We needed a poeple hauler that could also be a catering vehicle for my wife, Kelly. The Town and Country was doing more than it's share and our other car is a 2 seater convertible. Not wanting the same ole thing everybody else was driving we began to search the web for ideas. One idea led to another, a body style was chosen, a year range, then the search began. After 9 months I found our suburban in Phoenix. Problem- we live in Nashville. After another search for a fair delivery price the 59 was brought to our home in April.

We were excited at first. Then reality set in and the hard work began. There was MUCH to be done to get it drivable.

See the photos, Read the story

See my project journal on Hotrodders.com

See the latest phase of improvements to the Suburban

Why did we choose a Suburban?

My wife caters small to medium events. We have 3 kids and 2 cars. To haul everything around we have a minivan and a 2 seat convertible rotary rocket RX7. When she does a catering event she has to transport all her stuff in the minivan. This was a problem if I had to take the kids anywhere. Selling the convertible was out of the question as we both enjoy driving it immensly. So July 2003 we started looking for a "catering Vehicle"
We wanted something special so a late model van was out. We settled on a 65ish Suburban. With the help of a friend we instantly found one. It was a 65 GMC with a luggage rack conveniently located near my Father in Alabama. All the others for sale were in the Southwest or Northwest, thousands of miles away. After we checked it out we put $500 down to hold it and I began the process of selling my 65 Chevy shortbed.
After 3 months with no luck we had to let it go. The search was on for another and we changed our target to the 55-59 Task Force. The 59 was the favorite. In April, after scoping the web every night for 9 months, I found one "inconveniently" located in Phoenix. Here's what I saw.

I thought $3000 was fair so I worked out the delivery. I have been working on this thing since. I spent 100's of hours this summer re-doing the body. I love it. Especially now that I can drive it more.

This project has been responible for many good family memories. The kids have been great helpers. Shelby (10) has been the most interested. She went with me to Birmingham on a 4 day trip to finish preping for paint. Kelly and I have spent a few fun hours working on various things. I was able to spend 2 weeks or so with my Dad. He was a tremendous help. We did the final stages of body work and paint in his cabinet shop in Birmingham. When we didn't finish after the 1st week he insisted I drive home in one of his shop vans and keep it until I could get back and finish.

Well, it took 2 more trips of several days over the next month to get it painted. The truck and it's large cache of parts was certainly in his way. He just kept on slowing me down, insisting we not get in a hurry.

First Family Outing

The kids LOVE to ride in the Suburban. We take them places occassionaly. I don't go anywhere fast with them in the back. They love to lay down on the carpet with their blankets and bean bags.

They also wash the cars for extra $. On this day in early November they decided to wash the Suburban. The young lady on the hood is a friend. Washing the Beast

Ever wonder what it's like driving an old Chevy truck? Driving the Beast