The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs "Rare" 3-door Sub

Why is it that EVERY '67-'72 Suburban (not panel) advertised is a "rare three-door" model...Attention, world: ALL of the '67-'72 Suburbans had THREE DOORS! I'm not counting the cargo doors, of course! What WOULD be truly rare would be a FOUR-door Sub of that vintage!

I realize that most, if not all, Stovebolters are aware of this fact, but for those that are not, the above statement is fact. NO four-door '67-'72 Suburbans were built. Three-doors are the NORM and are NOT "rare".

Rant off.

Most people don't know that and I've had a few friendly arguments about it, so it seems "rare".

They're all amazed when I turn out to be right.

What's cool is that GM made a provision for the fourth door, but never was able to actually BUILD one. The reason (I've heard, anyway) was that in the '50s and '60s, as we all are aware, the only four-door utility truck was the International Travelall. The folks at IH actually trademarked/copyrighted the design (notice no one else had one, right?), and when the '67 GM trucks were in the design stage, talks were going on to where IH would license the four-door design to GM for "$X" per truck built. No agreement was reached, but in the interim, the GM four-door design went forth. So, the provision for the fourth door was there, but never put into production.

In 1972, when the all-new '73 trucks were being designed, IH and GM came to an agreement and the '73 trucks were produced in four-door models, and the three-door became GM history. Kaiser-Jeep's (then AMC) Wagoneer was considered a station wagon and was not affected by this.

Whether this is all true or not, I can't say with certainty. But, when you think about it, neither Ford nor Chrysler ever produced a four-door Bronco or Ramcharger (both existed then), and only GM, IH, and Jeep built a four-door utility-style passenger wagon/truck in that time frame.

Ahhh, but such is not the case these days...

Where was the 3rd door?

passenger(curb) side

My father had a 68 suburban. It was a rough and tough truck. It was only two wheel drive but it was a good hunting truck. We would sleep in the back and put the cooler when the four door would have been. At least it didn't get much below freezing in north Florida those nights. Just a few rust holes though it. He even painted himself, olive green. Some dirt and bugs to add texture. I hope I learn to paint better than he did.

Iwould think the station wagon title was the get around I.H problem all my 73 up burbs are titled st. wagon even my 3/4 ton 4 w.d. duelly is a station wagon on the title

hey joe
if I am not mistaken( which would not be unusal) those bronco's were not "made" by f@rd but by a coach works for f@rd. I remember an article in 4wd mag about one some years ago. my brother was ape $*** crazy over it. I always wondered why a burb wouldn't do!

edited to add that i didn't see the link first time. it is a pretty neat shoulda been
tom

The Fords were custom conversions and not a factory assembly-line item.

States have different criteria for what constitutes a truck versus a wagon/SUV for licensing, titling, and tax purposes. For example, a pickup can be licensed as a "farm truck" in Oklahoma, but the same vehicle as an SUV (Silverado PU vs. Suburban, i.e.) can NOT and is tagged as a car.