Okay, I need your thoughts and opinions. This page may open slow because it has almost 20 pictures I took of a 1955 (first series) GMC Suburban. Its not perfect. It runs and drives.
Okay, this is a little out of focus. This is where I first saw it.
This is a little better. And yes the pictures were taken late in the afternoon, and it was raining. Pay attention to the hood ornament in this and following pictures. I don't think its original, but I couldn't tell.
Note the spiffy after-market ties holding the hood down. I didn't see the hood move while we drove the thing, so I don't know why they are there.
The rear fender is a little lumpy on the top. The cord is to a battery charger. Battery may be at the end of its life. I neglected to ask if it had been updated to 12 volts. I'm pretty sure '54s were six volt, and I know 2nd series '55s are twelve volt. I didn't look hard enough to know what this is.
The wheels and tires are almost certainly not the originals. I didn't check the tire size, but they look like slightly wider wheels with 15 inch tires.
A little wood instead of upholstery on the doors. No radio (no surprise). Though huge, the steering wheel is quite nice. Its a four-speed with a granny first. I like the dash, with speedo, tach, oil pressure, water temp, amps and fuel. The tach never moved.
Barn doors in the rear. The latch doesn't work real well, and the doors rattle a lot going down the road. The owner said it was a rubber gasket issue, and he could be right. I suspect the latch could use some work too.
Note the chrome around the windows. I didn't see any evidence of chrome on the sides, but with the chrome grill and this chrome, one wonders.
Looks like an old six. Everything appears to be here, but I'm not really sure I'd know. This is a GMC so this should be a bigger six. I don't know how big. It started right up, and seemed to pull the little hills on the test drive just fine. However, I don't think I had it over 40, so I can't say a whole lot. You can see the heater hoses. There was a spot just about right for a heater blower that looked plugged. You can't see it because it would have been just to the left of the picture.
Doors open looking in the back. I noticed some rust in the door sills. The right door has a cut out for a speaker. Just behind the driver seat is a small waste basket. I didn't ask why. Just under the bumper is a receiver for a trail hitch. No headliner.
Flash photography doesn't always work in the dark...
If it looks wet I can tell you I was by the time I took this shot.
Dent low just behind the drivers door. Its been there long enough to be rusty on the lower surfaces. That rear fender looks better in person than in this photo. The probably means its rougher than it looks... Its difficult to see in this photo but one of those rear windows is broken.
Same dent.
The windshield seemed to pretty good. The wipers are vacuum and worked about as good as would be expected (almost not at all).
Another good shot of the tie-downs. Note the grill and stuff around it is all chrome. It wasn't perfect, but looked pretty nice. Funny little 'scoop' over the vent in front of the door. Not sure what that's about... It appears to be pop-riveted in place, and would need to be removed.
Another speaker hole. No floorcovering. Interesting old seats. Probably original.
Dig those seats. Actually, since they aren't the same color, perhaps one or more are replacements. This is a 1955, and it did not have seat belts. It sure felt weird not being tied in, while sitting next to these loose doors, going down the road. I think I'd have to add seat belts. Soon...
So there you have it. I'd appreciate any comments. I've told the owner that I'm serious. If you see any reasons I should back away, please let me know so I can tell him to entertain other offers.
Current owner has had it a couple years, and has driven it, though not a lot. He replaced the flywheel, and told me that the main bearings had been replaced. It didn't knock, even when pulling up a grade.
I may add more comments as I remember things that seem important...