WIW - 1963 Suburban

[dmooreco]

I know there is a dedicated forum for this, but I thought placing this in here would reach the right crowd. If this needs moved, please feel free to do so.

I have a 1963 Suburban I bought two years ago from the original owner. My father has worked a Chevrolet dealer since 1971 and serviced this vehicle most of its life. It has the original invoice, and complete service history written down since it was new. It was resprayed once in its life and had the motor rebuilt in 1976 with 106K miles on it. The Interior is in great shape, floor pans as well. The front lower corners of the fenders are the worst part, all other rust is just on the surface. It has a 283, 4 Speed, 160K thousand miles on it. I've put a fuel tank, radiator, points in it, just to make it driveable. I've driven it 1750 miles and averaged 12.4 MPG

I'm undecided if I'm going to keep it or sell it, I was hoping I could get some opinions on what it is worth.

You can see the complete album with full size pictures here.

[dmooreco]

Thanks to aerotruk63 for the following information.

Originally Posted by aerotruk63

502 Jade, Seamist metallic paint. Rare color to start with. Not a two tone originally. Someone took the liberty of adding the white roof.
Side marker light are not original equipment or of the era.
Wheels would have been black being mono colored truck.
Custom Chrome package gives you the bumpers and hubcaps but a white painted grille. Grille was also repainted and they eliminated the trademark painted black insert on the headlight rings.
Black paint behind the grille was omitted.
Built at the St. Louis Plant, 202343 production sequence number would be built in 1963 I would imagine. Not the highest number we've seen.
Drivers side mirror was changed.
Missing the warranty booklet in the original plastic envelope that goes in the glove box.
Wrong inline fuel filter for the year.
Single upper rad hose instead of a steel tube.
Correct push on type battery cables.
Not original tower clamps on rad hoses, replaced by gear clamps.
Not a patina truck nor an original well maintained paint. Kinda in limbo.

Seatbelts have wrong webbing, are they stamped Irving Airchute?
Drivers seat vinyl is gone or covered?
Hows the floor mat between the drivers and passenger seat?

Side marker lights were added by original owner.

I have a mirror that was in the glove box, not sure if it's original.

Fuel filter put on by original owner.

I believe it was painted by an autoshop class at a local community college, so....yeah.

Lower driver seat has been recovered. I think seatbelts were added by original owner. I don't see any significant markings.

[aerotruk63]

That mirror is wrong as well, the pivot would be at the bottom and the back would have been painted black while the mirror arm would have been body color.

If you need the money sell it, if not, restore it since it hasn't been carved up. Start by going blackwall for the tires. That's a personal opinion. While the tires are off paint the rims black.

P.S. Take the key tag off the ring so it will stop scratching the dash.

Most important give her the mascara treatment on the headlight bezels & paint the CHEVROLET letters back onto the grille..

[dmooreco]

I have a complete LS powertrain, but i'm not sure I want to put it in the Suburban since it hasn't been hacked up. I have a few Novas and many more parts, so I may just try to sell/trade it for a Nova/Camaro and go that direction.

[aerotruk63]

That Burb could be so easily done since there's nothing really wrong with it. Would make a nice family Cruizer.

[ryanv70c10]

Wow 12.4 mpg, Our 05 Tahoe barely gets that lol

[Clyde65]

I truely wish I could get thatbold girl, been wanting a 63-66 burb for ever but unfortunately its just not in my budget yet. Good luck with the sale or....