One Family 1965 Chevrolet Suburban Carryall 4×4
The seller’s father bought this 1965 Chevrolet Suburban new, and the highly original 4×4 runs and drives and “needs nothing.” The Clackamas, Oregon classic can be yours with the high bid here on eBay, where at least 12 suitors have its market value above $24,000. With 8,000 miles on the odometer, the vintage two-door’s description calls it 108,000, which may well be true.
A later aftermarket radio and speakers mark the only obvious deviations from the 1960s. The A-pillar spotlight and steering-column mounted combination gauge could be “Day Two” additions. That steering wheel didn’t come black, folks; the paint on the steel wheel is simply worn away from use. If any seasoned readers can identify that strapped-on gauge, let us know in the comments below. It has a tachometer sweep on top and a separate needle and scale reading from 0 to 5 below.
While the seller “believes” the paint to be original, door jams and other shots suggest the red was re-sprayed at some point, which would more readily explain the glossy finish as well. That comment suggests a certain detachment from the truck’s story that might limit the accuracy of questions concerning other aspects of the truck’s history.
Before the 1990s, most trucks in America had two doors, and clambering into the back of two-door cars and trucks seemed far less arduous in those days, even for older folks. Maybe people were just tougher then! I’d have wagered the lower body was painted the darker of the two interior paint colors. However, burgundy seat belts in at least one picture may dispute this.
The seller included dozens of pictures, but this is the best shot of the engine so take a good look. Though not described, the mill is listed as an eight cylinder, which should be a 283 cid (4.6L) small-block V8, according to AutoCatalogArchive. The transmission type escaped the description as well, though twin shift levers suggest a manual gearbox with a smaller transfer case selector for four-wheel drive modes. Personally I’d leave this truck as-is and show and drive it as a mostly-original Carryall. How would you treat this one-family classic 4×4?
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Comments
Here’s another example of a vehicle we generally never saw. In the 50s/60s, 4x4s were usually relegated to farm, municipal or forestry duty, but almost never in mainstream life. We were city folks, and never needed a 4×4. Some, however, did take to the hills, and usually dragging something behind. Small hitch indicates, small camper, or fissin’ boat. The 4 wheel drive, the headers, the spotlight, dad was no idiot,,, all very handy. The tach on the steering column is nothing fancy, with adjustable red line needle, a newer rendition of the old “classic” look. Cool find, but again, if you think this is the same as a new Suburban, you got another thing comin’.
unicorn in this condition… woth at least $35K
Yeah sure whatever if you’re made of money. Which I am not. Come on bro stop over inflating stuff.
I think the second needle in the tack is used to manually set your redline, you can see the twist knob at the lower center of the tach. Cool truck I would drive but likely paint the white as I don’t care for the surface rust coming through.
Of course its in the PNW, where cars are preserved and live forever. Meanwhile, I’m in the north east, where vehicles like died long ago.
Don’t change a thing, just maintain and drive. Great find.
“…where vehicles like this” that should say. Where did that edit button go? :^)
Very nice, price inline with value, refreshing to see.
Todd, it’s a period correct tachometer, which adds to the cool factor.
These 60’s 4wd tanks are catching 40-80 K once cleaned up. I would not restomod this, but originally restore the underside and outside, maybe a set of buckets with center console up front and new headliner. Very nice investment after 4K.
The tach is a RAC with a set needle model #30042,I have one exactly like it.
and it still works.Had it in a 1962 Chevy Impala convertible many years ago
You could always park this truck at my place; I’d give it a good home.
Looks like the engine has been gone through. Chevy Orange wasn’t used on the truck side until ‘67. Until then it was kind of a seasick blue/gray. Of course if you’re looking for the original color in a rattle-can, you might be looking for a long time. Chevy Orange might be monotonous but it’s readily available…
Be all right but not OEM them axles out from under the model trucks
Be all right but not OEM them axles out from under the 80’s model trucks
It’s a dana 44 in the picture and gm stopped using them around 79. A better way to tell is the steering knuckle. If it’s a sealed ball knuckle it would be correct for that timeframe. If it’s an open knuckle it would not.
Those are original 65-66 axles. Very easy to find pics online of 65-66 K10 pickups (both unrestored originals and high-dollar restored) that have the exact same axles.
Black steering wheel from wear? Thought it only had 8000 miles on it?
A lot of 4x4s of that era came with ungodly-high axle ratios. Jeep CJs had 6:1 ratios…it was expected that a truck of this type was purchased for WORK.
Few in those days, owned Suburbans as personal or family cars. Of those who did, fewer got the 4wd option. A locking rear axle was more common.
So, I expect an axle swap was done to give it longer legs for highway speeds. Although I’d not be overly sanguine about that, either: sitting up high, and doing 60-plus mph, can make for exciting travel. Air gets underneath the chassis and literally lifts it up off the springs. That was one problem with a Kaiser-era Wagoneer.
Nice truck, but at these prices I can’t afford to buy just because I like.
I had a Chevy K20, it had 5:38 ratio gears, top speed on the highway was 88mph and that was with the 350 screaming its guts out. Would pull a house off it’s foundation though… LOL
Wish I knew the axle ratio- are front brakes disk- any engine issues???
I can barely make out the parts of the axles in one of the pics that show that it’s a closed knuckle 44, so it’s probably still 4 wheel drums.
“…most trucks in America had two doors, and clambering into the back …”
I thought by then they had the 3rd dor (curb-side). Seems the 4th came on quickly after.
No, folk werent tougher, they stayed home isolated or on other kinza jaunts (“I’m older now – no need to get in one of those”).
On $ I’d go the other direction. “Ol junkie truck” not up 10K$.
Really neat old SUV. You never see anything like this in my area (Mississippi) as basically no one bought rigs like this. A regular cab truck was about all you’d ever see and even 4wd was pretty uncommon. Most people really had no use for this. You had a truck to haul hay, or whatever, and you had a car to carry the family. It’s a cool rig, though.
At 91 years of great age I rememberall ofthe great trucks and cars YEARN for all of them mit thats about all. . So grate to see so many guys like me enjoying as well .. NAVY UDT 1949 -1989.
Thank you for your service, sincerely. Enjoy the 4th and many more years!
Must have the “Custom” trim option with the chrome knobs although I didn’t notice if it had driver armrest and passenger visor. But I noticed it didn’t have the sail panel Custom nameplate unless you didn’t get that in a Suburban. If memory serves me, the chrome bumpers and hubcaps were outside the trim package, too.
I like the 4-speed transmission and also this is something different to see. Nice ride.
Maybe just upgrade the ignition system,go to an H.E.I. distributor.other than that drive it like it is.
Winning bid: US $29,099.00. Well sold! We’d love to hear from the new owner about plans and experiences this vehicle collects with its second family!
Just an update, this truck was spotted at the Spring 2024 AutoFair in Charlotte, NC. It’s sporting a NC license plate. Everything still appears as it did in these pictures.