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| | | | Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 275 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 275 | At local car show I had my 48 panel parked beside 47-53 suburban and while observing the two sitting side by side I am pretty sure the roofs are diffrenent. My panel roof looked higher and more round has anybody ever noticed something like this or I'm just losing my mind.
38 original
48 panel
59 stepside
46 in the back forty
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 | yer losin it man, join the crowd!  the panel and burb are identical body stampings, only difference being the windows - maybe the other guy's kids have been playing on top of his? it's also the case that there is a fair amount of variation among identical year and model trucks from back then as they were 'hand made' not done by robots Bill | | | | | Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 5,152 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 5,152 | There are some design changes over the years, but far as I know the panel and Suburban each the same roof in each year.
The variations are driven by other changes, the most significant is the change between '53 and '54 because of the change from split to curved windshield. There were changes in the earilier years too, but I don't know what and when.
I suspect the truck you were comparing to is a different year than yours.
1955 1st GMC Suburban | 1954 GMC 250 trailer puller project | 1954 GMC 250 Hydra-Matic | 1954 Chevy 3100 . 1947 Chevy COE | and more...
It's true. I really don't do anything but browse the Internet looking for trouble... | | | | | Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 275 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 275 | well mine is a 48 and I'm pretty sure that burb was a 53 there both chevy's. I looked at both of them for a while and it looked like his roof was flatter I know the different model years very well so I know it wasn't a 54. My 48 is from the US and his is from Canada so I don't know if that makes a difference?
38 original
48 panel
59 stepside
46 in the back forty
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 5,152 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 5,152 | If I remember correctly there was at least one change before the change in '54. That would mean '53 would be different than '47, and probably than '48. Wish I remembered the details...
I have a '55 1st Suburban and a '52 Suburban, and I know they are different. I have a '53 panel and never studied it next to the '52, and won't now because I've removed the roof from the '52.
Maybe someone else who remembers when and what the changes were will jump in and add some clarity?
1955 1st GMC Suburban | 1954 GMC 250 trailer puller project | 1954 GMC 250 Hydra-Matic | 1954 Chevy 3100 . 1947 Chevy COE | and more...
It's true. I really don't do anything but browse the Internet looking for trouble... | | | | | Joined: Apr 2002 Posts: 1,571 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2002 Posts: 1,571 | I know that my '54 and '52 GMC 1-ton panels are identical except for the very front part of the roof. | | |
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