The entries for our General Tire Coolest Suburban in the Country contest were amazing, with everything from late-model street cruisers to retro wheelers with trail scars to prove it. But there could be only one, and this '67 has taken the title. Each staff member picked his top five 'Burbans, and this classic orange three-door showed up every time. Though not the most extreme wheeler, this truck is a perfect example of a Suburban to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the nameplate. Joe Stevens had wanted a three-door '67-'72 Burb since he was a small boy. When he finally realized his dream it took two vehicles to make one clean truck. The vision for the truck was a retro-looking 4x4, one that could have been factory-built with big-block power, similar to the highly coveted COPO (Central Office Production Order) '69 Camaros that were optioned with 427 big-block V-8s and heavy-duty suspensions. Joe's '67 has many subtle changes in both aesthetics and performance: unique chrome and paint, taller tires on the painted steel wheels, and a healthy 502 big-block under the cowl hood. It's the perfect hauling machine, with plenty of power and room for people, gear, and towing (can't you picture a polished Airstream trailer behind it?) while keeping the gargantuan style that Suburbans have always been known for-and that makes it the General Tire Coolest Suburban in the Country. Tech Specs 1967 Chevrolet Suburban Drivetrain Engine: 502 GM V-8 Transmission: 700R4 automatic Transfer case: NP205 Front Axle: Dana 44 front, 3.73 gears Rear Axle: GM 12-bolt rear, 3.73 gears Suspension Springs & Such: Rancho 4-inch leaf springs and Skyjacker shocks in front; Rancho 4-inch leaf springs and Skyjacker shocks in the rear Tires & Wheels: 35-inch BFG All-Terrains on 16-inch steel wheels Other Stuff: Custom Rusty Metallic/GM white paint, cowl induction hood, custom interior/stereo Joe Stevens lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, so finding a 40-year-old truck that isn't rusted away is nearly impossible. Joe started with a four-wheel-drive truck and used a two-wheel-drive as a parts truck to end up with one clean 4x4. The body was cleaned, repaired, and sprayed with two-tone Rusty Metallic and GM white paint scheme. Suburban fanatics will notice the white is only on the roof, not all the way down to the bottom of the windows, and the chrome accents no longer curve over the wheel arches.Joe Stevens lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, so finding a 40-year-old truck that isn't rus The entire Suburban was removed from the chassis and put on a rotisserie by John Kouw at Crusin Customs in West Olive, Michigan, in order to get it back to better-than-new condition. Under the hood is a 502ci GM big-block that is certainly better than any '67 Burb powerplant ever offered. The 502 has an Edelbrock Performer manifold and an EPS 800 carburetor.The entire Suburban was removed from the chassis and put on a rotisserie by John Kouw at C The interior of the Suburban is still very basic but was upgraded with houndstooth-covered bench seats front and rear. Although a 40-year-old design, they're still comfortable for long trips to a hidden fishing holes, campgrounds, and four-wheeling adventures.The interior of the Suburban is still very basic but was upgraded with houndstooth-covered Inside the rear barn doors you can see the Astrodome's worth of cargo space for fishing rods, skis, dogs, and whatever else Joe and his wife want to bring along on their road trips. In fact, they recently filled the back with trophies from a car show they entered the 'Burban in. Check out the spare tire cover, which has been reenlisted as the bass box for the stereo system.Inside the rear barn doors you can see the Astrodome's worth of cargo space for fishing ro The white steel wheels and 35-inch BFG All-Terrains look super-retro but are perfect for the whole subtle package. Since Joe won our contest, he'll soon be bolting on a new set of 35-inch General Tire Grabbers for added traction.The white steel wheels and 35-inch BFG All-Terrains look super-retro but are perfect for t The dash has been redone with parts from LMC Truck. If it weren't for the custom Pioneer stereo head unit, you'd never know this truck wasn't fresh off the showroom floor.The dash has been redone with parts from LMC Truck. If it weren't for the custom Pioneer s The drivetrain is nothing outrageous as far as an off-road machine goes, but it's perfect for a long-haul driver. Transmission is a 700R4 feeding a geardriven NP205 transfer case. Axles are a Dana 44 front and a GM 12-bolt rear with 3.73 gears.The drivetrain is nothing outrageous as far as an off-road machine goes, but it's perfect Many of the restoration/modification parts came from LMC Truck, such as this cowl induction hood that helps to release the heat from the big-block hiding underneath. The Chevelle-style racing stripes just add to the pseudo-stock look.Many of the restoration/modification parts came from LMC Truck, such as this cowl inductio The Prize Joe's Suburban may seem tame to some and overdone to others, but in our view it's a perfect truck to showcase on the anniversary of the Suburban. It holds onto its history with a near-stock look, but it also has smart upgrades for doing all the things Suburbans were designed to do, namely a healthy big-block under the hood. For these reasons Joe is taking home a set of General Tires of his choice. General Tire has many tires for all types of trucks and 4x4s, including the new race-proven General Grabber.The Prize Joe's Suburban may seem tame to some and overdone to others, but in our view i By Fred Williams Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!
