1972 Chevy C20 Suburban Is a Rare and Stunning Vintage Family Hauler

With just the right amount of modern updates, this 1972 Chevy C20 Suburban might be the perfect vintage people mover.

These days, it’s hard to imagine a world where Americans didn’t gravitate toward trucks, SUVs, and crossovers as their preferred method of transportation, largely because most of us have basically given up on sedans for that same purpose. Today, those with more than a few family members are more than happy to spend their hard-earned money on something like a new Tahoe or Suburban, but of course, it wasn’t always like that – back when this 1972 Chevy C20 Suburban was new, very few shoppers were interested in such a thing, in fact.

Now up for auction at Bring a Trailer, this stunning 1972 Chevy C20 Suburban is one of just 2,136 produced, in fact, largely because people didn’t really see the need for a full-size SUV back in this era. That is no longer the case, of course, and these vintage family haulers are worth quite a bit of money on the collector car circuit, where this one has certainly attracted its fair share of interest as well.

Sold new at Newman Chevrolet, in Garland, Texas, this Chevy C20 Suburban was refinished just a few years ago and looks no worse for wear today, appearing nearly good as new with its fresh yellow and white paint. There are a few blemishes, but nothing terribly notable, and the white steel wheels look right at home wearing non-original 245/75 BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 tires, too.

There are some modern amenities here as well, including power steering and front disc brakes, while the interior has been updated with a Vintage Air climate control system, cruise control, and a digital stereo. Otherwise, it’s all vintage inside, with nothing more than three rows of bench seating finished in black vinyl with patterned cloth inserts – providing room for a large family, or perhaps even an entire youth sports team.

Power for this big SUV comes from a rebuilt 350 V8, which has been treated to a four-barrel carburetor, an HEI distributor, an aluminum radiator with dual electric fans, and an aftermarket dual exhaust system. It’s mated to a three-speed automatic transmission for easy cruising, and we imagine that’s precisely what the new owner will do. After all, it isn’t everyday that we see a Chevy C20 Suburban out in the wild, and this one has just enough modern updates to make it a comfy – yet incredibly stylish – cruiser.

Photos: Bring a Trailer

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Brett Foote

Brett Foote has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is a longtime contributor to Internet Brands’ Auto Group sites, including Chevrolet Forum, Rennlist, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts, among other popular sites.

He has been an automotive enthusiast since the day he came into this world and rode home from the hospital in a first-gen Mustang, and he's been wrenching on them nearly as long.

In addition to his expertise writing about cars, trucks, motorcycles, and every other type of automobile, Brett had spent several years running parts for local auto dealerships.

You can follow along with his builds and various automotive shenanigans on Instagram: @bfoote.