting Facts

The 1933-34 version was a station wagon body on a ?-ton truck frame built especially for Civilian Conservation Corp and National Guard units. The body was mostly wood.

In 1935 through 1940, the eight-passenger vehicle was called a Carryall Suburban and featured an all-metal body.

Nineteen forty-one through 1947 is known as "Art Deco" era for the Suburban.