History Panel trucks and Suburban types; let's see them

Plus Frites for our friends in France

 

LOVE that spare mounting!

 

My friend Kenny's Burb

 

Typically panel trucks have commercial sheetmetal, sedan deliveries have passenger car sheetmetal.

 

this one was a school bus. they had a picture of it before they re-did it.

 

That color is beyond cool.

 

All original sheet metal and wood body!

 

just some from the internet.

 

Hello,

Every time I see this old Suburban fighting off the salt air blast everyday and night, it makes me wonder the history of such a nice old truck/wagon. The time our son was a little toddler, our neighbor had a slew of Suburban vehicles. Each one looked similar, but the body style started sharp edged, then rounded off towards the newer models.

They kept those Suburbans for about 5 to 6 years. We stayed in our small old house for 23 years and saw a lot of changes come and go in the neighborhood. But the one standard was a different Suburban vehicle in the driveway. Those large station wagon were always in the driveway. No house in the neighborhood could hold a large Suburban inside of the early 60s homes.

The first one we saw as a 57 Suburban. For an old hot rod guy, we thought it needed some simple color, flames, and custom wheels . But, not just regular flames, but a type of “water drop” flames, since we were so close to the best surfing spots in So Cal.
Instead of a stock height model, a slightly chopped version could have fit into the standard garage. My wife thought the standard tan/white color was a little drab, but functional.

Another neighbor had completed a remodel of their old 60s house. The first thing they did was to build a larger garage door and extend the roofline of his old garage. Now, anything from a tall Suburban, trailer, RV or truck could fit. Even with larger tires that were becoming popular in most models.

Jnaki

The my wife mentioned that if we had a Suburban with windows, it probably would be better for privacy if we sealed up those windows to make a panel van. Or, get a stock panel van and make it into a large sedan delivery.

But, as tall as the Suburban size panel vans are, a little lower top may give it some cruising attitude. There would still be room in the back for sleeping and storage. Then, it would become the "sprinter" van of choice in those old days... YRMV

Note:
With a lowered top and low profile tires, it would be possible to actually fit into those old 60's garages. The roller garage doors gave a few more inches of head clearance room when in the "up" position. Now, the problem may be to take out the front of the garage parking spot counter and workbench... Yikes!

 

This should of been a model for Ford...This is the nicest build, named Sea Country

 

1932 American Austin

 

Who can forget this one that @Clark built & @Gasser 57 posted back in reply #27 of this thread. Clark sold it in "nearly finished" condition. Did it go to a hamber?

 

Here's what they look like!