68 Fury Custom Suburban " Long Roof "

[Mopar - D]

Jim thanks for the hoistory on the "Surburban" name that Plymouth used and also GM's. Added some more detail on the engine glued the K frame in and added black to the center hub caps. I also glued in the head liner next will be to add the support bars on it.

[DynoMight]

Looks great!

[Sport Suburban]

Hi Raoul, as someone who worked at Chrysler's Corporate head quarters, I can tell you from first hand knowledge, that Corporate called the Chrysler, Plymouth and Dodge versions wagons. The advertizing department was in charge of the badging on all the models, and they were the ones calling them Suburbans. In the early years, it wasn't important or a issue, but later in the mid 60's Corporate was getting concerned that there would be issues between Chrysler and GM over the badging, which is why they ordered a end to it in late 76. That's the reason why the 77 model year was the last to carry the badging. Though there was never any legal issues from GM over it, there was conversations between Chrysler and GM where GM many times, especially in the mid 70's, expressed their displeasure about it. When Lee Iacocca took over the rains of Chrysler, the advertizing department wanted to bring the badging back for the 81 release of the Reliant and Aries wagon models, and Mr. Iacocca told them no, for the same reason as before, he did not want potential legal issues to develop between Chrysler and GM, especially since he was in the middle of trying to bring Chrysler out of financial difficulties, and didn't want a issue with GM that could cost them more financial trouble. I was there in early 1980, during that period and remember, very well, the memos floating around about it. But it's like I said, at least I think I mentioned it before, If I didn't, I sure meant to, that calling them a Suburban is as correct as calling them a wagon. I wasn't trying to tell Dan that he was wrong in calling his build a Suburban, I was just asking him why he didn't call it a wagon or station wagon, which was more common for the times. I was only trying to kindly point out that someone who wasn't born back in the day of the station wagon, or had much knowledge of them, might have mistook his title, and thought they were coming into his thread to check out a Town Wagon (or the 4 wheel drive version Power Wagon, not to be confused with the pickup truck version) or Ramcharger build. Which were Chrysler's versions of the GM Suburban. That was my only motive for bringing the subject up of the name. We, the experienced modeler's have to remember, that there are young, first time, and inexperienced modelers coming into this area, and sometimes, they may not have the automotive knowledge that some of us older modelers have. A good example is, the other day, my 15 year old adopted son and his firend saw a 74 Chevy Impala station wagon, while in the car with me, and called it a really old Chevy SUV. I had to explain to him that it wasn't the same as a SUV and what the difference was.

Anyways, sorry Dan didin't mean to seem like I was hijacking your thread. Your build is coming along really nicely, and I like the color choice you made.

Jim, I just wanted to clearify that the name of the wagon was Suburban, Custom Suburban, or Sport Suburban. That was the name Plymouth gave them. The industry named the body type is station wagon as we all know them as. Much like we say it is a "hardtop" or "convertible". Those are names of body types and not specific vehicles. To me that is like naming your boy "Boy".

Also I can tell you the GM did not have any more claim to the name Suburban than Chrysler did. Did you know that Nash, Studebaker, and Desoto also used the name? GM did not get the rights to the name until 88. Interestingly all of them were on wagon body styles.

[Danno]

[slusher]

Nice progress Dan. Hate that your bumper chrome peel, I have had a couple AMT kits do that to me also..

[johnbuzzed]

Dan, this is a very nice built but I have to pipe in on this one.

Jim, The wagons were in fact named Suburban by Plymouth. The name was used from 49 to 77. I currently own two of them. Hence my avatar name and picture. Here is a picture of my 70 tailgate that has the name plate still on it.

I can tell you I spent years looking for replacement nameplates for my Sport Suburban as they were easily broken. I have a set of Custom Suburban emblems also.

In 1967, the wagons were indeed called Fury- I, II and III. Our family owned a '67 Fury II wagon for 9 years; it was my daily driver for three.

[johnbuzzed]

Jim, I just wanted to clearify that the name of the wagon was Suburban, Custom Suburban, or Sport Suburban. That was the name Plymouth gave them. The industry named the body type is station wagon as we all know them as. Much like we say it is a "hardtop" or "convertible". Those are names of body types and not specific vehicles. To me that is like naming your boy "Boy".

Also I can tell you the GM did not have any more claim to the name Suburban than Chrysler did. Did you know that Nash, Studebaker, and Desoto also used the name? GM did not get the rights to the name until 88. Interestingly all of them were on wagon body styles.

And, the state of New York registered the cars as "suburbans".

