Big Block Driver! 1987 Chevrolet Suburban
Trailering mirrors, cab lights, bumper protectors, 16 inch aluminum wheels, a front receiver, and a burly 454 under the hood help this 1987 Chevrolet Suburban stand out from the crowd. The tricked-out classic from Clearwater, Florida just logged a 500-mile trip and “runs great,” according to the seller here on eBay. With a claimed 111,950 miles, this fine-looking rig could live a second life. Many of these see two or three times that mileage before they die. At least two bidders have the market value on this 20th century brute above $6500 without meeting the seller’s Reserve.
Air conditioning adds to the utility of this Sunshine State Chevy, and front and rear heat and air conditioning and heavily tinted windows should keep the whole family comfortable. Ceramic coated headers and a custom dual exhaust let the 454 cid (7.4L) V8 breathe. Factory throttle-body fuel injection should help this 37 year-old V8 run smooth in all conditions. While small-block trucks of the day enjoyed an available four-speed overdrive automatic transmission, the 454 soldiered on with the proven three-speed TH400 automatic fitted to this Suburban. Generally speaking, the 454 makes enough torque to pull well with highway-friendly rear axle gears.
Expect some tears under the aftermarket seat covers, but otherwise this Chevy shows minimal wear inside and out, suggesting it spent more time in suburbia than repeated daily work. Not to suggest that Florida is full of old people, but it wouldn’t surprise me if this 3/4 ton hauler logged most of its miles towing a boat or travel trailer at sedate speeds.
Hello in there! My criteria for a useful space behind the rear seat is “Would I put a dog back there?” This rig could swallow a pack of hound dogs or a few Great Danes with no problem. The shiny door opening suggests someone waxed, cared for, and preserved this plus-sized people mover. “Barn Doors” preclude literal tailgating but spare owner the hassle of shoving or sliding heavy objects into the cargo area.
The period-correct aluminum wheels and chrome nicely accent the deep red paint, tinted windows, and meaty blackwall tires. I’d wager this big-block towing champ will outlast most of today’s trucks if only because one battle-tested computer trumps an array of computers and sensors all checking with each other for longevity. Do we really need computers involved with our decisions to raise and lower our windows or slide our seats back and forth? Temperature and gear changes on this rig occur without questioning algorithms. Move the temperature lever and a valve adjusts how much coolant flows into the heater core. Wrecking yards are full of cars that *could* run great except they needed more labor and parts costs that they were worth to diagnose and repair their electronics. I don’t need a vehicle like this, but if I did, this one would be high on the list. Would you prefer this old-school hauler or one of today’s tech-laden wonder trucks?
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Comments
Nice truck. It has the capacity to haul our 20″ 6,500 lb race car trailer and we see quite of few of these at the track doing the same thing.
I totally agree that this beautiful workhorse deserves the honor of pulling the right rig and in my case it would be our 23′ Airstream Flying Cloud.
I’m sure some heads would turn when that combo pulls into the campground.
If it hauls you to the runoffs, maybe we can meet.
Very nice clean suburban with a 454/400 trans!!!
Very nice clean suburban with a 454/400 trans!!!
Beautiful truck, shame there never came here.
Had an 89 same specs same color,pulled my 69 camaro bracket car with it was ultimate tow rig.
Not a 4X4??
Don’t need it, unless you plan on real off-roading, you wouldn’t want a behemoth like this. This is an HD pavement performer, no more. Even loaded at GCWR, it should attain 10 mpg, which is not too shabby, especially with the comfort & reliability factor.
Want more stuff to break? This is not a logging truck.
Great Burb, very capable rig! My only question is: where is the cover for the rear evaporator case and blower motor, on the passenger side of the cargo area? My family has had 5 of these square body Suburbans over the years; being in SE Texas, they all had the dual air conditioning. There’s a plastic trim piece that covers these items, and the interior is so immaculate otherwise that I wonder what happened to this piece.
Otherwise it’s amazingly clean and well preserved. These trucks are tanks, especially with big block power and the 3/4 ton equipment. Even a half ton with a 350 will be a good hauler and cruiser though; that’s what GM designed the Suburban to do, and why they are so popular in Texas.
The ask on their website is right at $37k….gotta be a crazy high reserve…I know they’re nice rigs, owned nothing else from 1985 through 2004….but I just dont see the ask. GLWTA.
I had an 88 half ton 4×4 with the 350 and 700R4 trans. Truck was an absolute tank! We used to love driving that beast in the snow. Unfortunately the northeast ruined it, but we loved that sub!
Great looking Suburban. Solid truck that was still true to its original formula. Great for towing. Will run all day. The TBI 454 is not a high reving mill. Made for low and mid range torque. Best thing is that it’s turn key.
I prefer this old-school, big-block brute even though today’s Suburban is an exceedingly comfortable truck. Even with almost 112K miles this is gonna appreciate in value if you just limit it to weekend cruises and the Cars and Coffee circuit.