When the Chevy
SSR convertible truck prototype was unveiled, the public couldn’t get enough. So why did this unusual vehicle turn out to be one of the company’s biggest flops? Was it doomed from the start? Jerry
, the car ownership super app
, investigates the Chevy convertible truck: a rare and radical collector's item. The Chevy convertible truck lacked focus
The 2000 Detroit Auto Show had fans excited for a muscle car-truck hybrid. The Chevy SSR featured oval door handles, flared fenders, and a Hurst-style shifter.
The roadster promised rack and pinion steering, independent front and multi-link rear suspensions, and rear-wheel drive. But when the SSR hit the showrooms in 2003—crickets.
After the failure of the odd Plymouth Prowler, Chevy was ready to come back with a bang. In an effort to redeem itself, Chevrolet launched the retro-styled Chevy SSR (Super Sport Roadster). But this wasn’t your average pickup truck. The SSR was also a convertible with a retractable hardtop.
The two-seater weighed a whopping 4,760 pounds, but it could barely tow a measly 2,500. And the convertible's handling was less than impressive, especially when compared to other roadsters and modern pickups. The Chevy SSR also failed as convertible, annoying drivers with intense vibrations made worse with the top down.
The convertible could haul about 1,300 pounds of goods in its tiny 4-foot-long truck bed. The bed also sports a semi-permanent tonneau cover that sits on top. “This cover may be good at keeping the SSR aerodynamic and speedy, but it also makes it a hassle to use as a proper work truck,” MotorBiscuit
notes. Chevy convertible truck powertrain and sales
For its time, the Chevy SSR offered a decent amount of power. Originally, the Chevy convertible truck housed a 5.3-liter V8 engine with 300 hp and could hit 60 mph in under eight seconds.
Later, it received a 6-liter V8 engine that could crank out 390 hp, reaching 60 mph in about 5.3 seconds. Drivers could also choose between a manual transmission or a four-speed automatic transmission.
According to MotorBiscuit
, “The late models featured the well-loved 390-hp LS2 from the brand’s performance sports car, the C8 Corvette. Sharing an engine with the brand’s performance vehicle still did very little to boost sales.” The failed experiment was discontinued by General Motors and the manufacturing factory was even shut down as well. “In fact, only 24,112 units were sold in its production years from 2003 to 2006, and GM never sold more than 9,000 units in a single year,” Slash Gear
tells us. MORE: The Chevy Nova, a Classic '60s Ride
Novelty has its price
The Chevy convertible truck was actually a pretty fun ride. It was small, it was fast, and it was expensive.
Most consumers didn’t want to risk their hard-earned cash on a pricey experimental car. According to Slash Gear, “When it was first released, the Chevy SSR's starting price was around $42,000, and if you preferred higher trims, it went as high as $50,000.”
Collectors with disposable income were disappointed in the factory-made hotrod truck. The Chevy SSR didn’t give hotrod enthusiasts an opportunity to soup up the car themselves; modifying a pre-made hotrod can be complicated.
Depending on the model year and mileage, you can still find a used Chevy SSR for anywhere between $29,000 and $45,000.
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