A Chevrolet Centennial

Rise of the Suburbans
The Chevrolet Suburban was one of the first Sports Utility Vehicles, beginning production in 1935. The first models were produced for the Civilian Conservation Corps and the National Guard, and though the country's taste for SUVs did not truly expand until the 1990s, the Suburban's reputation made the power and convenience of a large vehicle attractive to an increasing number of consumers. Today, the Suburban is the SUV of choice for some professional circles; black, armored versions are famously used by the Secret Service and FBI. Pictured here, a 1981 Suburban, sporting many of the same model upgrades that Chevrolet's truck models gained during the 1970s.

• Buying a Corvette? Now You Can Build The Engine Yourself