Sublime. The word is perfectly descriptive, so much so that we could use it and run huge photos of Mike Bowen's '69 Suburban--without any captions or any story. Sublime describes his Suburban, and the photos illustrate why we'd title the article so--end of story.
By pulling such a stunt, we'd get scads of letters with the five W's: who, what, where, when and why. In the long run, we'd make more work for ourselves (as do many custom vintage truck hobbyists). The difference is, enthusiasts often seek artistic self-expression when they decide to do more customization. Mike's Sub-urban is a perfect example. He bought the 'Burb from an 83-year-old Georgia gentleman who sells vintage project vehicles. Mike's original intention was to fix the truck up and use it to tow his '67 Chevy II Pro Street show car. After installing a RamJet 350 and a rebuilt trans, he used the Suburban one season as a tow vehicle.
Mike liked the 'Burb so much, he sold the Chevy II and began to build his next show vehicle. For the frame, he installed new '71 Chevy 2-inch drop spindles, disc brakes, an antisway bar, and KYB shocks from Early Classic Enterprises. After C-notching the rear for going low, Mike equipped the chassis with an Air Ride Technologies airbag system at all four wheels. KYBs also steadied the rear axle. Utilizing a hidden Ron Francis wiring harness for the RamJet 350, Mike wired the fuel-injected engine. He sent the engine's GM computer to JET Perfor-mance for an oxygen sensor conversion and fine-tuning. Optimizing it with a TCI Automotive custom torque converter and an ididit steering column and shifter, good friend and builder Todd Fix renewed the '69 TH350.
Though the Suburban's exterior was in decent shape, Wooding's Auto Body Works in Roanoke, Virginia, performed necessary rust repair as needed. Norwood Wooding filled and smoothed the firewall, filled trim holes along the cowl panel, installed a Hagan fuel door, and replaced the '69 'Burb's nose with a '67 grille. When Wooding's paint prep was complete, Tory Wells sprayed the Suburban in PPG Garnet Red and Ice Cream pearl. An artisan at Hard Core Graphix in Roanoke, Virginia, Shaun applied the blue and orange tribal flames. Supplied by Bruce Horkey, a custom- crafted oak and stainless stringer bed kit went in place as if it were a factory item. The owner installed the bed floor, while Norwood Wooding and Chris Belcher replaced the Burb's original greenhouse with panes from Vintage Glass of Athens, Georgia.
By the time the 'Burb was ready for a new interior, Mike's original modest plans for the truck were history. With an awesome CD/stereo system and outrageous upholstery, much of his vision for customization went into the Chevy's cabin. Todd wired the truck with an M&H harness and installed Dakota Digital gauges in the dash. Cream and burgundy-dyed leather and kangaroo trimmed the Corbeau Street Rod seats upholstered by Freddie King, Jeff, and Bob of King's Auto Upholstery. In the hopes of getting some other pro upholsterers all jumpy, what is really a faux ostrich material King's crew jokingly calls kangaroo. Mike, his brothers Dave and Doug (the craftsmen), and other buddies teamed up to finish the '69 Suburban in time for its debut at the 2005 Goodguys Lone Star Nationals. The build team's two years of time, toil, and money produced a Chevy best described with one word.
 All the chrome and other brightwork...  All the chrome and other brightwork components were renewed at Advanced Plating. The 'Burb rolls on 20x7-inch front and 20x8-inch rear Billet Specialties wheels, shod with BFGoodrich Comp TA radials, P245/40R20-inch and P275/45R20-inch, front to rear. The front wheels have a 4.5-inch backspace, while the rears have a 3.5-inch backspace. |
 In front of the Dakota Digital...  In front of the Dakota Digital instruments- filled dash is a burgundy-hued kangaroo-wrapped Billet Specialties steering wheel, which King's Auto Upholstery trimmed. |
 Hagan flush-mount taillights...  Hagan flush-mount taillights enhance the Suburban's delicious tail end. |
 The '03 GM 350 RamJet engine...  The '03 GM 350 RamJet engine is equipped with a Vintage Air Frontrunner serpentine belt engine accessories system. A Detroit Speed & Engineering power-steering pump kit is one of the accessories the Vintage Air system drives. Hooker Headers and three-chamber Flowmaster mufflers comprise the custom exhaust system. |
 Trimmed in a combination of...  Trimmed in a combination of cream and burgundy leather and kangaroo, the Corbeau Street Rod seats jump out and shout superior craftsmanship, both on the part of Corbeau and King's Auto Upholstery. The custom Waterfall console (with floating armrests and stereo) was fabricated by the owner's good buddy Chris Belcher. Jeff at King's Auto Upholstery created a custom headliner to match the cascading center console. |
 From the factory, the passenger-side...  From the factory, the passenger-side third door opens from the rear. The owner asked Wooding's Auto Body Works to transform it into a suicide door. Pinstriper Tom Van Nortwick also helped with the custom door. |
 To match the rest of the 'Burb's...  To match the rest of the 'Burb's accommodating cabin, King's Auto Upholstery made custom door panels before trimming them with cream leather and burgundy kangaroo. |
 The bed floor consists of...  The bed floor consists of a custom-hewn Bruce Horkey bed kit, which the owner installed. The CD/stereo system includes a Pioneer Super Tuner III, an XM satellite digital tuner, two Rockford Fosgate P4004 amps, Rockford Fosgate Punch series P162S speakers, and two Rockford Fosgate subwoofers (10-inch diameter) mounted between the rear seats in the Waterfall console. |