Suburban 75th Anniversary Logo

I can not believe that its been 75 years since Chevrolet came out with the Suburban! Chevy claims that its SUV is the first vehicle to be continuously produced for 75 years, but to be honest I haven’t done any research to back that up (please remind me later to check that out). Regardless of whether or not Chevy was the first to produce a car for that long, the accomplishment of producing a vehicle for 75 years is HUGE!

The concept behind the Suburban’s layout has not changed much through the years, and it just goes to show that when something isn’t broke…don’t fix it!

1957 Chevy Suburban

Here is a time-line of the Suburban:

1935:

• Suburban Carryall introduced

• 2-door body style that would last through 1967
• Power came from Chevrolet’s stalwart “Stovebolt” inline-six that produced 60 horsepower for the half-ton chassis

1937:

• New, streamlined exterior styling carried Art Deco cues
• Horsepower from the Stovebolt six increased to 79

1942:

• Production of almost all civilian cars & trucks halted during America’s involvement in World War II
  • Many Chevy trucks – including the Suburban’s body style – were pressed into military duty

1947:

• The first significant redesign of the Chevrolet Suburban

1950:

• Suburban models are offered with either a tailgate/top-opening rear window configuration or conventional “barn doors” at the rear

1955:

• Revolutionary new styling is introduced midway through the model year
  • Known as the “second series” design, it features a wraparound windshield and the elimination of running boards – the body is flush with the fenders for the first time
  • The second series model also introduces the ubiquitous small-block V-8

1957:

• Factory-installed four-wheel drive is offered for the first time

1960:

• Chevrolet institutes the C/K designations to denote models with two-wheel drive (C) and four-wheel drive (K)
• Front-end styling is also new

1967:

• All-new styling of Chevy’s half-ton trucks is introduced, including Suburban
  • It carries a unique three-door arrangement with a single door on the driver’s side and front and rear doors on the passenger side
  • This configuration makes the Suburban popular with ambulance companies

1973:

• A new generation of Chevy trucks is launched, with Suburban offered in a conventional four-door body style introduced for the first time

1975:

• Increased focus on interior comfort and amenities in the 1973 models bring more customers to Suburban for use as a personal vehicle
• Chevrolet responds with more comfortable seats and greater amenities, including simulated buffalo hide vinyl upholstery, wood grain dash inserts, fully trimmed door panels and more

1981:

• Updated styling brings stacked rectangular headlamps for the 1980s
• The four-wheel drive system adds automatic locking hubs and the 454 cubic-inch big-block is still offered, giving customers great towing capability

1987:

• Electronically controlled fuel injection and a four-speed overdrive transmission bring greater efficiency

1992:

• An all-new Suburban features sleek styling with flush glass and composite headlamps
• The 5.7-liter small-block V-8 powers 1500 models, while the 454 engine is still available in the 2500 series
• Other updates include four-wheel anti-lock brakes, Insta-Trac on four-wheel-drive models and a suspension system designed to provide a more carlike ride

1998:

• OnStar and the full-time AutoTrac all-wheel-drive system are added
• In Australia, right-hand-drive versions of the Suburban are offered through GM’s Holden brand

2000:

• Launched in 1999 as a 2000 model, the next-generation Suburban brings new styling, new interiors and new powertrains

2007:

• The latest generation of the Suburban is introduced, featuring a wind tunnel-shaped exterior and the elimination of traditional chrome front and rear bumpers
• More efficient, comfortable and capable than ever, the Suburban continues to offer customers of all walks of life uncompromising capability and versatility

2010:

• The 75th anniversary is marked with a limited-edition model, the 75th Anniversary Diamond Edition Suburban!

2010 Chevy Suburban