This handsome beast, for sale on eBay, is a 1989 Chevrolet Suburban in good original condition. The bidding is up to $9499, and the vehicle can be driven away from Spokane, Washington. The Suburban’s roots go back to 1935 when Chevrolet introduced it as the first all-metal station wagon. All told, twelve generations of development grew both the size and comfort of the Suburban, making it the longest-running nameplate in the automotive industry. This example is a 4X4 three-quarter ton version, with manual locking hubs and Sierra Classic trim. The body is in decent condition, with some paint fade and a few door dings evident. The hood sits high at the driver’s side front corner. The seller represents the vehicle as “100% rust-free”. The front end looks like an ’88 or earlier; in 1989, Chevy introduced side-by-side dual headlights. The AutoCheck report reveals a right-side front collision in 2005; perhaps the grille was changed out then.
The motor is a 350 cu. in. V8 with throttle-body injection, producing about 190 hp. As noted, this Suburban has a rare four-speed manual; most were ordered with automatic transmissions. The clutch and slave cylinder were recently replaced to improve shifting. This example has the optional 40-gallon gas tank – you’ll need that, given the 13 mpg rating! The seller believes the odometer reading of 81,000 miles is original but the AutoCheck report does not confirm that.
The interior won’t thrill, but it’s workable. The dash has cracks, the seats are original without rips or tears, and the carpets are good. This truck was ordered with the third row of seats deleted, leaving more room to haul cargo. The seller notes that the trim at the bottom of the door panels is missing, but he includes those pieces with the sale. Air conditioning is installed for the front of the cabin only, and the seller indicates he does not know if it works. These were the days of elaborate “faux wood” dash and trim; this is a curly maple look. This truck has power door locks but you’ll be winding the windows by hand.
The original sticker comes with the truck, along with a few other documents. All in all, this is a solid, honest, slightly imperfect but usable workhorse. Hagerty pegs the value of a “good” example at $9000, approximating the current bid. How high do you think this one should go before it sells?
I had this combo in a half ton and it was the most capable truck I’ve ever had. First gear is a creeper, and in low range you could literally get out and walk beside the truck. I intended to do a body swap to lose the severely rusted original, but once the body came off the frame was just as bad.
Granny gear we called it.Bought a rusty 80 blazer that was the plow truck for z Frank chevy for the business condo complex where our shop was at back in the early 90’s. Had super low miles and 1st gear was a stump puller.I thinkbut din’t hold me to it thats the new process m203 iron transfer case.Great truck but the midwest winters ate it up.I bet this one goes up to 15k.Just a fun guess.
Zollie Frank, a Chicago legend!!!
Interesting and a keeper. Nice driveline. Yeah that square body on 89. Hum? Maybe someone can clarify. I know the square body was used on the 88 GMC cab/chassis model till they were gone.
Pickups changed in 88, but the k5 blazer and the c/k suburban stayed until 91
Had a 90 with 350 auto. Never had to open engine or transmission and odometer quit at 250,000 miles. Finally rusted out on me in Minnesota after nearly 15 years. Still running when it went to the yard from all the rust
Full size Blazer and Jimmy, and Suburbans, were on the square body platforms until the 1992 models came out. Those were on the GMT 400 platform which succeeded the square body trucks. Crew cabs and chassis cabs also followed this. The regular cab dually was available in the ’88 model year; I don’t think they were rolled out at the same time as the other 400 pickups in spring of ’87 as ’88s.
I had a ’90 2500 square Burb for many years, TBI 350 and turbo 400 trans(overdrive wasn’t available till ’91). A very capable and handsome truck, wish I still had it. That one and Dad’s ’78 GMC Sierra pickup that was our parts house shop truck, but fixed up a bit(monochromatic before that was cool) are the only ones of our many square body trucks I miss.
I know that Chevy’s and GMC’s were virtually indistinguishable back then (GMC being the higher priced division). However, even the seller can’t tell he has the GMC and NOT the Chevy version even though EVERYTHING on it says GMC.
Right? Why are we calling this a Chevrolet, when it’s clearly a GMC? I’m looking at my phone and did not see the GMC grill until I read the fist paragraph that mentioned Sierra Classic trim and had to look closer. I would not want to line up behind this at a gas station.
I do love these beasts, having owned 3 in the past. I can’t afford the gas to use one as a daily driver anymore, but they were great for hauling my my music gear all over Texas and Oklahoma. One of mine was a 1990 and it had the square body, but dual headlights, not quads.
I currently own, and drive regularly, an 89 1 ton dually from the factory. Of course it’s a 502 engine which I re-did and installed a torker cam. The 4 speed overdrive is a stump puller even in hi speed range, in low it will pull down a house. Chevy had the best idea in the world when they invented Suburbans.
That is a GMC not a Chevy. I own a 1989 chevy suburban v2500 4×4.
You can see the steering wheel trim says GMC, the paperwork on the seat says GMC.
They had the vertical headlamps, unlike the chevy that had the smaller side by side.
HD square bodies were produced until MY 91. These HD Suburbans required the 454 and actually got better fuel economy than the 350! Better power to weight ratio. My 91 K-2500 Suburban only got about 5.5 mpg when loaded with a GCWR of about 15,000 lbs. A buddy’s Suburban with the 454 always delivered around 10 with similar load.
Generic Motor Coach..
The 4th and final pic they included, is a totally different vehicle lol 🥴
That upholstery has got to go. Thought I saw the same fabric in Chevy Celebrities of the era.