Many years before the popularization of the term Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), the Chevrolet/GMC Suburban was one of the pioneers of what would become an extremely popular type of vehicle. It offered enough room for the whole family and all their belongings, as well as the rugged durability of a GM truck. This '72 GMC Suburban, built by Pro Touring Texas, takes this humble family hauler even further with the addition of adjustable air ride, an 800hp supercharged LSX engine, and show-car-grade interior and exterior craftsmanship.
Rescuing an Old Project Truck
When the owner of this Suburban brought it to the Pro Touring Texas shop, it looked nothing like this. It had been sitting unfinished for over a decade, and significant body damage and rust led the team to scrap about 50 percent of the body. After the autopsy, Pro Touring Texas asked the owner how he wanted to proceed, and he decided to go all-in on a full build.
The entire chassis was removed and replaced with a Roadster Shop REVO chassis complete with adjustable air suspension. As for the body, the rusty floor and rocker panels were replaced, and other panels were carefully smoothed and aligned for even panel gaps. It was finished in pearl gray paint with bright yellow accent stripes.
The Suburban rides on deep-dish 19x11 and 19x12-inch Billet Specialties Invader wheels, and six-piston Baer brakes provide stopping power.
Inside the cab, custom-upholstered TMI bucket seats match the custom door panels. The expansive headliner was refinished in suede, and the center console features rear-facing vents so the backseat passengers can enjoy the Vintage Air A/C on hot summer days. Dakota Digital gauges and a powerful custom stereo with amps and subwoofers over the rear axle complete the modern feel.
Since one of the owner's requests was to build "a Suburban that can beat a Corvette," the team at Pro Touring Texas installed a GM Performance B15 LSX376 crate motor topped with a ported LSA supercharger. This setup is matched with a GM Performance 4L85e automatic transmission. On a conservative tune, they estimate it's making around 800 horsepower — more than enough to smoke the Nitto tires in the blink of an eye.
This Suburban, christened "Bright Idea," looks great and we'd love to take a closer look at it in person someday. With that sleek GMC front end, the smooth body lines, low stance, and the LSX under the hood, this definitely puts the "sports" back in SUV.
Check out more details on this build in the YouTube video below:
Looking for GM Truck Parts?
If you're working on a classic Chevy or GMC truck project, Classic Industries has all the parts you need to restore and repair it. Our GM Truck parts catalog includes everything from emblems and trim to suspension kits and crate engines. Click the button below to get a free full-color restoration parts catalog:
