Highly Optioned: 1966 Chevrolet Suburban
In younger days, my mom used to fantasize about buying a travel trailer and a mid-’60s Suburban like this ’66 to tow it. I’m not sure why she zeroed in on this generation, the last Suburban with only two side doors to access its three rows of seats—she learned to drive in a three-door 1970 model—but I’ll hand it to her, they are good-looking trucks. This example seems like a great candidate for a tow vehicle, nicely equipped for the job with a V8, power steering, Positraction, and more—that is, once it’s been elevated beyond its current status as a great restoration candidate. Check out this project wagon here on eBay out of Ottertail, Minnesota.
The Suburban’s evolution into the expensive luxury rig available today has been a long one—but with 83 years of continuous production under its belt, the nameplate’s had plenty of time. The generation sold from 1960 to 1966 was a much simpler beast in its basic form, but these years saw a ballooning of the list of available options, pointing the way to the Suburban’s current iteration. This one’s been sitting for years and has plenty of needs, but its unusually high equipment level makes it a worthy candidate for resurrection.
The seller highlights add-on accessories like the spotlights or the admittedly uncommon roof rack, but the real interesting stuff is listed here, on the wonderfully preserved build sheet. The upgraded brakes, extra gauges, power steering, and Positraction rear axle point to some serious road tripping planned by the original owner. The only biggie missing that might make things even better is air conditioning.
Passenger car V8s were all the rage in the ’60s, but trucks of the era were still more commonly seen with the simple, proven technology of an inline six under the hood, with GMC’s offbeat V6 available to satisfy truck-driving iconoclasts. The buyer of this Suburban upgraded to the 283-cubic inch V8, a Chevy truck option since 1955, opting not to go whole-hog and order the 327, available for the first time that year. It will likely shock none of you to learn that this V8 hasn’t run in some time, although the seller says the oil on the dipstick still looks good. There are certainly few classic car engines easier to work on or find parts for than a small-block Chevy V8, so that part of this project wouldn’t worry me much.
More troubling are the rusty sills and rockers, and the general lumpiness of the body. There’s a lot of metalwork needed on this one, including at least some underneath. Yes, it will be a while before this truck is road-trip ready.
There’s plenty of room for gear and snacks in the back of this big proto-SUV, but not a lot of accommodation for people, and it worries me that the seller makes no mention of the two missing bench seats. I hope they’re around and come with the car, because replacements will not likely be easy to find. Even if they are still intact, I’d count on having to re-cover them if the front seat is any indication. That, some new rubber on the floors, and a dash of paint here and there, though, and you’d be pretty much ready to go; this is a blessedly simple interior.
My mom no longer dreams of trailering with an old Suburban, and she’s not the restoring type anyway, so I can’t sell her on this one, but I do think it deserves to find someone to bring it back to its well-equipped splendor and eat up some miles with it. Could that be you?
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Comments
Those seats bolted to the plywood floor might not be too safe…needs a lot of metal work but would be a cool truck restored back to original.
I’ve never noticed how clean the rear end styling is on these… I’m a Ford guy, but this is my favourite era of GM trucks. Would be nice to see again once it’s been given new life….load the kids and the dogs, head for the beach.
So much potential with this project. In my opinion it’s begging for a modernized suspension and brakes. An LS with an accompanying transmission would make a great “functional” classic.
Totally agree with all that Chris !
Interesting seller; he has a whole passel of what look like field cars and trucks on auction. None have a title, supposedly from S. Dakota. Might be an industrious lad, though optimistic on his pricing? Yeah, there is a contingent on here that claim there’s no problem getting a title here or there, but apparently actual buyers don’t share that notion. Some interesting vehicles though.
A lot of cool cars that are old and rusty and lives in an area with about a jillion lakes And I’ll bet the snowmobiling is incredible in the wintertime
Very close to my cabin in Ottertail. Love this era, love the roof rack, just a cool truck… but, just too much bodywork to intrest me. Did anyone else notice the double spots? It’s a poachers delight. Lot’s of illegal deer taken in that area, I see it year round.
No back seats because it’s a carry all package. Lift gate/ tail gate combo instead of the side by side doors. Had a 65 GMC with that package. Great trucks.
This guy in Ottertail has a slew of older trucks. I’ve seen their ads before. I think he has a trucking company there. My old man had the GMC version with a V6. Didn’t have enough power to pull a camper, and after a miserable mistake in getting an IH Travelall, he went with the Chevy Suburban with much better results.
That 305 V6 kind of ran its course didn’t it? By ’66 when Chevy started offering the 327 GMC was left in the dust. My dad had a Binder Travelall in ’60 but he got rid of the idea altogether and just got a station wagon to haul the demon children around. Of course Mom had something to do with that.
Waaaaaaaay back in 1970 when I was just starting Kindergarten, my ‘bus’ to/from school was a Chevy ‘burban/GMC Carryall just like this.
I distinctly recall my Kindergarten teacher, Mrs [Miss? Ms?] driving to school in a Brown ChevyII
I can’t remember much of the schooling, but I remember cars/trucks quite well!. I was car crazed from the time I entered the world!
My husband bought the suburban for me. It will take a while but will post pics once restored.
I’m doing a ground up restoration on a 1966 Chevy panel. I got it from a relative when the original engine seized up in 1975. I dropped a used 1968 6 cylinder that a buddy offered and used the truck as a daily driver until 1978. I did a simple restoration in 1980 and turned heads for 20 years. This Suburban need a loving home. Restored, it will provide much service and fun.