On March 17, 2006, Chevrolet built the last example of one of the most unconventional vehicles in its history—the SSR. Short for Super Sport Roadster, the SSR was an audacious blend of past and present, borrowing cues from classic American workhorses like the Chevrolet El Camino and the late-1940s Advance Design trucks while injecting a dose of modern performance. Before we get to last Chevrolet SSR, we have to look to the past.
A Blast from the Past
The SSR’s origins trace back to Chevrolet’s fascination with automotive nostalgia at the turn of the 21st century. The brand had long dominated the truck market, but the growing popularity of retro-styled vehicles—evidenced by Chrysler’s PT Cruiser and Plymouth’s Prowler—suggested an appetite for a heritage-inspired, car-based truck. Designer Brian Baker and his team at GM channeled inspiration from multiple sources, particularly Chevrolet’s Advance Design pickups (1947-1955) and the El Camino, which itself had been GM’s take on the Australian Ute.
Debuting as a concept at the 2000 Detroit Auto Show, the SSR captivated audiences with its distinctive curves, exaggerated fenders, and retractable hardtop—a first for any pickup truck. Public reaction was strong enough that Chevrolet greenlit the project for production, and in 2003, the SSR hit showroom floors.
Muscle Under the Hood
Unlike the Plymouth Prowler, which sacrificed brawn for style with a V6 powertrain, Chevrolet ensured the SSR had proper muscle from day one. Early models (2003-2004) packed a 5.3-liter Vortec 5300 V8 producing 300 horsepower, capable of launching the 4,700-pound truck from 0-60 mph in 7.7 seconds. While respectable, it wasn’t exactly muscle car territory.
That changed in 2005 when Chevrolet upgraded the SSR with the LS2 V8—the same engine found in the C6 Corvette and Pontiac GTO. With 390 horsepower on tap, the SSR’s acceleration improved dramatically, slashing its 0-60 time to 5.3 seconds when equipped with the newly available Tremec six-speed manual transmission. Suddenly, the SSR had performance to match its aggressive styling.
An Automotive Oddity
Despite its striking design and newfound power, the SSR struggled to find a stable audience. Its hefty $42,000+ price tag placed it in a niche between sports cars and luxury trucks, and while it had undeniable curb appeal, its limited practicality kept traditional truck buyers away. The market for two-seater convertible pickups—an already rare breed—proved to be smaller than Chevrolet had hoped.
After a production run of just over 24,000 units, Chevrolet pulled the plug on the SSR in early 2006. Today, it stands as a fascinating relic of GM’s early-2000s experimentation, a vehicle that dared to blend nostalgia with modern performance in a way few others have. While it never reached mass appeal, the SSR has earned a devoted cult following, proving that sometimes, automotive history’s most intriguing chapters are written by the boldest ideas.
