Eric, I fully support your idea of writing a book about Suburbans. I
believe the information in the book would reach people far beyond old truck
owners. As I'm sure you've noticed, there are MANY Suburbans on the road
right now and they are one of the most popular 4WD vehicles ever produced.
I believe many of the current "new" Suburban owners would be fascinated with
the history and pictures of the early versions. For example, I went to get
a haircut today and my barber was talking about 4WDs and mentioned how many
Suburbans there are on the road. He was fascinated when I told him that
this vehicle was first produced in the '30s. (Wasn't 1939 the first year??)
He doesn't even own one, but was very interested in the history. In short,
my vote would be full speed ahead with the book. I admire you for your
enthusiasm and wish you the very best of luck. Every good book has to start
with somebody who believes it just has to be written. No one better than
you.
Tom Caperton
'47 2nd 3100
-----Original Message-----
From: varanus@mail.phoenix.net <varanus@mail.phoenix.net>
To: oletrucks@autox.team.net <oletrucks@autox.team.net>
Date: Tuesday, February 09, 1999 6:56 PM
Subject: [oletrucks] book about suburban carryalls
>Ok - I know that ya'll are probably getting tired of seeing my name
>but I love old chevys and have since I was just a young boy.
>
>In my quest for suburban carryall info, the realization that there is
>nothing - and I mean nothing - available short of a few scattered
>pics - I have decided to try and write a book. Chevrolet Suburban
>Carryalls 1935(7?) - 1972.
>
>No easy task. I spoke with chev archives and they are just getting
>around to catagorizing their millions of pics. They have up to
>1947 pretty well sorted but beyond that - it might take a while.
>I would love to move up there for a year and help them;)
>
>I won't have problems getting the original advertisments but
>publicity photos and those so important factory photos are proving
>elusive as of this writing. As are production data that was thrown
>away many years ago.
>
>But, they have 3 million pictures to sort through and I just know
>that suburbans are mixed up in there - the head archivist agrees.
>
>He went ahead and dug up a factory photo of a napco 58 sub and is
>sending it to me just to stop my salivating - I think it was oozing
>through his phone.
>
>Obviously, Motorbooks Intl. would be interested in publishing it if
>it passes their inspection. Chevrolet might even underwrite part of
>the research expense. The way I look at it, I want that info one way
>or another so I might as well assemble it into a comprehensive
>resource for all. These old suburbans are going to be hot items one
>of these days once people realize that they were made prior to 1970.
>Although I do like them being a secret also. Fact is - there aren't
>that many to go around anyway so they will remain a rarity for the
>duration. I have never even seen one driving anywhere although they
>seemed to be most popular west of the pecos - CO, UT, NM, AZ, WY, ID,
>OR, etc. - and I live east of the pecos.
>
> What do ya'll think? My own personal investment will be somewhat
>substantial dependent upon financial help I receive from publisher
>and chevrolet. I have published before but these were technical
>papers on monitor lizards - a far cry from suburbans although there
>is some overlap as suburbans are excellent big lizard
>transporters:) So I don't imagine that Motorbooks
>will support me too much. Maybe they will.
>
>I know I can sell maybe 10 books right here in this group. But what
>about the other 2500 that I need to produce for a first run on the
>press. Do you all think that regular truck owners would find a book
>on this topic interesting? To me, the suburban carryall is as
>unique as they come. I myself didn't even know they existed before
>late 1960s as I had never seen one until about 5 or 6 years ago.
>And panel van owners could use this book too so that is good.
>I could add panels but that is another big topic in itself.
>
>I would love to include GMC but that info is even more elusive and
>there aren't that many jimmy subs out there anyway, although I have
>one - a 58.
>
>There is a chance that I might ask some members of this group to let
>me shoot photos of their subs but this is a long way off.
>
>So, I would love to hear ya'lls input - especially from those AD and
>TF pickup truck owners. What do ya'll think?
>
>And thanks Mark Noakes and Kevin Lake for all your advice over the
>past 2 years or so - I know you both would love this book.
>
>The question is: can I do it?
>Eric Pesci
>
>oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
>
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