Suburban's 75th: Granddaddy of SUVs keeps on truckin'
Looking back 75 years, the odds seemed stacked against the Suburban Carryall.
World War II broke out just a few years after Chevrolet debuted the vehicle in 1936. Domestic car production halted as the Arsenal of Democracy raced toward victory. But the Suburban never stopped rolling off the assembly line -- the military needed it to transport beans, bullets and troops.
Through financial bubbles, energy crises, shifting consumer tastes and, more recently, environmental backlash against SUVs, the Suburban has survived.
There's no substitute for rugged, all-purpose vehicles big enough to shelter a family and strong enough to carry everything. If the Joad family had had a Suburban Carryall instead of that rickety Ford pickup, Steinbeck could have written a happier ending.
Sure, the Carryall tag died in 1972, and the barn-style doors in 2005, but the name lives on: The Suburban is the longest running nameplate of any vehicle, never stopped, discontinued or canceled. In 75 years.
Even today, new customers are discovering the Suburban's versatility and capabilities.
Concerns about poor gas mileage and global warming have turned "SUV" into a dirty word and many SUV consumers have moved onto trendy crossovers, which offer interior space and a smoother ride. But there's a core group of buyers who need a vehicle like the Suburban.
Good.
Tuesday morning, Chevrolet marked the 75th anniversary on Belle Isle in Detroit by showing off a collection of Suburbans to the media.
Well written piece from Detroit news, be sure to read the entire story at the source link below:
Source: Suburban's 75th: Granddaddy of SUVs keeps on truckin'
World War II broke out just a few years after Chevrolet debuted the vehicle in 1936. Domestic car production halted as the Arsenal of Democracy raced toward victory. But the Suburban never stopped rolling off the assembly line -- the military needed it to transport beans, bullets and troops.
Through financial bubbles, energy crises, shifting consumer tastes and, more recently, environmental backlash against SUVs, the Suburban has survived.
There's no substitute for rugged, all-purpose vehicles big enough to shelter a family and strong enough to carry everything. If the Joad family had had a Suburban Carryall instead of that rickety Ford pickup, Steinbeck could have written a happier ending.
Sure, the Carryall tag died in 1972, and the barn-style doors in 2005, but the name lives on: The Suburban is the longest running nameplate of any vehicle, never stopped, discontinued or canceled. In 75 years.
Even today, new customers are discovering the Suburban's versatility and capabilities.
Concerns about poor gas mileage and global warming have turned "SUV" into a dirty word and many SUV consumers have moved onto trendy crossovers, which offer interior space and a smoother ride. But there's a core group of buyers who need a vehicle like the Suburban.
Good.
Tuesday morning, Chevrolet marked the 75th anniversary on Belle Isle in Detroit by showing off a collection of Suburbans to the media.
Well written piece from Detroit news, be sure to read the entire story at the source link below:
Source: Suburban's 75th: Granddaddy of SUVs keeps on truckin'
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