Last of the Little "Burbans; 1965 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 4WD.(NEWS)

Byline: JOHN F. KATZ

SINCE 1935, THE Chevrolet Suburban has defined the full-size utility wagon. But a long wheelbase, a V8 engine and four-wheel drive weren't always part of that definition.

Initially, the Suburban had few rivalsbeyond its GMC twin and some semicustom conversions on competing chassis. The Dodge Town Wagon of 1955 failed to attract a following and died a decade later. A more serious threat, the International Travelall, appeared late in "52, got a V8 option in "59 and added a sleek new four-door body on a 119-inch wheelbase for "61. That gave it two more doors and four more inches of wheel span than its established General Motors target. Both trucks offered factory 4WD starting in 1957, but it was rarely ordered.

Chevy redesigned all of its trucks for 1960, with a distinctive pinch below the beltline and a busy two-tier front end. The latter was cleaned up for "62, and Chevy trucks changed little over the next four years.

James Vial has owned this all-original "65 Suburbanone of only 433 built with 4WD that yearsince he bought it brand-new. He considered a GMC, but GMC's top engine then was a 305-cid V6, and Vial wanted a V8. A four-speed transmission, posi rear and "custom trim make his "Burban even more unusual.

Despite the 115-inch wheelbase, there's plenty of room inside for seven or eight adults, ...