These pages chronicle my 1955 1st Series GMC Suburban. She is a Deluxe model and came with
an original Hydra-Matic and a lot of original accessories/options. I came across this Suburban on
the Internet. It was for sale at a used car lot in Arizona. I requested and received info and
photos but I was not prepared to buy it at the time. Six months later, I was prepared, but the
Suburban was sold! I inquired about the new owner and found out that another used car dealer
had purchased it. I got the phone number and called that dealer. A bit of wrangling and the
Suburban was on a transport truck to California. About a week later she arrived at my home. I
was in love!
an original Hydra-Matic and a lot of original accessories/options. I came across this Suburban on
the Internet. It was for sale at a used car lot in Arizona. I requested and received info and
photos but I was not prepared to buy it at the time. Six months later, I was prepared, but the
Suburban was sold! I inquired about the new owner and found out that another used car dealer
had purchased it. I got the phone number and called that dealer. A bit of wrangling and the
Suburban was on a transport truck to California. About a week later she arrived at my home. I
was in love!
| It didn't take long into the relationship for me to realize she had a few problems. Here are the major ones... |
1) The interior, or what's left of it.
2) The transmission, it had notes
in the glove box stating fluid
consumption of two quarts every
20-30 miles!!
in the glove box stating fluid
consumption of two quarts every
20-30 miles!!
3) Numerous engine problems including an oil pump
intake that was clogged and had a hole in it. A broken
lifter. Badly scored rod bearings including one that was
hammered to the point of being a quarter inch wider than
the rest. And head gasket leaks between four cylinders.
intake that was clogged and had a hole in it. A broken
lifter. Badly scored rod bearings including one that was
hammered to the point of being a quarter inch wider than
the rest. And head gasket leaks between four cylinders.
4) All four fenders had been hideously
radiused about four inches to clear big tires!
This required the purchase of three parts
cars just to get all four decent fenders.
radiused about four inches to clear big tires!
This required the purchase of three parts
cars just to get all four decent fenders.
5) And the kicker was, The Crack. The crack was a surgically
straight and clean break through the frame. That part wasn't so
bad though. What was bad was the way it was repaired by the
previous owner. The frame rails were not clamped together
level and a scab patch was welded to the frame AND the leaf
spring perch!! This would definitely require a serious repair.
straight and clean break through the frame. That part wasn't so
bad though. What was bad was the way it was repaired by the
previous owner. The frame rails were not clamped together
level and a scab patch was welded to the frame AND the leaf
spring perch!! This would definitely require a serious repair.
Customer Rides
Robert Hertz
Owner - A.D.E.
55.1 GMC Suburban
Sonora, CA, USA
Owner - A.D.E.
55.1 GMC Suburban
Sonora, CA, USA
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