The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs whats a good price to pay for a 1947-53 Chevy Suburban

I just wanted to know what a suburban is worth I'm currently looking at one with front seat and jump seat with clam shell rear doors has some rust in the usual places but it runs and drives ? He's asking $3800 obo is this too much ?

I payed $1250 in '94 (and $160 to flat bed it home),not running,no real rust. Saw completed number 1s on line sell for $20K plus and two at Barrett-Jackson went for $45 & 52K. These are AD trucks with most of the bells and whistles.

Hey Manuel, although a little high, I'd pay it if the body is complete, the inner side window frames are all there and it has a title

Manuel, I found my 49 Sub in Montana where salt is very sparingly used on the roads. It was all there, running and had rust in the lower back corners. I drove it for 1600 miles before starting a frame off. I paid $3800 and think its the best investment I ever made considering what these things are worth when completed. I would encourage you to go for it. It seems that they are more desireable than a pickup from a money standpoint but Im sure a lot of the Big Bolt, Panel and Pickup guys will disagree with me. Good Luck whatever you decide. Let us know what happens and walcome to the BOLT! Weeds

I hate to say it sounds a little hi, value is a tricky thing! If you want a Suburban you can't beat buying a driver. As they were saying on the B-J auction, if you don't buy this one when will you have another chance, EVER? Make the guy a reasonable offer, he makes a sale and is happy and you feel like you got a couple hundred bucks off. O B O right!

Good Luck
Buddy

manuel, the seats in the burb could go for as high as 1500 dollars and maybe higher. no telling what the clam shell doors are worth. i know where a burb is and it's sitting in 12 inches of dirt around it,no drive train or interior, hardly any glass and the s$# wants 1200 for it. GO FOR IT!!! good qnes are hard to find.

tony'n weatherford

Just a little clarification...$1500 for all three rows of seat. Not just the front seat as Manuel stated above .

sorry about the missed wording. go ahead and buy it anyway. will try todo better.

tony'n weatherford

Manuel, is $3800.00 too much for you? I paid $2100.00 and $400.00 for shipping. I will have about $800.00 in patch panels and then I started restoring it!

How much rust in the "usual places" First of all define the usual places:

Floorboards - common

cowl - inner and outer - common

inside front fender well to inner body - common

between the door and the rear fenders - both sides - common

Rear wheel wells (look above the tire inside the wheel well where the fender attached to the body)- common

rear fenders - where it attached to the body - common

both rear cab corners - common

inside and above the fender well on the body panel

lower portion of the front doors

lower rear doors/clamshell

rear interior window frames - common

Does it have the complete interior rear window frames? Does it have good windows? How does it run? How are the brakes, the transmission/clutch and the tires? How well does it drive? Does the steering and front end feel tight? What shape is the body in? Rear fenders are difficult to find in good shape, check them out from the inside out. Does the rear lift gate close properly? They tend to stick and rip loose from the header. Have you looked at the wiring, is it six volts or has it been converted to 12 volts? Is the Suburban complete? Is it currently registered to the owner? Can you do your own bodywork and engine repair?

Recently, the Metalman has been custom making panels that work for the suburban otherwise sheet metal patch panels are non-existent for these.

I have seen the rise in cost of the Suburbans in the last few months. I know of a rusted suburban for $3800.00 and most of the Suburbans for sale are outside of California, so that means buying sight unseen and paying for transporting. I guess what I am saying is, it's a judgment call. You like it, it likes you ......buy it.

Here's a rough estimate on what to expect when trying to purchase used parts outside of ebay at dealers.

rear fender - $150 - 300 for a repairable fender

front fender - $100 - 300. for a good fender

Running board - $75 - 100

floor patch panels - $50-90. each side

cowl kick patch panel - $35 - 50 each side

Toe board patch panel - $90 - 160

rear fender well patch - $60 -120 each side

door to rear fender patch - $60. each side

rear cab corners - $125 each side

middle and rear seats -$600 -1500

Clamshell tailgate (if you can find one) $250. - 400

Lift gate w/window (if you can find one) $250 - 400

complete rear tail light (mounts on tailgate and swings down when the tailgate is open) - $150 -250

Interior rear window frames $75 - 150

headliner bows - $75 -150

This one sold recently and is good shape. Suburban

Suburban for sale - San Jose $4500. and it doesn't run.

I hope this info will help you in making a decision. Inspecting it thoroughly may help in the bartering. I am sure there will be more input from others who have gone this route. This is a hobby and for many of us a lot of enjoyment. Since you can drive this one, that's even better! .........g

http://community.webshots.com/photo/178869659/178870162iNqfNr

I paid 4K for mine. It is a GMC and worth a tad more than a Chevy (Not trying to be snobby here)

Mine has Northeast cancer on the inside as well as outer rot. That's my 'burb you see in Metalman's auctions. It's a driver but I have it at Ray's for a do-over. IMHO, I think that 3800 is well worth it. If you can get a couple 100 off... then so be it. But bring the 3800 and be happy with it. Clamshells are unique. They look better. They're a PIA to use, but so what. What are you gonna do.......put a pallett of shingles in there after you pulled the seats? NOT. Lots of patch panels available for the front end, and now thanks to Ray, lots of stuff for the burb part. What are you waitin' for?

Without picts it's hard to say.
Sounds reasonable though.
I payed $3,000 for mine from Arizona and it was a good deal. Running is a definite plus.
http://hesproductions.com/59sub

Hey Tony, nothing to be sorry about. Your missing words allowed me to chime in, otherwise I'd normally just read, click and be gone :p .

BTW here's a '57 that's complete with engine, transmission (not running), 3 rows of seat for $4500. Now I think that's a deal.

[img]http://pic14.picturetrail.com/VOL563/2749607/5939299/76235474.jpg[/img]

$3,800 is more than I paid for both of mine but even combining the best of both I expect to have $1,000 or more in patch panels before I have one solid body.

Running is nice, I drive one of mine regularly. However, since all the running gear and underneath stuff is the same as the pickups (except the sway bar) I wouldn't pay a premium for that stuff. Spending even thousands more for a clean and complete body will be money ahead when you are done.

My two cents.

A little add'lt perspective....a very nice '51 Burb with clam shell rear just went on ebay for more than $5500.

So, Manuel,

Is it in your driveway yet????? :confused:

Buddy

Correction on that ebay '51 Burb...it went for $7001.

Hey Seon,
Is that '57 for sale yours? Or is it near you? Do you have any other pics of it? email me about it would ya'!

hmmmmmmmmmmmmm I added it up as this:

Cost of a new PT Cruiser (which looks like a old Burb in the dark).............. $19,000

Cost of an old Burb project.... $3,800

Not having to drive a car like everyone else........... Priceless!

If its real dark and you're far enough away I suppose you could confuse a PT Cruiser and an old Suburban.

But have you driven a PT Cruiser? No comparison! I prefer my old Sub any day!

Today I delivered more sound/AV equipment in my 59 than a PT cruiser could take in 4 trips. And when I pulled up at the Lowes Vanderbilt Hotel to unload, the Valets where all VERY helpful. It's almost like having a small Baby. You get lots of good attention and help. When I asked where to park the Suburban while I set up, I was told "right there" (in the front of the hotel). Everyone else has to go into the parking garage.

What are you waiting for.
Buy it

now

before it's too late....................

I have heard my father say this numerous times

"A car is worth what the seller is willing to let it go for and the what the buyer is willing to give him"