WHAT IS IT?
Conventional wisdom holds that the SUV is largely a creature of the new millennium. Not so. The term itself dates back to a Jeep brochure from the 1970s, and the Chevrolet’s “Suburban” nameplate goes back to 1935, and in fact is the oldest nameplate still in use anywhere, now in its 12th generation. This one goes back to the 7th generation, the longest-running one that went from 1973 to 1991.
WHY THIS ONE HAS BEST ONE ON THE PLANET CHOPS
This Suburban is resplendent in its very period shade of metallic brown, and positively gleams in its flagship Silverado trim (complete with CB radio). It has under 50,000 miles, and single-family ownership from new, and it clearly has received the care meted out to a beloved family member. The engine compartment is simply surreal, still exhibiting factory chalk marks on the firewall, and all of its decals. Like so many of the cars we feature, this Suburban was never intended to be a collectible, and as rugged as the underlying vehicle is, many of the Malaise Era plastics and materials were built to last a lunchtime, thus, this Suburban’s state of preservation is remarkable. Quibbles are few: It’s RWD rather than 4WD, it’s a small block rather than a 454, and there’s some minor headliner sag. But as they say, you’ll look long and hard to find another Malaise Era Suburban that’s this nice.
many of the Malaise Era plastics and materials were built to last a lunchtime, thus, this Suburban’s state of preservation is remarkable
