WoooooHoooo! How About a '66 SUBURBAN !?!?!!!

[horsepower]

Somehow the straight on side view of the '64 Blazer in Blue Green, just does not look as good as the White 4x4 Photoshop.

The proportions of the Bluegreen one look 'off' in some way that I cannot put into words.

As for 4x4 Front Axles, I'd guess that either the AMT '72 Blazer or the MPC Snap Blazer could be a starting point.

As for the Suburban itself, It looks just great so far. I'll need one.

I think it's the missing slider part in the rear quarter windows that might be the difference, but I tend to like the real version over the CGI one.

[Exotics_Builder]

The Megahobby folks posted pix of the model on their FB page and it is definitely Barn Door rear per the model photographed

[Exotics_Builder]

Courtesy of Megahobby who posted this

Edited October 19, 2016 by Exotics_Builder

[Edsel-Dan]

I to Love this kit.

I do Hope to be able to eventually get a few (even One will be great)

I am thinking it will likely have the 64-66 Pickup chassis, engine, suspension.

BUT

were they the same size as the Shortbox that kit represents??

ie wheelbase & over all length??

I know the 67-72 was longer and likely matched the Long Box pickups

I have seen one built using a Longbox Fleetside

I know the 72 Blazer is actually shorter in length & wheelbase than the 72 GMC Shortbox kit I have!!

 

 

Are those rear doors just separate pieces or actually hinged??

Edited October 19, 2016 by Edsel-Dan

[Danno]

OMG!       (Thud)   

[Ron Hamilton]

Courtesy of Megahobby who posted this

Can we say "Panel Delivery"??? If the kit has panel doors like this photo, Mine will be built as a panel delivery, more than likely. With my luck, the Panel Delivery will be the next kit out, a month after I do mine.

[Chuck Most]

A scale kit of a Suburban. That only took, what, 81 years?  

On a serious note, I've already thought of a couple of things I could do with it...

['70 Grande]

I think it would be nice if Revell included a nicely-detailed 3 to 5 piece trailer hitch as an optional add-on assembly for this new kit.

[stavanzer]

Yes, I agree with you.  The Suburban will make a better tow vehicle than the Bronco, and the Bronco does have a hitch.

[espo]

I think the possibilities for this kit would be endless no matter what build style you like. Look forward to building a couple as soon as they are out.

[Chuck Most]

It's only one piece, but the '65 stepside C10 has a hitch. I'm guessing it would fit onto this kit with no real drama. 

[GaryR]

Here's a pic of a re creation of one of Garlits push truck / tow vehicle. I know it's a GMC, but the 'burb is close and....maybe a GMC in the works?

Either way, as a 60'd drag builder i need some of these!

 

[Edsel-Dan]

Actually, Don't be surprised that the Tow hitch from the 65 is Included!

 

Remember, It looks like this is just a Modified re-issue of that kit

All 3 pickups Are the same kit

Just different Bed, and details

Interior is Identical (no updated upholstery) in the 64 & 65's I have!!!!

[chepp]

And for those who were in the greater Los Angeles area at the time (like I was) there were also the famous Helms Bakery trucks using the panel truck version of this Suburban.

[Art Anderson]

I to Love this kit.

I do Hope to be able to eventually get a few (even One will be great)

I am thinking it will likely have the 64-66 Pickup chassis, engine, suspension.

BUT

were they the same size as the Shortbox that kit represents??

ie wheelbase & over all length??

I know the 67-72 was longer and likely matched the Long Box pickups

I have seen one built using a Longbox Fleetside

I know the 72 Blazer is actually shorter in length & wheelbase than the 72 GMC Shortbox kit I have!!

 

 

Are those rear doors just separate pieces or actually hinged??

All standard Suburbans, at least up through 1966, were built on the shorter, 1/2 ton pickup chassis.  GM TRuck & Coach DID offer longer, 3/4 ton panel deliveries, however, beginning at least with the newly designed postwar 1948 truck line, and those were on the longer 3/4 ton pickup chassis.

Art

[stavanzer]

Would the 1/2 ton Suburban in this kit, be an adequate tow vehicle for a race car on a trailer?

I'm looking at building one for that purpose, but wonder if it is too small/short/light to do the job.

 

Thanks,

[1930fordpickup]

Would the 1/2 ton Suburban in this kit, be an adequate tow vehicle for a race car on a trailer?

I'm looking at building one for that purpose, but wonder if it is too small/short/light to do the job.

 

Thanks,

It would be fine for this. Many people still use 1/2 ton trucks to tow the race car. 

[unclescott58]

All standard Suburbans, at least up through 1966, were built on the shorter, 1/2 ton pickup chassis.  GM TRuck & Coach DID offer longer, 3/4 ton panel deliveries, however, beginning at least with the newly designed postwar 1948 truck line, and those were on the longer 3/4 ton pickup chassis.

