The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs 52 burb military

Hi folks. just got it, all original all there, need to find out if military came with 2 rows ( first and second) seats or all three. Also were mirrors chrome or paint. thanks for any help
Dave

Congrats on your find and welcome to the Stovebolt, Dave. Good luck on your project and post up a picture when you can. Maybe someone will be along soon and answer your questions.

Welcome! Post up some pics of what you have. Unfortunately the miltary had a few different configurations of seating and seeing pics would help confirm what it had.

I'd love to see your pics, but you posted my Photobucket album instead. Make sure you copy the url exactly when pasting.

Regards, Mark.

Just Added 12 more photos.. this should help with identifying . Thanks Everyone photobucket

doubt anyone can point you at documentation, but I'd be very surprised if work vehicles provided to the military had any options like chrome trim, standard mirror arms were painted, and no telling whether your mirrors have been replaced in the last 60 years .... as far as the seats, maybe the unit that had that truck decided they needed more cargo space and the 3rd row seat is still decorating the coffee room of some motor pool somewhere

Bill

You might also have a burb-looking GM-converted panel truck. Does the floor platform under the front seats go completely across under the front seat/seats from door to door?

Great looking burb! As the owner of a retired military burb, I would be very interested in any information you may find on military service. Please post updates on that. It is my understanding and I am no expert on this, but Suburbans were not the glamorous vehicles they have evolved into today. They had no chrome and were not available in any sort of "deluxe" package. They were very utilitarian. Also, I believe you may have a '51 model based on your vent window/ door handle combo. Again, 60 plus years added to military service can mean quite a few changes along the way. It's a great start, though. Post lots of pics!

Thanks to all, I will keep posting pics as we progress, and I will check the seat platform and report back. The Curator of the PA Army National Guard Museum is helping research the history of this vehicle.
That is truly a blessing.

The interior is complete and intact and the third row seat is installed where the second row would normally be. the linoleum floor is original as are all the

1951 doors for sure,that's going to be a great project for you.
Keep the pictures coming.


Tim

The seats and the linoleum rear floor cover with ribs indicate a Suburban.

If you have the holes in the floor for all rows of seats, it most likely came with all rows of seats.

Which mirrors do you want to know if they were chrome/stainless/painted?

In 52, little brightwork (chrome/stainless) was available.

Nice burb. I believe this is the first claim shell military suburban i have seen. I like it.

These military ones have struck my curiousity. They definitely had a mixture of parts from suburbans/panels. Can't remember if it was this site or another, i had seen a military/rescue burb that had a panel truck riser where the front seats are.

Wondering about the outside mirrors. The bumpers appear to be original and are chrome, while the grill and the dash are both paint in keeping with the 52 and 53 Korean War shortages.
Ill post some more pictures when I can figure out how to do it like the rest of the stovebolters

Outdoor mirror arms and mirrors were black.

Bumpers were Anvil Gray in 1952 (unless it has 1951 bumpers).

Hmm. My '51 has painted grill and chrome mirror arms. Mirror heads replaced long ago.

Dave,
Look in the lower left corner of this page.
Harold

thanks gents. noting the other comment about the doors looking like a 51, and that it has what seems to be original chrome bumpers, it is leading me to believe at the least, it is an early 52. The grill is Paint and so is the trim on the dash. The title and ser. number (VIN) and an army stamping all list it as a 52. Also found in a military vehicle book a white 51 burb used by Military Police in CA. Will keep chipping away at the History.

I don't think any military vehicle ever came with chrome anything.

I posted more pics to help with the ID s. this Lenovo Thinkpad doesn't do Links..Please see my photobucket link in prior post
Dave

The Vehicle Serial Number indicates a 3100 from June 1952.

It has an interesting carburetor and a big oil filter.

As posted earlier, it has 1951 door/handle.

Congrats on your new purchase! I have a "51 USAF Burb which is actually titled as a "50. Mine has a dash plate with all the details about the truck including serial number. It also has an assigned number painted under the hood as well as on the firewall. I have been unable to locate any records relating to the vehicle from the military. I can tell you that I got it from the 2nd civilian owner who owned it for 26 years until I bought it from him 5 years ago. It hasn't been altered a lot from what we gather. It did come with 3 rows of seats, a chrome grill, stainless window mouldings on both doors which were painted over in the AF blue, chrome hubcaps, and round stoplights inserted in the lower clamshell. It also has the accessory '39 taillights. I'm not sure about mirrors as they look like replacements. I'm also not sure about the windshield gasket as it has the deluxe moulding as well.
Could it be possible that if your burb was built later in the Korean War that a 3rd seat was not included? Trucks had painted grilles and hubcaps to save resources.

Thanks everyone, you all have contributed so much to help me understand my Burb. Now based on all your information and some additional discoveries , I wonder if the hubcaps would have been painted Army Green like the grill, and if the stamped "Chevrolet"
in the hubcaps would be black painted or match the green.
I am likely to keep the dash as is with some freshening up, mainly to keep the painted speed limit posting and tire pressures, it's in pretty good condition. The rest will be restored like factory.
She will be running next week and then off to winter at the body shop. Interior will wrap up by June

Inspected the underside tonight with my mechanic and body guy. Long list of repairs to put running gear in top condition, brakes ,sway bar end links and bushings, steering center link, oil pan, gas tank and straps , pitman arm seal, tranny inspection cover, shocks, and muffler.
Good news the wood is in as close to perfect shape as can be, frame is perfect, spare tire sling perfect, body mounts all good! Body guy is mulling over whether frame off or in place. we will make the decisions over the weekend. Let the games begin!!!

Great news update!!! The Army National Guard Museum Curator found out where and when the vehicle spent its first 21 years, and better yet, have a Guardsman who spent many a trip in the Burb.
The person confirmed chrome bumpers, chrome hubcaps. It made it stand out with the other Military vehicles. The Government disposed of it in 1973. Looking for photographs of the burb and some of the Men who wrenched or rode in her!

Congrats on an awesome find. That thing is so cool just the way it is.

On my search for a truck, I had a detour in which I strongly considered a 55 sedan that had been civil air patrol, then Army, and the worn-through paint allowed you to see both ensignia on the driver door. OD green painted over blue and worn through in just enough places to make it interesting. Beautiful in an ugly way.