The History of the Chevrolet Suburban

The Suburban is a large SUV that has been manufactured continuously by Chevrolet since 1935, making it the longest-running nameplate in automobile history. In the 1950s and 1960s, Chevrolet wasn't the only automaker with a vehicle labeled Suburban. Back then, the name was generally given to a vehicle that had a station wagon body on a truck frame. In 1988, Chevrolet was given a trademark on the name.

The Name

For much of its existence, the vehicle was called the Suburban Carryall, but in 1980 it was rebranded as the Suburban.

The Doors

As the Suburban design advanced, more doors were added for convenience. In 1967, a second passenger-side door was added, and starting in 1973, a second driver-side door was added, making it a fully functional four-door vehicle.

Early Years

The first Suburbans were military vehicles, with truck frames and bodies mostly made out of wood.

Third Generation

The third-generation Suburban was introduced in 1971 and ran for 18 years, making it the longest production run for the vehicle. Chevy did tinker with the engine during that time, making a diesel version available in 1982 and introducing a fuel-injected model in 1986 to improve fuel efficiency.

Four-Wheel Drive

Chevrolet introduced four-wheel drive versions of the Suburban in 1957.