Art

Art, at times Chevrolet use to offer 3/4 ton panels on the long wheelbase too. But, all Suburbans, like you were saying, were factory built on the short 1/2 ton truck chassis through 1966. This holds true for the GMC Suburbans too.

As far towing. Very few people need anything over a half-ton for towing trailers. Setup right, a 1/2 ton Suburban could at least towing 6,000 lbs. Even back then. Maybe more with right rear axle ratio. The weight of a trailer is mainly suspended by the trailer's own suspension. In the old days, they would only recommend having 600 lbs. of tongue weight with a 6,000 lb. trailer. No sweat for a half-ton with the right hitch.

[stavanzer]

Thanks, Scott. So the kit right out of the Box should make a fine Tow Vehicle. Esp since it will have a 283 in it. Now to get a trailer. Well, I've got plenty of time.

[Edsel-Dan]

As far as I understand, 1/2 Ton, 3/4 Ton & 1 ton have More to do with Suspension (Springs & Shocks) Engine & Transmission,

than with vehicle Length>

 

Am I wrong??

Long Box Pickups were Also 1/2 Ton (At least after 67)

So, This Suburban is Correct on the Shortbox chassis??

That was my question.

 

Suburban was lengthened with the 67 model year

Does it match the Long-box Fleetside??

A member on Scale Firehouse built a 70 Suburban using the Fleetside kit.

 

If this is correct, I can also make a few 67-72 Suburban's as I have SEVERAL of those pick ups for parts

and a couple extra Blazers too

[Rob Hall]

 

Long Box Pickups were Also 1/2 Ton (At least after 67)

So, This Suburban is Correct on the Shortbox chassis??

That was my question.

Yes, this is correct about the short wheelbase. '60-66 Suburbans had the 115 inch wheelbase, same as the SWB pickups of that generation.   This question was answered in the other thread, IIRC....easily found if you google it.   5th gen Suburban

Edited October 29, 2016 by Rob Hall

[unclescott58]

Edsel-Dan, many 1/2 ton trucks only came in a short wheelbase version right through to the 1950's. If you needed a longer box, you had to move to a 3/4 ton or 1 ton pickup truck. Some pickup trucks were referred to as an "express" rather than a pickup trucks by the way. The mid-50's things started to change, and manufactures stated offering long wheelbase 1/2 pickups. The trouble with trucks, mainly before the 1950's, they were designed to do work. People didn't buy a truck to look cool back then.

Also, several people are complaining that this Suburban kit is not coming out in a four-wheel drive. 4x4s really didn't start getting popular until the 1970's. Even here in Minnesnowta did you rarely see a four-wheel drive truck in the 1960's. True, Jeeps, Scouts, Broncos, and Blazers were almost always four-wheel drive. But, those vehicles were aimed at a specific market that went for that drive setup. To show you how popular four-wheel drive was in the 1960's look at International's plan for selling Scout in the early 60's. They figured most buyers in 1962 would order Scouts in two-drive and with the pickup truck cab top. They were surprised when the orders started coming in for mainly Scouts with four-wheel drive and the wagon top.

On trucks other than Jeep, four-wheel drive just wasn't a big deal in the 1960's. In fact, even Jeep offered some models in two-drive at the time. A '66 Suburban with four-wheel drive was about as rare as hens teeth back in '66. Who needed four-wheel drive with its stiffer ride, higher step in, and no automatic transmission in most cases, when you'll be driving your Suburban mainly on road? Only a fringe market group was going off road. And they liked smaller vehicles like the Jeep CJs, Scouts, and Broncos.

GM changed things in the late 1960's with the introduction of their Blazer. Jeep Wagoneer was really the first four-wheel drive vehicle aimed the modern SUV market as we see it today. But, Chevrolet also saw the market changing. Not only could you get the new Chevy Blazer in two or four-wheel drive, but with such luxury items as an automatic transmission, integrated air conditioning, and a fancy interior. And those item were available with the four-wheel drive option. This was a big move in the 4x4 market. It's one thing for Jeep to offer this. But, now even Chevrolet was going after that market! The Brazer was a hit.

One last thing, Chevrolet also started offering automatic transmissions on their other 4x4 trucks and Suburbans starting in 1969. This was a big move that helped bring four-wheel drive into common useage. Again, Jeep and even GMC (from 1957 through 1959) offered automatic transmission with four-wheel drive before this. But for Chevrolet, the number one maker of trucks at the time, to offer this feature in their trucks was a very big deal. And even if you or I think driving a manual transmission 4x4 is no big deal. Most of the market disagrees with us.

 

Edited October 29, 2016 by unclescott58

[om617]

I hope someone makes the GMC grill/headlights for this one.

[Chuck Most]

I hope someone makes the GMC grill/headlights for this one.

I believe someone was, until GMC's copyright lawyers put the brakes on it.

[Danno]

I believe someone was, until GMC's copyright lawyers put the brakes on it.

That was Shawn Carpenter.  He produced conversion kits for several years of kits - '55/56, '57, '60, and '62-'66.  They were great.  Then came the lawyers . . .