Re: Why aren't classic Suburbans "popular"??
 

I loved the thumbs up when my beat up burb was pounding the pavement >

Honestly I think there is a generation gap with the 3 door ... it was built and sold mostly as utility, it was work, unless you had one it just a work truck on the road ...and by the time the family was considered the body style required the 4th door and made more sense and more popularity and the 3 door was gone.
To this day THAT is still the conversation piece, " hey where is your door?"

Re: Why aren't classic Suburbans "popular"??
 

This sold $18300 less mecum fees. I bet similar blazer would’ve brought double

Re: Why aren't classic Suburbans "popular"??
 

I hope it wasn't mine!

Re: Why aren't classic Suburbans "popular"??
 

Well having owned 4 grands they weren't "better" than their counterparts but jeep knew their market. A 1991 grand msrp was over 29k . Almost twice of a Silverado suburban. They were the Range Rover of the 80's and 90's. And all the people that want them now are the kids of very upper class for the time. So that in of itself will make even the prior year grand more desirable to them.

My last grand was a 87 that my uncle took on trade. Full leather seats front and rear all electric. Every option you could think of ,was it a great car? Not by a long shot but it was the car to have in the Hamptons, Scarsdale and Kennabunkport.

Re: Why aren't classic Suburbans "popular"??
 

Growing up with my 1968 K20 Suburban, it was always considered a "tool" by my parents. It was never treated with adoring eyes and care, other than the required maintenance.
I never got thumbs up from others while driving it, until I entered it into the Golden State Truck Parts truck show in 1994.
I only entered it in that show because the counter guys begged me to enter it when I was at their store to buy a mirror, so I entered it only to get preferred parking so my GF and I could park among the show and easily make a day out of it to look look at nice trucks. On top of that, I did not enter it for judging.

Later after the show, the show management approached me to ask why I did not enter the burb since they told me it would have won..

Anyways, it was then I realized that maybe I should try to restore it.

Re: Why aren't classic Suburbans "popular"??
 

I think that Burbs are catching on now because for a couple of reasons. One, a bad reason is people want to make a crew cab out of it. Two, aftermarket support is getting better for the burbs so folks are not turning away projects that originally would be over their skill level. I have two and I drive one every other day and I love it. People dig it. I get a lot of looks and offers. My second one has been a journey and will get a full resto down the road. It just has two other projects in line. Once you go through one and fix the window channels along with safety issues they ride really smooth. Mine has bare floors and once it gets covered it will be really quiet. At the moment I don't think I could sell any of my trucks. My list keeps growing....and there are two missing from these pictures....

Smitty

Re: Why aren't classic Suburbans "popular"??
 

well when you got kids and a big dog it makes more since to have a burb that's why i bought one. i really wanted a 3 door that someone didn't put modern seats in it or speaker holes in the doors and wasn't yellow but i couldn't find one so i had to settle for a 78 burb. i think they are catching on to because your whole family can ride together. It's hard to put a whole family in a 3 seater truck. when the magazines starts putting more burbs in them and more pics of really kool burbs online it will start to catch on that's what happened to the vw buses. you can't hardly touch one now. i think we are on the up swing to see the prices going up until then i'm going to enjoy driving my burb with my family.

Re: Why aren't classic Suburbans "popular"??
 

That's exactly why I bought mine and am restoring it. All my wife's cousins and uncles, brother, dad have classic cars and trucks. My family wasn't as much of a gearhead family as hers. I have 3 kids, wife and a large pitbull, so I didn't want something we wouldn't all fit in. Then, it was serendipitous that I found my burb about 5 minutes from my house, did more research and bought it. Besides a VW Bus, I don't think many classic vehicles would fit us all as well as the Burb.

Re: Why aren't classic Suburbans "popular"??
 

I appreciate the comments in this thread. I have a 1960 Willys Wagon and I started a similar thread a year ago on the old willys forum. My complaint was that it is much more financially logical to restore a Chevy or Toyota if there is any chance you are ever going to sell it. My situation is I am going to have 25k in a contraption that would sell for 15-18k max. All while everyone that sees it says "oh, that is cool as hell".
I was looking for a 64-66 Chevy suburban when I found the willys. Even the Chevy suburban (2 door-cooler and smaller than 3 door 67-72) are often selling in the 15-20k range fully restored with LS conversions etc.