Oh yeah- I do like the way this wagon is progressing, Dan. Every time I look at it, it brings back memories

Edited November 17, 2014 by johnbuzzed

[microwheel]

And, the state of New York registered the cars as "suburbans".

Oh yeah- I do like the way this wagon is progressing, Dan. Every time I look at it, it brings back memories

There were many ways that states classed and registered vehicles. To put a dead horse to rest, all I know is what I know from when I worked for Chrysler. I worked at Corporate head quarters, and their advertizing department, design department and test production departments were housed in the same complex. I only know what I know from the time I worked there guys. But call them what you will, they were still station wagons. You can go by the model name, you can go by the badging, but they were still classified as station wagons for the sake of internal communications by Chrysler's big wigs, and that's all I know.

[1 bad55 stan]

I'm a wagon fan and yours is looking great,i like the color too!

[johnbuzzed]

There were many ways that states classed and registered vehicles. To put a dead horse to rest, all I know is what I know from when I worked for Chrysler. I worked at Corporate head quarters, and their advertizing department, design department and test production departments were housed in the same complex. I only know what I know from the time I worked there guys. But call them what you will, they were still station wagons. You can go by the model name, you can go by the badging, but they were still classified as station wagons for the sake of internal communications by Chrysler's big wigs, and that's all I know.

That's correct, and we owned/ I drove a '67 Fury II station wagon, even though NYS designated it differently and Chrysler changed the name in following years.

[Sport Suburban]

Here is my findings on the use of the Suburban name by Plymouth. It is a interesting to note that I learned a few things in this also as I went year to year looking at scanned brochures online. Plymouth did use the name with gaps. The name was used from 49-61 with no gaps during that time. From 62-67 Suburban was not used and 65-67 Fury was used on wagons. 68-73 Suburban was reintroduced and the Fury name did not appear on wagons. 74-77 both Fury and Suburban appeared on wagons.

My personal interest in the use of Sport Suburban was more interesting. It was the top model and first appeared in 57 and stayed until 61. These models did not have wood siding on them. When Suburban was reintroduced in 68, Sport Suburban appeared as the top model. This is the first year for the wood siding. All Sport Suburbans had wood siding from 68-77. There is less info on Custom Suburban as the mid level. That seems to be 68-73 and disappears when the Fury name gets mixed in from 74 and later.

I hope that helps clear up the confusion and also helped me understand why the confusion existed. My apologies go out to anyone that I may have offended with my previous posts. I will admit that my earlier research was geared more for the 69-73 wagons since that is what interchanges with my cars.

Also this build is turning into one of the best Plymouth Suburban builds I have seen!

[Swifster]

It should also be considered that Chrysler's C-Body cars died in 1977. The replacement, the R-Body, had no station wagon bodies.

I love C-Body cars and I'm enjoying this thread...

[Mopar - D]

Was able to find some time to get the clear coat sprayed on and finished interior up with BMF trim. I have also been working on the chassis getting the exhaust set up. I'm going to use some tubing turn the tail pipes out to the corners.

[Tom Geiger]

Looking good as it nears the finish line! Keep it going!

[Mopar - D]

I'm not sure what happen here but page 6 is missing. I'm getting closer. To finishing this one over the weekend I was able to cut out the windows and install them. I also replaced the tires with AMT Firestone Deluxe and finished up the exhaust system. I'm waiting on a new rear bumper to arrive.

[LongRoofNut]

Could be sitting in the TV shows "The Wonder Years" driveway.

It's coming out awesome!

[TFchronos]

All posts and pm's from Nov 24-26th to Dec 9th were lost when they moved the site to a different server.

Very nice work on the wagon, look 'in very sharp.

[Mopar - D]

Thanks for the explanation on the missing post and comments.

[Mopar - D]

Thanks for the explanation on the missing post and comments.

[blazefox]

Resin kits are always a pain youndid a really mice job on this one

[slusher]

Wagon is coming along great Dan. Awesome job on the rack...

[Mopar - D]

Work on some small details in the engine compartment and can't have a wagon with out a hitch right! I'm waiting on my rear bumper to arrive before I can finish the final assembly.

[charlie8575]

Looks really good. I have F Light Green with a tan interior planned for mine.

Nice job on the roof-rack, too.

And yes, the C wagons, at least Dodges and Plymouths, used what was basically Masonite for the head-liners. I think it was to accommodate cars ordered with the dual a/c set-up.

Charlie Larkin

[Mopar - D]

Thanks Charlie, green was my other color I thought about using. When are you planning on building your wagon? Do you know what model trim level you are going to go with?

[TFchronos]

Great work on the engine!