Reasoning behind the 3 door configuration

[71chevswb]

Does anybody know the reason behind GM manufacturing a 3 door suburban in 1967-1972 instead of making it with a 4th door? Always just been curious. Thanks!

['68OrangeSunshine]

Some guesses here, as I have no authority or connection to GM production.
1] Cost. Much cheaper to not have to hang a 4th door in terms of manhours and parts required.
2] It was an improvement on the 2 doors on '66 and previous Suburbans.
3] "Safety". Hollywood had been shooting scenes of people getting into their cars from the curbside and sliding over for years. [Of course, their reason was it didn't require a separate set-up shot to film the driver getting in from the left door] but this was perceived by the public as a safety move. In the city an open door in traffic was seen as a challenge not a caution to maniacal taxidrivers. Since it was thought most backseat passengers would be wives and kids, you didn't want them exposed to dangerous traffic.
[This does not account for the ever-present smoking of cigarettes in '40s and '50s flicks, but that was more about product placement.]

[Franks 72]

I had always thought that it was due to the ambulance use. Left drivers side was the" stretcher" and a door would be a waste. Also wondered if they used them as rural school vans and didn't want passengers unloading into traffic.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Yes, many were run as "the Short Bus". I was picked up by a Chevy or GMC Suburban [2-Door] from 1st thru 4th Grades. It was a private carrier, as I went to a parochial school.
It was called the Blackhawk Bus service and the owner preferred GM trucks. In the late Fifties no special safety equipment was required. Maybe 15-18 kids were crammed in the back. In the center of the truck, there was a locker room style bench bolted to the floor. Plywood 'benches' were built in a semicircle wrapping around the sides. The driver had a handle and pull strap to control the RH door.
The Ambulance configuration makes sense too.

[vectorit]

It was for the passengers to enter/exit from the safe side of the street.

[1leglance]

I found this link to a brochure in 72 that mentions safety. All the ones going back to 67 just mentioned the 3 door without in safety angle.
Either way it does tickle me how excited folks can get about the 3 door aspect of these things.
http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/stati...burban-04.html

['68OrangeSunshine]

When I registered my '71 GMC Jimmy in Arizona [PO was from California], the inspector at the ADOT/MVD station wrote down 2DSW for 2 Door Station Wagon. When I said ''wait, this is the first generation SUV,'' she said ''you wouldn't want it registered as an SUV, the taxes are way higher, I'm doing you a favor.'' Later I looked at the title to my '67 K/10 Suburban and there it was: "3DSW."

[Bigdav160]

Yep, my title say "station wagon" as the body style.

[Advanced Design]

I hear lots of comments from many people on the three doors. A friend of mine who has been a car guy since the 1960's said "Wow, your burb is really rare since it is a 3 door model." He wouldn't believe GM only made 3 doors since he clearly remembers a friend buying a 4 door 1972 model. Still unbelieving after I linked him to documents at the GM Heritage center....sales literature can be wrong he said.

So, I told him I would be interested in any documentation he can find on a four door Suburban. Haven't heard from him on that yet.

[bigblue 72]

I've thought about mounting an inner door handle back there on the drivers side just to mess with people. I've already had a few ask where the handle is.

[biketopia]

My old shop teacher would put an exterior handle where the 4th door would be. He called it his drunk handle.

[68panelman]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

Yes, many were run as "the Short Bus". I was picked up by a Chevy or GMC Suburban [2-Door] from 1st thru 4th Grades. It was a private carrier, as I went to a parochial school.
It was called the Blackhawk Bus service and the owner preferred GM trucks. In the late Fifties no special safety equipment was required. Maybe 15-18 kids were crammed in the back. In the center of the truck, there was a locker room style bench bolted to the floor. Plywood 'benches' were built in a semicircle wrapping around the sides. The driver had a handle and pull strap to control the RH door.
The Ambulance configuration makes sense too.

My mother drove a bus like this in the early 70's, wooden bench seats an all. It was a 69 suburban, I think a 3 on column too. Have pictures somewhere.
Chris , vectorit knows the deal, GM made these trucks to offload passengers from passenger side only. Remember, bucket seats were a luxury and far and few. Heck, my 1942 only has a door lock on pass side for the same reason.

[fourspeedwagon]

Originally Posted by 1leglance

I found this link to a brochure in 72 that mentions safety. All the ones going back to 67 just mentioned the 3 door without in safety angle.
Either way it does tickle me how excited folks can get about the 3 door aspect of these things.
http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/stati...burban-04.html

It doesn't state the word "safety" but in the old ad that's linked it does say the rear passenger door is on the "curb side". Sounds safe to me.

[ljf1-68]

ma bell ordered 66 chevy II nova wagons with 3 doors only,a friend told me about it last year and the car was drag raced,I was amazed,and we both know our 66 chevys,and ma bell has clout

[Big R]

The safety angle was what I was always told. Here is some food for thought...most cargo vans, even today, only have the doors on the "curbside". Keeps workers off the street when they are getting gear out of the van.

[Wasted Income]

Interesting how mini-vans have gone through the same evolution as the old 3 door burbs. I don't think you can get a mini-van without sliding doors on both sides anymore.