Safari/Vista Roof Suburbans? Craigslist Find.

[texanidiot25]

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sf...105054521.html
https://barnfinds.com/1972-gmc-vista-roof-suburban/

Does anybody have info on these? Apparently a 1-in-12 conversion by Edison.

[rustyrodknocker]

Hard to say, there was many conversion companies through the 60s and 70s. Raised roof panels were popular with timber companies and rural school districts. This is probably from the entertainment industry given the level of interior and a complete color change. Horse ranches were known for high level conversions but I dont see a horse Ranch ordering 12 of these. There may have been more customers but I would bet it was a one run and done. Otherwise by the time the last one was done it would be several years old.
Regardless this is buy it money on this one.
Like now.

[HO455]

This poor Burban has been up for sale for over a year. The story is that it was a high voltage power line inspection vehicle, one of 12 that Southern California Edison had built for them back in the day.

[rustyrodknocker]

That would be some deluxe accommodations for a utility company. All the company raised roof trucks I have seen were fairly crude. The stock roof was lifted
With minimal sloping on the front. Many were just a flat bulkhead. Usually base model interior. This one could likely have been redone. I don't think any powerline crew had custom velour seats.

Somewhat coincidentally, my Father in law has a 70 suburban that was this color that originally belonged to the Benedictine Sisters in Mt. Angel Oregon.
The family calls it the nunmobile. I used it to bring my 66 home.

[Killer Bee]

Originally Posted by HO455

This poor Burban has been up for sale for over a year. The story is that it was a high voltage power line inspection vehicle, one of 12 that Southern California Edison had built for them back in the day.

yep, we've seen this one before, a couple of times..

if nothing else, that's one way to solve the dreaded headliner dilemma

[1968vetL-71]

I’ve talked to this gentleman several times on pretty hard to find trucks he’s had for sale over the past couple years. I’m looking for a 4x4 72 sub, he sent me these pics. Neat truck but I really questioned the complete color change including interior???? He told me it was done during time of conversion. Big red flag to me!

[rustyrodknocker]

No telling what went on during the conversion. I can see a total color change taking place. Especially if they had to build 12 trucks. Some may have been blue already.
I guess they could have ordered the blue custom interior parts from the dealer.
What is strange is where the paint has worn through and revealed primer and then further revealing bare metal. No Olive showing through. That seems a little odd. Back in the day, they were banging out these conversions and stripped the entire rig to bare metal? Not likely. Also the dash repaint does not match the rest of the truck and appears to be more recent.

I still think its worth the money or near it. It would probably be wise to confirm the vin on the frame.

[special-K]

I don't know why a utility co. would order a vehicle in the wrong color and paint it when the correct color was available, unless this was a last minute decision and they just grabbed what they could find off of lots. But that's not how utilities buy vehicles. They have fleet accounts and place orders with lowest bidder.

I agree the story sounds like a stretch. I agree this is not what a utility co. would outfit for power line inspections. Of all the money spent on options, top conversion, and color change, wouldn't they have gotten a K/20 for off road high tension inspections? Do they bring a whole crew in comfort to inspect lines? Are these the colors So Cal Edison used at that time?

[HO455]

This is one of those vehicles that we will never know the truth on how it came to be. My Burban is a 503 green, but for some unknown reason there are a lot of areas of overspray inside that are the 507 or 511 blue color.