The next owner of this 1966 Chevrolet Suburban Armbruster-Stageway Limousine will openly laugh at you and your wimpy seven-passenger SUV. And, just when you thought that you had enough room for family and friends. You don’t, unless you buy this one for $20,000, posted here on craigslist in Bozeman, Montana. Here is the original listing, and thanks to T.J. for sending in this tip!
So, about that asking price. I have a feeling that the seller will be holding onto this stretch for quite a while if they’re firm on that $20k price. We have seen these multi-door people haulers before and they’re always interesting to see, and to think about this era and that companies actually used these Suburbans as limousines. Or, more like airport people haulers than fancy on-the-town limousines.
If you haven’t been to the Bozeman, Montana area before, go. Now. Well, maybe in the spring, but plan a trip there as soon as you can, it’s a beautiful area. They must have gotten snow already unless these are old photos. Armbruster-Stageway is still in business today, although they’re more known for their funeral cars than for multi-door airport transportation vehicles. Or in some cases, National Park tour “busses”.
The Armbruster-Stageway Suburbans typically had at least five doors, one driver’s door and four on the passenger side. Sometimes there was an additional door or two on the driver’s side. For $20,000, this rig sure needs a lot of work and then once it’s done, I wouldn’t have a clue what anyone would use it for. The interior is pretty bare, so double that asking price at the very least for interior work, and that doesn’t cover acres of bodywork and paint and mechanical work.
Speaking of mechanical work, here’s the engine. The seller lists it as an eight-cylinder but nobody knows what displacement it is and they do say that it runs with a bit of help from some starting fluid. Would any of you have a use for this stretched Suburban? If so, how would you restore it and use it?
Beware of the Dutton bunch. They could use it for a ranch vehicle but it isn’t a Dodge.
It’s a far cry from a White 706 but these still made their mark as national park tour vehicles. I really cannot think of a practical thing you could do with this except load up a bunch of friends and drive Straight down the 2-lane blacktop.
I remember back in the day, some of those traditional Catholic families showing up for Sunday morning Mass in station wagons that never seemed to empty out. Some of those adapted to Ford Club Wagons that still gave a tremendous sigh of relief when the last ones exited.
My folks had a group of 10 friends they all called “The Lost Weekend Gang.” All of them had large families and when we had reunions we were numerous enough to start our own Wal Mart. It was a good thing we had large enough yards to accomodate all the rugrats. The vehicles of choice were station wagons but then Dad got a Travelall, then the Burbs, and the full-sized vans/club wagons became more popular. I’m a little surprised that one of these stretch Burbs didn’t show up. Of course I would’ve always voted for the White 706. But I have no doubt that the idea came up more than once…
I want to buy this thing and give it to Bitchin’ Rides with a suitcase full of money and see what they do with it.
Detective Mike thinks the CL pics might be old. Googled the address where this truck can be visited and comparing pics with the street view shows a fence along the road where the truck was sitting. The CL pics show no fence. The street view date with the fence was 2019.
https://www.google.com/maps/@45.7094534,-111.1853049,3a,54.4y,314.6h,94.69t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sgoAZvvfQbO4H9fvYOxWMHw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en
I think this particular unit was used by the hotels and the ski resorts to transport hotel ski guests back and forth to the Bridger bowl area
Good thing its got P/S or it would be an “Armbruster”,,get it? Oh, forget it. I think this would be a rough way to the ski lodge, and a slow, cold ride, at that, but in 1966, 4x4s hadn’t hit the scene, and this was how you got there. Probably haul 10 people, with gear, so a lot of weight, I’m surprised something this long doesn’t beak in half. I bet many did. You couldn’t possibly use this in any capacity today, merely a promotional item that I doubt anyone would want. Maybe the front clip for a pickup, about it.
Skiing, in 1966, was not yet mainstream. And choices were limited…there were not the massive bus-like vans that we saw from about 1968 to 2005 or so. An airport run could have used an old school bus, or transit bus, or something like this.
Since simply skiing, put a person in an elite group…a rough transport mode wouldn’t have been socially awkward. Any more than the rough finish of the lodge interior at the ski area.
But, the lack of 4wd is a puzzler. There of course were K-series Chevrolet trucks of that era. Perhaps Armbruster found problems, or low-low interest, in starting with a K-20 Suburban.
Tire chains would work, but tire chains on a thirty-mile shuttle from the airport, would be tiresome.
Well, I tend to disagree, in 1966 skiing was indeed all the rage, and many times, vintage photographs show parking lots full of just regular 50s cars, snow tires, at best. What this was used for, I read, was for a tour bus group, that didn’t need a school bus. Many times, these hung out at train or bus stations, taking folks from the station to some lodge or attraction. It was flying that hadn’t become mainstream yet.
Even has three pedals, if that matters here.
Just curious… did they salt the roads there back then? Should that be a consideration?
Very little salt used in Montana. Back in the day you just drove slower in the winter. I remember trips to Great Falls back when I was a kid. Glare ice roads, bias ply tires and Dad’s ’56 Ford Fairlane. We slipped and slid our way there and back…
I want this. I don’t know why but I do. A few years back a bunch of us from Vermont Streetrodders would rent a 15 passenger van to go to swap meets. This would have been perfect. Sadly, we’ve all gotten older and swap meets fir some just isn’t doable.
Do it Brian! You could even rent it out to the “RC Gang” for their own special events . .
No A/C must be a pleasure mid August with 20 people In it, with 3 on the tree, it’s junk
I have a 1960 Biscayne that was from Yellowstone. 348 3speed. It has 4 doors on the right, and 2 on the left. We took it to Canada to see the Rolling stones in 1989.
When I was a kid, growing up in Knoxville Tn, somebody down the street, where we lived, had a ’57 Chevrolet stretched out car. Rarely, if ever, saw it moving. Always dust covered. Last time I went by, it was gone.
Just had a thought. Freshen up the mechanicals, new paint, take out the back seats, upgrade them with a wraparound seat and leave the back area for baggage or whatever. Could be turned into a decent vehicle.
This was a railroad transport vehicle originally, for the ghandi dancers.. The paint job came from the 5 Spot Bar in Absarokee Mt. Had a lot of fun in that thing on road trips to ball games and other more nefarious activities…