The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs 51 Burb - What to look for?

Hello,
I am owner of a 59 Apache SS/SB in great shape. I will be going to look at a 51 Suburban this week. Condition unknown as yet. The owner parked it (outside in NY) 17 years ago and has little recollection as to condition. It is at a site away from his current residence. I do know it will be cheap as he just wants it removed from the property.

What should I be looking for in particular? How far gone can these be and still be brought back? I do know the the drive train is not original. That is probably OK by me since my 59 is original and I would prefer to have a more modern running gear under this rig. Any thoughs by those of you that know more about these than me?

All thoughts and comments appreciated. Thanks, Ken

The front doors and the sheetmetal forward of the doors is all the same as a pickup and most of it is readily available.

Check the rear corners and the area above the rear wheel wells. Check the rear door frame and the lower surfaces of the opening. These are all places that rust badly and are hard to deal with. The lower body surface forward of the rear fenders are very similar to the lower panel on the doors, and can be replaced using a door repair panel.

There is a guy who sometimes offers panels on eBay that has made many other panels for the Suburbans and Panels but he has discontinued some of them and didn't sound like he was planning to make many of the others in the future.

Also check the roof just above the drip rail, especially behind where the headliner bows meet the sides.

Those are the areas that are problems on mine...

just keep yar 59 apache and forget the burb,these gmc burbs do not sell very well,so you may be sorry after you put yar money in a old burb and then find out it is just an ol pc of tin...bob

Hey Friend! Where did you get the idea that gmc burbs are just an old piece of tin? As for me I don't care how good they sell, I bought mine to keep! Sincerely, Smitty

Kb2tha, what Old Sub said plus the lower windshield corners, You'll have to lift up the rubber seal to see it also the hood vent hole in front of the windshield on mine was rusted badly. With all due respect gigispt/ bob, GMC and Chevrolet AD subs are worth a lot more than a pickup of the same year. Just try to buy a driver in any condition and it will become quickly obvious what they are worth. My .02. I'm sure BuddyinAK, Old Sub, MT, TCLederman and other sub owners will agree with me.

KB, give this a good look and if its all there and at all savaeable my advice would be go for it.

Weeds

My thoughts exactly, although I did ask for all thoughts. I plan on keeping the 59 as well. Keep posting and I will let you know what I find when I look at it later this week. Ken

Love to see pics

Weeds

Well Bob they used to sell real well in my neighborhood. But now that I've cornered the market you can't find a '47 - '55 1st GMC Suburban for sale around here.

I own both of them... And they are not for sale.

A nice 47-54 GMC or Chev Suburban or panel is the only thing I covet more that what I've got. God help me if I spot one around here for sale.

you guys can say all you want to about the value of these burbs,but i have one that is in good shape tagged and road ready except for the side windows and can not even get any one interested,so say what you want,but just wait until you want to get just what you have in yours,you will be very sad,read my ad in swap meet,i have a very nice one and no interested person,its in the swap meet under 1948 burb,good luck to all you dreamers..bob

hey old sub...step up to the plate and buy this one,then you will have all 3 of them in yar neck of the woods..

gigispt,

Sorry to hear about your problems in finding a buyer for your Suburban. My restored Sub is not for sale and will never be for sale (in my lifetime) but I could easily sell it for what I have in it; and, based on recent sale prices for restored trucks, it would sell for substantially more than a similarly restored pickup (this has only become true over the past 5 years - it used to be that pickups brought a higher price). We will have to disagree on this matter.

Here are some suggestions to help you find a buyer:

1. Pictures, pictures, pictures: clear pictures of all the spots that OldSub and others have mentioned. If you have pictures, edit your ad and let people know how to get to look at the pictures. I see from some of your postings that you have have pictures.

2. Do you have ALL the rear side window hardware? If so, add that information and have pictures ready. This would include the four stainless vertical channels, four garnish moldings, and four stops and stainless "handles" for the four sliding windows. (One of your earlier posting indicates that you have 6 side windows in the rear - as you most likely know, there are 8 side windows in the rear.)

3. Do you have all four of the headliner bows? If so, add this information.

4. The missing back seat is a bit of a problem - the rear seat frame alone might cost someone over $1,000 to replace, if it was available and came with the springs/cushions.

5. Oh yes, what are you asking for your Suburban? I think I found one of your postings that stated $7,500.

One last observation: your 10 line ad in the swap meet seems to be one long sentence with no upper-case letters, except "ALOT OF WORK HAS BEEN DONE ALREADY". I know this should not matter but you might want to break the ad down into a few sentences.

Have you tried to sell your Suburban on eBay? This would bring your Sub to the attention of the largest number of buyers. But, you must be able to post pictures to get responses on eBay.

Good luck with your sale - keep trying. It sounds like you have a pretty nice Suburban.

Tim

gigispt,

I only disagree with Tim on one item in his critique of your ad. Your single long sentence does matter.

Make it easier to read. Lots of middle-aged guys with multi-focal lenses (like me) are only going to get a couple lines into that ad before deciding they aren't interested enough to read all the way through. I've never read past a few lines.

Capitalization and correct punctuation will make it easier to read and understand. You may not feel those things matter, and perhaps they don't to many readers, but others will give up and not follow up on your offer.

I still don't know what you want for it, if you have pictures, or even if it's a Chevy or GMC.

Help your prospective buyer decide they are interested. Don't put obstacles in the way of a sale, unless you, like Tim and I, want to keep your Suburban for ever!

to tim and old sub...i just read the ad i have in here and i think it is compete,it tells about the burb,also details all thw work that has been done and what is needed to be done,this sub can be driven down the hiway like is,its tagged thru this year,and has all the window parts,is still can not figure out how to add a picture so the heck with it,maybe i will just cover it up in the back of the barn under the shed and just sit on it..thanks guys..

Had the chance to check out the suburban this week. As I thought,it was too far gone; for me at least. Gas tank had been removed, no middle or rear seats, bondo filler on all 4 fender welt areas, top of rear door frame was gone. Missing trim, etc. Even with all of this, there may be some salvageable parts for anyone interested. Rear doors looked pretty good all around. Glass in left rear door is broken. Front seat frames, some knobs, etc. Roof panel looked ok and could probably be salvaged. If you have an interest, email me at [email protected] and I will forward the contact information of the owner. This is located in Delaware County of NYS. Ken

well it looks like the old sub is sold,i have 2 people that want to send me a deposit on her,one is from texas and the other is from washington..and @ $5675.00 firm they are getting a really good burb,i also have a person up by L.A thats interested in her,first come gets the burb..bobthanks for your help..bob

Bob if the Washington buyer is wondering how to get it home have them contact me. I need to drive to Redding about Labor Day, and I might be persuaded to drag my trailer there and back.

thank god i finaly found some one to buy this old pc of tin,man i almost had to give it away,these things are not a wanted sub like i was told when i bought it...thank you woody..good luck to you..