Chevrolet SSR

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The Chevrolet SSR (Super Sport Roadster) is a retro-styled pickup with a power retractable hardtop, built by Chevrolet from 2003 to 2006. It was made in Lansing, Michigan, on GM’s GMT368 platform, with a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout and a steel body-on-frame chassis.

Design and features
The SSR’s look nods to Chevrolet’s late-1940s Advance Design trucks. It’s a 2-door roadster pickup with a retractable hardtop. Inside, it offered leather seats, power windows and locks, air conditioning, and other modern conveniences. Premium options included OnStar, XM Radio, a Bose audio system, and a choice of wheels and trim. A low-profile tonneau cover and a unique cargo area completed the package.

Engines and performance
- 2003–2004: 5.3-liter V8 with about 300 hp. 0–60 mph in roughly 7.7 seconds.
- 2005–2006: 6.0-liter LS2 V8 with about 390–395 hp. Six-speed manual transmission was available; 0–60 improved to around 5 seconds with the manual. Automatic transmissions (4L60-E or 4L65-E) were also offered.

Production and sales
The SSR was produced for a short time: about 24,150 built, with 24,112 sold in the United States. It debuted as the pace car for the 2003 Indianapolis 500. Despite initial marketing, sales were below expectations, and GM announced layoffs at the Lansing plant in 2003. The Lansing Craft Center closed in mid-2006, and the final SSR was completed on March 17, 2006. The car remains a rare, collectible example of GM’s retro design approach.

Notes
- It rode on a dedicated GMT368 platform, a variant of the GMT360 family.
- The design included a body with deep-draw stamping techniques and a European-inspired retractable roof system designed by ASC and styled by Karmann.