Chevrolet SSR
Encyclopedia
The Chevrolet SSR is a retractable hardtop convertible pickup truck
manufactured by Chevrolet
between 2003 and 2006.
The truck was based on the long-wheelbase Chevrolet TrailBlazer
EXT's platform, and featured "retro
" styling and a steel retractable hardtop designed by ASC
. The production model was based on the SuperSport Roadster concept car
shown at the 2000 Detroit Auto Show. An early-production SSR was the pace car for the 2003 Indianapolis 500
auto race
.
The 2003 and 2004 models used General Motors' Vortec 5300 engine
, a 5.3 L
300 hp
V8. Performance was 7.7 s to 60 mi/h with a 15.9 s/86.4 mph quarter mile run. The 2005 SSR used the 390 hp LS2 V8 also found in the C6 Corvette
and Pontiac GTO, and also offered a manual transmission (the six-speed Tremec) for the first time, as an option. For the 2006 model year, the LS2 engine featured minor modifications that boosted its output to 395 hp (automatic transmission
) and 400 hp (manual transmission
), respectively. In addition, GM badges were added to the vehicle.
in December of that year announced five weeks of layoffs at Lansing Craft Centre
, the factory that made the SSR. On November 21, 2005, GM announced that it would close the Craft Centre in mid-2006, spelling the end for the SSR. The final SSR, a unique black-on-silver model (Highest VIN 1GCES14H06B124112), was built on March 17, 2006. Analysts estimate that 24,150 SSRs were produced in total. Of the total production, 24,112 were available for sale to the public.
, directed by Michael Bay
and featuring the song Magic Carpet Ride
by Steppenwolf
. The advertisement was titled "An American Revolution, Car Carrier"
and featured six yet to be introduced cars and trucks boarding a car carrier as it traversed the United States
. It featured the Aveo
descending the Twin Peaks of San Francisco and making an airborne leap highly reminiscent of Steve McQueen's Ford Mustang
in the movie Bullitt
, before boarding the car carrier, to the yellow SSR boarding the carrier in reverse while the carrier is traveling down a desert highway.
.
An SSR was entered in August 2011 in the Bonneville Nationals Speed Trials on the salt flats in
Utah. The entry was controversial in that they intended to run in the mini modified pickup class.
Illegal modification had been made to the front valance on the truck and they were only allowed to run
for time only. Nonetheless the truck proved uncompetitive against a much more aerodynamic GMC Sonoma
that took the record in the C/MMP class and set it at 219.3mph, a full 26mph faster then the SSR could
run.
http://www.scta-bni.org/Bonneville/Speedweek%202011/Photos/Cars/616.JPG
Pickup truck
A pickup truck is a light motor vehicle with an open-top rear cargo area .-Definition:...
manufactured by Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
between 2003 and 2006.
The truck was based on the long-wheelbase Chevrolet TrailBlazer
Chevrolet TrailBlazer
The Chevrolet TrailBlazer is a mid-size sport utility vehicle produced by the Chevrolet division of American automaker General Motors.On November 10th, 2011, General Motors officially revealed a second generation of the vehicle to be sold worldwide...
EXT's platform, and featured "retro
Retro
Retro is a culturally outdated or aged style, trend, mode, or fashion, from the overall postmodern past, that has since that time become functionally or superficially the norm once again. The use of "retro" style iconography and imagery interjected into post-modern art, advertising, mass media, etc...
" styling and a steel retractable hardtop designed by ASC
American Specialty Cars
American Specialty Cars is an automobile supplier of highly engineered and designed roof systems, body systems and other specialty-vehicle systems for the world’s automakers...
. The production model was based on the SuperSport Roadster concept car
Concept car
A concept vehicle or show vehicle is a car made to showcase new styling and or new technology. They are often shown at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or may not have a chance of being produced....
shown at the 2000 Detroit Auto Show. An early-production SSR was the pace car for the 2003 Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
auto race
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
.
The 2003 and 2004 models used General Motors' Vortec 5300 engine
Internal combustion engine
The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine...
, a 5.3 L
Litér
- External links :*...
300 hp
Horsepower
Horsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the...
V8. Performance was 7.7 s to 60 mi/h with a 15.9 s/86.4 mph quarter mile run. The 2005 SSR used the 390 hp LS2 V8 also found in the C6 Corvette
Chevrolet Corvette C6
The Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car produced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors introduced for the 2005 model year. The current generation Corvette is the first with exposed headlamps since the 1962 model...
and Pontiac GTO, and also offered a manual transmission (the six-speed Tremec) for the first time, as an option. For the 2006 model year, the LS2 engine featured minor modifications that boosted its output to 395 hp (automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
) and 400 hp (manual transmission
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
), respectively. In addition, GM badges were added to the vehicle.
