10 Things You Might Not Know About the Chevy Suburban
The world in 1935 was a different place. A gallon of gas cost 10 cents, the Detroit Tigers were World Series champs, Orson Wells caused mass panic with his “War of the Worlds” broadcast, and the first Chevrolet Suburban hit the streets.
Like the world around it, the Suburban’s changed a bit since first rolling off the production line. Check out these 10 facts you might not know about the Chevrolet Suburban:
1. Oldest in the West
Entering its 8th decade of production, the Chevrolet Suburban is the longest continuously-running nameplate in the U.S. auto industry, first produced in 1935.
2. Small Price
$675. That’s how much a brand-spankin’ new Suburban cost off the production line in 1935. However, it didn’t include high-end options like a rear bumper or heating.
3. Open Door Policy
The original Suburban was a 2-door wonder. It didn’t receive 4 doors until the 8th generation debuted in 1973. In between, Chevrolet experimented with a 3-door option.
4. What’s in a Name?
When the Chevrolet Suburban first debuted in 1935, it was called the Suburban Carryall.
5. 12 Generations
Since the first iteration of the Chevrolet Suburban debuted in 1935, they’ve gone from 2 doors to 4, from bullet headlights to halogens, and from two wheel drive to four wheel drive. The 12th generation that debuted in 2015 featured a new engine and a new frame and is the most powerful version yet.
6. 2 Million
As of 2016, an estimated 2 million Suburbans have been produced.
7. Salute Your Chevy
During World War II, all civilian production of vehicles stopped, forcing many cars into duty. The Suburban was no exception, its large cargo space proving valuable for the military.
8. More Power
The 2016 Chevrolet Suburban’s V8 engine features 355 hp, a far cry from the 60 hp it started off with in 1935.
9. GMC or Chevy?
Though most associate the “Suburban” namesake with Chevrolet, GMC produced their own version up until 2000, when they rebranded it as the Yukon XL.
10. High-Mileage Wonder
The Chevrolet Suburban is one of the vehicles most likely to exceed 200,000 miles, with 4.8% of them reaching the impressive milestone.