1947 Chevy Suburban Driver Escapes Harrowing 5-Mile Ride After …

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In a stunning series of events in Fontana, California, a young driver of a 1947 Chevrolet Suburban found herself rolling down the road without brakes. It was not the best place to find yourself without brakes, either; the San Gabriel Mountains lie just north of the area of I-15 in Fontana, where Alexis Pritchard had her terrifying ordeal. Thanks to swift action from the Fontana PD, officers were able to bring the classic car to a halt, although not without some damage to the vehicle.

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On June 11, 21-year-old Alexis Pritchard found herself in a harrowing situation. She had just finished fueling up her 1947 Chevy Suburban and got back on the road with her French bulldog riding shotgun. She was about to turn onto the freeway, but as she pressed down on the brake pedal, she felt it sink all the way to the floor. It dawned on her that her brakes had failed.

After realizing that her Suburban was without brakes, Alexis Pritchard embarked on a wild, white-knuckle ride down the traffic- and construction-filled road. Without the ability to stop, she had to zoom past red lights, weave through cars, and even mow down traffic cones in an attempt to slow down.

Pritchard desperately tried everything in her power to slow down the Chevy Suburban, which was rolling at a steady 30 mph. She tried downshifting and shutting off the engine, but it all proved fruitless in the face of this mechanical nightmare. Pritchard rolled for nearly five miles.

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Pritchard found herself in a panic as she hurtled through intersections, running red lights with no way to stop. At that moment of sheer terror, she did what anyone would do: dialed 911 and desperately pleaded for help. She told the dispatcher, “I’m running all of these red lights and I don’t know what to do.”

Thankfully, on the other end of the line was the calm and collected dispatcher, Lindsey Ernes, who quickly assessed the situation. Ernes confirmed Pritchard’s location and the direction she was heading. She also advised Pritchard to put the car in the lowest gear possible. The police were promptly dispatched to intercept the runaway vehicle.

In a race against time, the Fontana Police Department sprang into action. Officer Albert Charco was swiftly on the scene. He intercepted the classic Chevy Suburban and positioned his police cruiser ahead of the runaway car, ready to intervene. As the classic car approached, Charco applied his brakes, gently slowing down just in front of Pritchard. It was a nail-biting moment as the two vehicles made contact, but Charco’s skillful maneuver allowed him to maintain control. He continued to ease the pressure on his brakes, gently slowing both vehicles until they finally came to a safe and complete stop. Disaster was averted thanks to the quick thinking of Officer Charco.

Pritchard somehow managed to keep her cool amidst all the chaos of the situation. She held onto her bulldog as the cars made contact. When the heart-pounding ride finally came to a halt, her first reaction was to step out of the vehicle and embrace the officer who had come to her rescue. Thankfully, everyone came out unscathed.

The cause of the brake failure remains a mystery. It could have been a damaged brake line, causing a sudden drop in hydraulic pressure and rendering the brakes useless. Alternatively, the reservoir could have sprung a leak, slowly draining away the crucial fluid needed for braking. Another possibility could be a stubborn caliper or drum that seized up.

Pritchard’s bond with vintage cars runs deep, thanks to the countless hours she spent working on the Suburban alongside her grandfather over the years. The aftermath of the incident left the front of her beloved 1947 Chevy with significant damage, but as she told KCAL News, “My life isn’t replaceable. The car is fixable.” Undeterred by the accident, she sees it as an opportunity to spend more quality time with her grandfather, diving back into their beloved project car together.

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Chevrolet

The Chevy Suburban is the longest-used automobile nameplate in the world. Currently in its twelfth generation, the car has been in production since 1935.

The year 1947 marked a pivotal moment for Chevrolet’s truck lineup, as it saw the first major redesign of their vehicles following the Second World War, including the iconic Suburban. This new third generation of Suburbans drew inspiration from the Chevrolet Advance Design series of pickups. The car had a sleek and alluring design, featuring a sloping windshield and a no-nonsense horizontal grille. The two-door suburban had enough seating for eight, and was a true embodiment of both style and functionality.

The Chevy Suburban had an undeniable appeal, and it quickly became the go-to choice as a “crew” vehicle for transporting workers to construction and logging sites back in the day. Its practicality was evident with multiple access points to the rear cargo area, either through a convenient tailgate or a pair of side-opening “barn doors.” Inside, the second and third row seats were removable and mounted on a linoleum-covered floor.

To enhance the overall driving experience, the Suburban boasted “double-acting” shock absorbers, which were praised for providing superb riding comfort. There was an additional new feature that enhanced comfort— flow-through ventilation, which significantly improved the driving experience by keeping the air fresh and cool.

The 1947 Suburban was powered by the “Thriftmaster” inline six-cylinder engine. A true workhorse, this latest iteration of the cast iron engine had been around since before the Suburban’s introduction back in 1935, and was commonly known as the “Stovebolt.” The engine had a displacement of 3.8 L, and cranked out a respectable 92 hp. What truly made this engine great for a “crew” vehicle was its impressive torque output of 174 lb-ft at 1200 rpm. This resulted in some excellent towing capabilities. Paired with a three-speed manual transmission, which was later upgraded to a four-speed, this powertrain combination ensured a smooth and controlled driving experience.