Vehicle Description
All proceeds of this sale benefit the United Boys and Girls Club of
Santa Barbara County. The 1956 GMC Suburban Pickup was the GMC
version of the more well-known Chevrolet Cameo pickup. Originally
intended to be called the 'Town and Country,' the name finally
selected for production was 'Suburban.' The Suburban model name was
first used, however, by Chevrolet in 1933 for the extended-length,
part wood-body station wagon built on the 1/2-ton truck frame and
thus started the longest continuous use of an automobile model name
as it's obviously still in use today. GMC was positioned a step
above Chevrolet, and ads touted it as 'Top of the Light-Duty
Class.' The new-for-1955 GMC styling was billed as 'Blue Chip
Design' and the prestige model was the very special 'Suburban'
pickup. The 1956 GMC styling was virtually unchanged from 1955 and
features sleek sides, unique tail lights and a panoramic
windshield. The truck features fiberglass fenders attached to a
steel cargo box with a hidden spare tire compartment. The Suburban
fully optioned with the Deluxe Cab got chrome bumpers and grille
and WSW tires. It is powered by a 316.6 cubic-inch V8 engine
delivering 180 horsepower with a 4-speed Hydra-matic transmission.
GMC produced the Suburban from 1955 through 1957 and total
production was close to 1,000 units. When new, it sold for $1,923.
