In God We Trust

est.1997
Updated May 06, 2017
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GM Special Edition and Concept
Chevrolet Suburbans
2015
Chevrolet Suburban
Half-Pipe
Concept
2010 Chevrolet Suburban
75th
Anniversary Diamond
Edition
2007
Chevrolet Suburban
Major
League
Baseball Edition
|
Chevrolet
Suburban History - Generation 5
- 1960-
1966
1960 Chevrolet
Suburban Carryall School Bus Posi-traction rear axle introduced.
1960 Chevrolet
Suburban
In 1960
Chevrolet institutes the C/K designations to denote
models with 2WD (C) and 4WD (K).
Front-end styling is also new. New technology:
Independent front suspension (torsion bars) is
introduced.

1961 Chevrolet Suburban Carryall


1962 Chevrolet
Suburban Carryall

1963 Chevrolet
Suburban Carryall
Stronger,
ladder-type frame design debuts for 1963

1964 Chevrolet
Suburban Carryall

1965 Chevrolet
Suburban
Factory-installed
air conditioning and rear-area heater offered for the
first time in 1965
1966 Chevrolet
Suburban

1966 Chevrolet
Suburban. By the mid-Sixties, America's
suburban culture was firmly in place and the
national population was approaching 200 million.
Cultural changes were happening in all areas, from a
growing counter-culture among young Baby Boomers to
technologies such as artificial turf for sports
fields. AstroTurf was installed for the first time
in 1966, at the Houston Astrodome, ushering in an
era of sports domes built not in urban centers, but
the suburbs. It was also the year "Star Trek"
debuted on television.
Already in production for more
than 30 years, the 1966 Chevrolet Suburban was in
its final year of a design generation that brought
greater passenger comfort, amenities and safety
features – although a deluxe heater was still a $53
option. The Suburban was offered in a half-ton
chassis, with 2WD or 4WD, but it was still used
primarily as a crew hauler and fewer than 1,000 of
the approximately 13,000 examples sold that year
were ordered with 4WD.
Power for the '66 Suburban came
in either inline-6 or V-8 forms, with the standard
230-cubic-inch six-cylinder a more modern descendent
of the "Stove Bolt" six that was offered in the
Suburban when it was introduced. It was renowned for
its durability and over the years had cultivated a
loyal following among truck customers. Also
available were two versions of classic small-block
V-8: a 283-cubic-inch engine rated at 175 horsepower
and a 327-inch engine rated at 220 horsepower.
An increasing call for greater
safety in passenger vehicles saw the inclusion of
safety belts, back-up lights and dual-speed
windshield wipers as standard equipment in the
Suburban for the first time. New safety equipment
would be included on the next-generation
model.
After more than 30 years on the
market, the 1966 Suburban remained a utilitarian
transporter with room for many passengers, their
cargo and excellent towing capability. It was a
combination that more and more "civilian" customers
were finding enticing to support leisure activities
such as boating, camping and auto racing.
1966 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN
FACTS
Body
style.............................................................................Two-door
with
tailgate or "barn doors"
Wheelbase............................................................................115
inches
Engine...................................................................................283-cubic-inch
(4.6L)
V-8
Horsepower..........................................................................175
at
4,400 rpm
Torque..................................................................................275
lb.-ft.
at 2,400 rpm
Transmission..........................................................................Three-speed
manual
Curb weight
(approx.)............................................................3,710
pounds
(2WD)
THE BOTTOM LINE: 1966
INCOME AND PRICES (with 2010 inflation
conversions)
Chevrolet Suburban (base
MSRP)..........................................$2,598
($17,642)
Median household
income.......................................................$7,400
($50,252)
Median house
price.................................................................$21,400($145,324)
Cost of a gallon of regular
gasoline...........................................$0.23
($1.56)
Cost of a loaf of
bread.............................................................$0.25
($1.70)
Cost of a movie
ticket..............................................................$1.20($8.15)
Average Major League Baseball
salary....................................$17,664
($119,953)
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