As most of our readers know, for this series, we look for trucks that are the more unusual. For this month, we found a vehicle that is correct for this category! Here is almost a “one of a kind” early 1947 Chevrolet Suburban. (Yes, there was an early and late body design for this year.)
Here is an example as perfect as it first came off the assembly line about 75 years ago. It is now one of the few remaining! The honor of making it a part of our history goes to Jerry Prodoehl of New Windsor, Maryland.
This special Suburban still has its factory 216 six cylinder engine and the extra cost option is the 4-speed transmission. (A 3-speed was standard equipment.)
It has two dealer installed accessories, a Chevrolet under dash AM radio, and a right side mirror and “arm over the upper door hinge”. The white wall tires were not from the factory, however, there is no doubt if you told the Chevy dealer you wanted them, they would have had these installed at a nearby tire store before the future owner knew the Suburban was ready to be picked up!
Jerry Prodoehl is not new in this early Chevy restoration field. One of his first projects was a “ground up rebuild” of a 1939 ½ ton over 35 years ago. This is when few manufactured parts were on the market. The big hunt was for new old stock, and items from swap meets, magazine ads, friends knowing other people that had extras parts.
This 1939 is still among Jerry’s Chevy collection that he has personally restored over 30 years ago.
Jerry always seems to have a vehicle under restoration. Of course, it had to be one he really liked. This added to his pride of what he would create. Better yet, most all his projects have gone on to be given honors many times at the top of their class at the most exclusive judging shows in the country. Most serious car and truck judging people that create these world famous shows know the name Jerry Prodoehl.
During his many years in early Chevy restoration, he has gained much knowledge and enthusiasm to help others! Jerry currently volunteers his experience as being the 1939-40 truck tech advisor for “Vintage Chevrolet Club of America.” It is often said: Most of us have hidden talents, some find them, and some do not. Jerry’s restoration talents are his very strong point. Lucky person, he found this!
Now for more on his Feature Truck of the Month. For quite some time Jerry had been developing an interest in people haulers, or as General Motors called them, “Suburban’s.”
A not too serious hunt began. It had to be unmolested, just driven! He became more and more interested in these large body multi-passenger vehicles that usually came on a ½ ton chassis. He thought, “I do not have time now to restore one, but if what I want shows up, I should get it to have when the restoration time is right.”
One day a call from his son said an early 1947 Chevy Suburban, unrestored was on the internet. “It sounds interesting”, he said. So that weekend the two, pulling a car trailer from Maryland to Connecticut (a very long distance) is what they did.
When they first saw the Suburban, his son apologized for the time he took to find such an abused hulk. “Let’s go home” he said.
Jerry really liked challenges but not on this scale. His many show cars he had built began so much nicer (of course, there was more to choose from before he bought).
However, this filled his rule of “unmolested” and was the only one that he had found with his requirements. His words to his son, “Let’s load it up and head back home to Maryland.”
Ready for its new home in Maryland.
From the time Jerry bought the Suburban in Connecticut to the current show photos seen here, 20 years passed. It’s not that the actual restoration took that long, it was the time to gather and restore replacement parts, or if he was really lucky to find a new 50 year old GM part. In the meantime, he at least totally restored two Chevrolet vehicles that could now take first place at most “any” show that has judging!
Just like most serious restorations you dissemble all parts until all the frame is exposed. This is the time to find stress cracks and well-worn areas where metal to metal had occurred.
Maybe a seat for a neighborhood
trial run.
The following are just a few areas of special interest that relates to areas of a Suburban:
Tailgate Chains:
These allow the tailgate to open flat. The originals were beyond repair, but the attaching hooks were still in place. Sandblasting them, finding the correct chain links, and the covering for them make all up to Jerry’s quality.
The holes for the left factory taillight was still in the lower left side. This was the ½ inch hole for the wire harness to the light and 2 small screw holes for securing the mounting bracket.
Tailgate chains.
Bed Strips:
The same long bed strips are used in panel trucks. A Suburban has them because many Suburban owners soon removed the rear two seat rows. It became an enclosed hauler and the merchandise was out of the weather and “not so visible to thieves!”
Seat Frames:
Most evidence of the original seat frames was gone. Yes, there was all an exact location of where they were secured to the floor.
Creating the new metal seat frames was a work of art by an outside specialized contractor. Somehow, Jerry was able to find the GM blueprints of these seat frames! We doubt if GM could tell them from a 1940-46 set. (Someone was watching over him on this accomplishment.) Every bend and size was made by these drawings. You cannot get any closer than this!
For the Perfectionist.
This square metal plate with 4 fasteners covers the under floor 18 gallon gas tank sending unit. Much less complicated than dropping the tank if a bad sender develops.
See red star!
Three rows of seats
GM placed the rear seat inches from the lift gate.
Taillight Bracket:
During this serious restoration, finding a taillight bracket brought up a big issue. It may be an overstatement, but there is NONE! When Chevrolet ran out of a small supply of extras made during Suburban production, it was over.
Do we think Jerry’s Suburban that had no bracket when he found it, would go without? Something had to happen and it must look correct!
The three attaching holes were still in place. This was a ½ inch hole for the wiring harness to pass and two small holes for the fasteners that secure it to the rear lower body panel.
There was only one answer. Jerry made one from old photos and the original body holes! It has the correct curve and an inner opening on the underside to place the electric wire! Unfortunately, the actual taillight was used on a pickup of those years and is not being reproduced.
Jerry hand made the bracket from the body to the taillight.
Important: There were no body holes for an accessory right taillight bracket! Thus, it did not exist from GM. Jerry says the license must be above the taillight body so it does not touch the bumper.
Paint Colors:
The Suburban was given its original color, Boatswain Blue with Black fenders. After removing three top layers of repaints, Jerry knew the color he used was correct. He also reached the long Argent Silver band running the full length of the vehicle. On top of this is the ¼ inch Scarlet Red pin stripe. The several repaints had provided the protection and proof.
Looking at the country’s top Suburban restorations and original dealer photos, Jerry knew he had all the color combinations just right.
There’s a very old proverb about making a silk purse from a sow’s (pig) ear.
This Suburban is one of these examples!
You can contact Jerry at: jerryprodoehl39@gmail.com