CF Chevrolet / GMC Suburban photo reference gallery

[Robin Craig]

So, apologies to car people but I am lumping both the GMC and Chevrolet products together because of body style. Period.

So 96505 wandered around the Ottawa area for quite a while and served a number of units. Here it starts off being fitted with a winch and as far as I can tell it was a vehicle belonging to Mapping and Charting from Booth St, Ottawa, the first two shots show it out at the Alert hangar area near the old fire training area at what was CFB Uplands in 1995. Note that this had the rear barn doors which was an often specified optional feature and a recognition point of DND and RCMP vehicles for a long time.

The third shot somewhat more distant is the same truck but in 1996.

The last shot shows it now minus its winch and brush guard as part of the Range Control fleet out at Connaught Ranges along the Ottawa River in 1998.

[Robin Craig]

These next images of 17734 were all taken down at Kingston although I do have pictures somewhere of this truck in Ottawa, I think for Y2K. You will note that this is the Chevrolet badge version of essentially the same truck with minor differences. I always liked this style of tyre that was stock for a while as it looks somewhat like the older military pattern tyres.

This one bears the call sign 99 and had a very substantial winch mount bumper and winch. The improvised fitment of the antennae mounts to allow the horizontally split tailgate to open is interesting.

What colour this truck was before being painted I don't know but I understand this was done at Kingston in base workshops and was a very non standard and was the whim and fancy of a senior officer who wanted a bit more comfort and speed to get around in but still appear to blend in as a tactical or SMP vehicle.

[Robin Craig]

There was a second camouflage Suburban at Kingston was 17733, the sharp eyed among you will notice a few detail differance but for the most part it follows the same set up

[Ed Storey]

This Chevrolet was for the Commander 1st Canadian Division, hence the 99 Callsign. There was a second 99A. The camouflage paint-job on this vehicle was not at the 'whim and fancy of a senior officer' but was standard practice for the vehicle that was used by this formation commander.

[Robin Craig]

Dear Ed,

Thanks for clearing that up, that is what this forum is all about, to bring out the details.

Ed, when did this practise start and what were the previous 99 and 99A before these two?

Thanks

R

[Frank v R]

These are not the first Suburban's for Kingston, I remember seeing a '76 5/4 Suburban with all the normal 5/4 mods , B/O brush guards , etc, wonder where it went ,