Sales
The 2004 model sold below expectations with under 9,000 sales at US$42,000 each. Citing a 301-day supply of SSRs, General MotorsGeneral Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
in December of that year announced five weeks of layoffs at Lansing Craft Centre
Lansing Craft Centre
The Lansing Craft Centre was a specialized General Motors automobile assembly factory in Lansing Township, Michigan. The plant started production in 1987 and closed in 2006...
, the factory that made the SSR. On November 21, 2005, GM announced that it would close the Craft Centre in mid-2006, spelling the end for the SSR. The final SSR, a unique black-on-silver model (Highest VIN 1GCES14H06B124112), was built on March 17, 2006. Analysts estimate that 24,150 SSRs were produced in total. Of the total production, 24,112 were available for sale to the public.
Marketing
The SSR was introduced for its market debut in a 60 second television advertisement that first appeared on New Year's Eve 2003, created by the firm of Campbell-EwaldCampbell-Ewald
Campbell Ewald is one of the largest marketing communications agencies in the United States, offering innovative capabilities both traditional and specialized, including advertising; insights and solutions planning; integrated content strategy and development; social, relationship, retail and...
, directed by Michael Bay
Michael Bay
Michael Benjamin Bay is an American film director and producer. He is known for directing high-budget action films characterized by their fast edits, stylistic visuals and substantial practical special effects...
and featuring the song Magic Carpet Ride
Magic Carpet Ride
"Magic Carpet Ride" is a rock song written by John Kay and Rushton Moreve from the Canadian-American band Steppenwolf. The song was initially released in 1968 on the album The Second. It was the lead single from that album, peaking at No. 3 in the US, and becoming the band's second-biggest hit,...
by Steppenwolf
Steppenwolf (band)
Steppenwolf are a Canadian-American rock group that was prominent in the late 1960s. The group was formed in 1967 in Los Angeles by vocalist John Kay, guitarist Michael Monarch, bassist Rushton Moreve, keyboardist Goldy McJohn and drummer Jerry Edmonton after the dissolution of Toronto group The...
. The advertisement was titled "An American Revolution, Car Carrier"
An American Revolution
An American Revolution is a former advertising campaign used by American car manufacturer Chevrolet. First introduced on New Year's Eve 2003 in the USA to promote its "ten new cars and trucks in twenty months", released since January 2004, but the lineup of advertised cars was later expanded...
and featured six yet to be introduced cars and trucks boarding a car carrier as it traversed the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It featured the Aveo
Daewoo Kalos
The Chevrolet Aveo is the first generation of the Chevrolet Aveo, a subcompact automobile manufactured since 2002 by GM Daewoo, the South Korean subsidiary of General Motors — originally marketed as the Daewoo Kalos and prominently marketed as the Aveo...
descending the Twin Peaks of San Francisco and making an airborne leap highly reminiscent of Steve McQueen's Ford Mustang
Ford Mustang
The Ford Mustang is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company. It was initially based on the second generation North American Ford Falcon, a compact car. Introduced early on April 17, 1964, as a "1964½" model, the 1965 Mustang was the automaker's most successful launch since the Model A...
in the movie Bullitt
Bullitt
Bullitt is a 1968 American police procedural film starring Steve McQueen, Jacqueline Bisset and Robert Vaughn. It was directed by Peter Yates and distributed by Warner Bros. The story was adapted for the screen by Alan Trustman and Harry Kleiner, based on the 1963 novel Mute Witness by Robert L....
, before boarding the car carrier, to the yellow SSR boarding the carrier in reverse while the carrier is traveling down a desert highway.
Motorsport
The SSR was used as the pace car for the 2003 Indianapolis 5002003 Indianapolis 500
The 2003 Indianapolis 500 was held at Indianapolis on Sunday, May 25, 2003.-Recap:The "curse of the Indy three-peat" prevailed again on lap 169, as pole-sitter and two-time defending champion Hélio Castroneves was held up behind lap car A.J. Foyt IV coming out of the second turn, allowing teammate...
.
An SSR was entered in August 2011 in the Bonneville Nationals Speed Trials on the salt flats in
Utah. The entry was controversial in that they intended to run in the mini modified pickup class.
Illegal modification had been made to the front valance on the truck and they were only allowed to run
for time only. Nonetheless the truck proved uncompetitive against a much more aerodynamic GMC Sonoma
that took the record in the C/MMP class and set it at 219.3mph, a full 26mph faster then the SSR could
run.
http://www.scta-bni.org/Bonneville/Speedweek%202011/Photos/Cars/616.JPG