Anyway, my point is, only restore a vehicle you really like, because you won't be able to "get your money back". (Unless of course you start with a SWB 71-72 Chevy, FJ40 landcrusier, or Ford Bronco 1st gen)

Re: Why aren't classic Suburbans "popular"??
 

Funny thing to say on a part of the board that is specifically for folks that really like the 67-72 suburbans.

Making money on selling any automotive project is “almost” impossible unless you’re some sort of pro or specialty builder. Pretty sure that’s not the end game for most of the enthusiasts here.

Re: Why aren't classic Suburbans "popular"??
 

For sure....I have easily twice in my '72 what I could get for it...and that's knowing I already have a local buyer. Same guy has been randomly stopping by my garage for years now asking if Im ready to sell. For me, it comes down to the fact that theres nothing I would rather have to replace it. Sure there's still things Id like to do to the truck, but even if someone offered a straight up trade for a Bronco or FJ40 in equal condition, I dont think I'd do it....I like the room that the Suburban affords with the same vintage style as the other makes and models.

Re: Why aren't classic Suburbans "popular"??
 

My kids love riding in the 68. It is way more user friendly than the truck....

Smitty

Re: Why aren't classic Suburbans "popular"??
 

I wonder if some of the lack of appreciation comes from the lack of badging by GM. Twice this week I got the " That's cool! What is it?". Followed by " They made Suburbans back then?".
If you see something you like, but don't know what it is certainly it makes it harder to get one.

Re: Why aren't classic Suburbans "popular"??
 

Because I cant seem to hang on to anything vehicle related years ago I let my 72 C10 Burb go, must seen something shinier (or rustier?) I needed more. A couple of weeks ago the fella that has it now decided to let it go, I was on it! But then he changed his mind lol ... gahhh!

I do have another 72 Burb K20 turned K10 project that I let go several months ago and it came back to me because I felt sorry for the way deals went down (long story). My plan was to just get rid of it. No drive train, no front clip, a couple of seats, kind of a nearly stripped shell. I don't think it even has a steering column. But after reading this post I might just hang on to it. Man Im weird haha!

Re: Why aren't classic Suburbans "popular"??
 

What i have learned in vw. you can dump all the money you want but don't go to far from stock it appeals to more people. you can lower them or raise them. you can put different motors and trannies in them update the brakes change the wheels and tire combos. leave the stock seats in them and cover them in og patterns. you can paint the cars but keep it og colors don't paint them purple and pink and put scallops on them. Don't cut speakers in the doors or in the trunk. you can put all the og accessories you want on but must be og. this way if someone wants and og car or truck they can easily put it back to stock. that's how you get your money back out of them at least in the vw community. It use to be called the resto-custom look. If you paint it some funky color or do some crazy interior inside that only you like then you are going to have a hard time selling it. patina is best or og paint you can't hide bad bodywork that way. There's to many chicken wire and bondo guys out there.

Re: Why aren't classic Suburbans "popular"??
 

I lucked out and got a descent 1972 K5 CTS a few years ago. I drove it for a couple years before I started a frame off rest-mod with a modern drive train. I will probably have over $35k in the Blazer before I'm done...

I have started looking for a K20 Suburban. The 4x4s are harder to find than 2WD with the 3/4 ton K20 ever harder then K10. Most seem to be rusted or overpriced for the condition. I missed a couple opportunities because I didn't have cash available, mainly a fairly solid 71 K20 Suburban with a few nice options for $6k.

Re: Why aren't classic Suburbans "popular"??
 

The vast majority of folks are clueless. I get someone daily asking how much i want for my
Bronco but i have turned down 40k

Re: Why aren't classic Suburbans "popular"??
 

It looks like the new Burban will have to get painted green to fit in.

Re: Why aren't classic Suburbans "popular"??
 

That's funny.

K

Re: Why aren't classic Suburbans "popular"??
 

It's a matter of practicality for me. I love the way a burb looks, and the functionality can't be beat. I would love to have one. However, I can't afford $30k+ for a nice one and there's no way in hell I can get the body off of one in my 2 car garage to do a proper restoration. I've done more than a few trucks, and I can pull the cab and bed off by myself with an engine hoist. Even if I could figure out a way to get the body off of a burb, I couldn't roll it over to repair the bottom or store it easily while I did chassis work.

