The Interesting History of the GMC Suburban
In 1935, the first eight-passenger steel-bodied truck was introduced by Chevrolet. It was termed the “Carryall Suburban”. GMC rolled out their version in 1937. At first, Chevy didn’t trademark the name because it was being used by other manufacturers at the time. When Plymouth brought an end to its Suburban station wagon in 1978, General Motors acquired the name 10 years later.
To date, the term “Suburban” is the longest running designation of an automobile in history. The word brings to mind a vehicle that can haul big families and their gear wherever they want to go.
The Evolution of the Suburban
The name was initially applied by Chevrolet to a basic truck that cost a mere $675, which is approximately $12,000 adjusted for today’s economy. In 1933, the truck was used to transport people and luggage between train stations and ship terminals. It was nothing more than the body of a station wagon that was carried on the half ton frame of a truck. Though notable options included a rear bumper and a heater, the real innovation was in using steel for the body (boasting a new enclosed cabin) instead of wood.
This version was used almost exclusively by the Civilian Conservation Corps and the National Guard and sat up to eight occupants- three in the front, two in the middle, and three in the rear seat. The designers of the Carryall Suburban focused on functionality. Fortunately for the company, as the additions and amenities increased, so did the number of customers.
Carryall Suburbans were also built in 1941-42 and 1946. The federal government was also a customer, seeking out the vehicles for use as military transport during the war. The versions produced by GMC came furnished with a 228 cubic-inch six-cylinder engine. The version produced by Chevrolet had a 216 cubic-inch that was also six-cylinders.
In 1953, the first fully-automatic transmission for automobile use was available in four speeds for GMC models. The same was available for Chevrolet a year later. The front bench seat was now split. The driver’s side could seat two people. The passenger’s side could seat one. Because the front passenger seat could slide forward and backward, the second-row seat was also a 2/3 seat like the one behind the steering wheel.
1955 saw style and engineering upgrades to the Carryall Suburban. All GMC and Chevy trucks were adorned with flatter hoods, grilles in the shape of a trapezoid, and front fenders flat against the body of the vehicle. This is the time the name “Suburban” was also applied to extravagant 2-door pickup trucks. The Suburban Pickup was available from 1955 to 1959.
There have been several incarnations of the Suburban since then. The reasons for its longevity and firm establishment in American culture are many. For GM, it has always upheld the promise of delivering passengers and their stuff wherever they need to go. The vehicle adapts to the highway as easily as a two-lane gravel road deep in the woods. Also, it is typically American- bold, pragmatic, and big.
