The Chevrolet SSR (Super Sport Roadster) was a limited-production convertible pickup truck manufactured by Chevrolet between 2003 and 2006. It featured a retractable hardtop designed by ASC. The production model was based on the SuperSport Roadster concept car, which was unveiled at the 2000 Detroit Auto Show. An early-production SSR was the pace car for the 2003 Indianapolis 500 auto race.
Design
The SSR was based on the long-wheelbase Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT's platform, with a "retro" styling inspired by the late-1940s Chevrolet trucks, the 1947-1955 Advance Design pickups.
Performance
The 2003 and 2004 models used General Motors' Vortec 5300 engine, a 5.3 L 300 hp V8, for 7.7 s to 60 mph (97 km/h) acceleration and a 15.9 s/86.4 mph quarter mile run. The 2005 SSR used the 390 hp (291 kW) LS2 V8 also found in the C6 Corvette and Pontiac GTO, and came with an option of a six-speed manual Tremec transmission. For the 2006 model year, the LS2 engine was modified, boosting its output to 395 hp (for the automatic transmission) and 400 hp (for the manual transmission). GM badges were also added to the vehicle.
Sales
The 2004 model sold below expectations with under 9,000 sales at US$42,000 each. Consequently, the Lansing Craft Centre, the factory where the SSR was made, was put on 5 weeks of layoffs. On November 21, 2005, GM then announced that the Craft Centre will close in mid-2006, marking the end of production for the SSR. The final SSR - a unique black-on-silver model - was built on March 17, 2006. In total, 24,150 SSRs were produced of which, 24,112 were made available for sale to the public.
Marketing and Motorsport
The SSR was introduced for market debut in a 60-second television advertisement that first appeared on New Year's Eve 2003. It was created by the firm of Campbell-Ewald, directed by Michael Bay, and featured the song Magic Carpet Ride by Steppenwolf. An SSR was later also entered at the Bonneville Nationals Speed Trials on the salt flats of Utah, but proved to be uncompetitive against a more aerodynamic GMC Sonoma.
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