A lot of hot rodders and restorers migrated to trucks from muscle cars and rods because they were easier to work on because the cab and bed come off separately and are relatively light weight. I'd be willing to bet that there are plenty of guys like me who would kill to have a bad ass burb but are at a loss on how to manage building one.

Re: Why aren't classic Suburbans "popular"??
 

I hear ya. When the time comes, my plan is to unbolt the body from the frame, and use my quick jack on each side to lift the body just high enough to roll the chasis out and roll a dolly back under it. Then Ill trailer the body to someone who knows what they're doing (Austin Speed Shop) for rust repair and paint while I blow the chasis apart and restore that. Then do the same thing in reverse for reassembly.

Re: Why aren't classic Suburbans "popular"??
 

Sounds like how station wagons were viewed when I was younger. “Good parts car for a 2 door hardtop version of the same model” Now station wagons are up in value compared to what they used to be. The old wagon price structure was either “how much does it weigh (scrap)” or “worth the price of the used parts”

Re: Why aren't classic Suburbans "popular"??
 

Met some friends for coffee at our hometown beach early the other morning and had a flock of people asking questions...and one surfer girl who politely asked permission to take photos! I laughed and said, of course, then she whipped out this professional 35mm camera and spent the next 20 minutes taking shots at every angle possible!

Woody

Attachment 1961278

Re: Why aren't classic Suburbans "popular"??
 

very cool!

Re: Why aren't classic Suburbans "popular"??
 

I can see why. It looks great on the beach. Why didn't you take a picture of her with the truck....:)

LockDoc

Re: Why aren't classic Suburbans "popular"??
 

well I've been longhorny lately so the burbs are sitting quietly in the back waiting their turn..

when they were up front, I was getting offers and inquiries constantly, even in their old rusty glory..

so I would say still very popular, just not a huge number of them out there still running..

https://dl.dropbox.com/s/nk2wvsoxui3..._2998.jpg?dl=0

very popular with my kids :lol:

https://dl.dropbox.com/s/ez93naece35...%20hb.jpg?dl=0

drove the k20 to work, someone left a note :D

https://dl.dropbox.com/s/kyhrhlbg3ieb9fn/note.jpg?dl=0

Re: Why aren't classic Suburbans "popular"??
 

Well thank you, Leon...but us old guys have to be careful to NOT look too "interested" or else the girls stop talking to us! :mm:

Woody

Re: Why aren't classic Suburbans "popular"??
 

I get just as many compliments on my burban as I do my other vehicles. I do love it but storing it is another issue. Like that I can pack it up with everything I need for long weekend show and not worrying about it getting wet or stolen out of the bed. I know it square body but I'll post anyway. It's a shame that if this was a pickup it would be worth a lot more . Not that I'm thinking about selling it anyway.

Re: Why aren't classic Suburbans "popular"??
 

I honestly think that Suburban prices (both 67-72 and square bodies) will pick up in the next 5 years or so. There are a couple big name builders with high end Suburbans in the works....namely Jonathan Ward at Icon. All it takes is a few big names to pay them attention and prices can jump drastically....especially with limited supply, and the rest of the vintage SUV market already hugely inflated.

Re: Why aren't classic Suburbans "popular"??
 

Well crap, I wondered why all the young chicks wandered off when I started telling them they looked REALLY good....:).. I thought I heard one of them mention something about a pervert but I figured I misunderstood with my bad hearing and all.

Anyways, to keep on topic I had a guy stop by and ask if my '69 Suburban was for sale not too long after I finished it and I said yep, bring cash, and he did....

LockDoc

Re: Why aren't classic Suburbans "popular"??
 

Too funny, LockDoc...California girls are the worst when it comes to that attitude! Hard to think that you sold that beautiful Burb so soon after finishing it!!! '69 with '71/'72 front grille and bumper...did you do any other surprises?

Woody

Re: Why aren't classic Suburbans "popular"??
 

Just a 350 crate engine and a 2004r overdrive auto transmission. It ran really good and I miss it....:(

LockDoc