The Suburban is arguably one of the most successful and long-lived platforms in SUV history. You can go down to your local dealership and buy a brand new Suburban tomorrow. This 1953 version definitely needs some TLC, but it is still salvageable. For sale here on Hemmings in Ottertail, Minnesota for the asking price of $5,900. This would make a really fun family hauler, but the new owner is going to have a lot of work ahead of them to get this one back to good driving condition.
You have to love these vintage gauges and shift indicator. These may be some of the best original parts left on the truck. Too bad the grill and front end trim appear to be missing. There are reproductions available, so a full restoration is possible with some new parts. I always prefer to try and restore as many stock parts as possible. They seem to fit together better and retain some character. If you’re going for a full restoration on a vehicle like this it really doesn’t matter. There’s a lot of pictures in the ad, which is helpful to determine the actual condition of the project.
Some pretty beat-up panels all the way around this Suburban which may indicate this was a work vehicle or lived an otherwise hard life. Said to be a “dry western unit,” I’m not exactly sure what that means? Certainly if it’s spent its life in Minnesota, it would probably have more rust. Speaking of Minnesota, this Suburban is being sold in the town of Ottertail. Can’t you imagine this truck restored in a forest green color with black fenders hauling a wooden canoe on the top and fishing poles sticking out of the back windows while cruising to Ottertail Lake?
Lots of room in the back for camping gear or bird dogs. This truck is in need of serious help and it will take a dedicated new owner to do justice to the restoration. If you’ve got the time and money, this would be a really neat project when completed. Unfortunately, in a lot of situations like this, it’s often much more economical to buy a restored truck that it is to do a full restoration. I hope this Suburban gets a new lease on life and gets to spend its next chapter hauling a family to the lake on the weekends.
Looks like somebody gave it a faux patina paint job.
Great project, but I think overpriced considering the amount of work needed on the rear doors and fenders. Those are very hard to find and expensive if you do.
The rest is fairly easy to source.
My friend Bruce in Wisconsin has a 53 Suburban that’s all done. Maybe he’d like to do another one…..?
Bruce, are you out there?
Let’s hope Gas Monkeys or Foose don’t acquire this great truck.
Most definitely a worthwhile project to do. The hydramatic transmission is somewhat of a novelty in that there weren’t all that many trucks equipped with them at that time. It will work fine but that poor motor has got its work cut out. I might add that the transmission will weigh almost as much as the engine; it’s got a cast iron case. Reliable as it can be; they used it in tanks with few problems; a suburban would be child’s play. Restore it, drive it and enjoy it….
ben in fl doing a panel right now and yes some parts are tuff like running boards
Uh, think this Suburan needs more than a little TLC! Would require quite some money, effort and time, that is if you did the restoration yourself. Otherwise, to be restored professionally, you’re talking BIG BUCKS! Never realize an automatic transmission was available for for these in 1953, thought they were all equipped with standard transmission. This suburban must have been purchased and used by a company as I don’t think a farmer would splurge for an automatic transmission.
A split windshield on a 53? I thought those stopped earlier.
Dave, the one piece windshield started in late 54 into early 55.
trucks were always later in all regards (components: suspension, drivetrain, safety, etc)