I remember a salesman was trying to say "it's like a Corvette with a bed!". I said "It's a rebodied Trailblazer". The thing is HEAVY and not very fast. It'll be collectable though just because it's so weird.
I’m not ashamed to admit that I really liked these things when they came out and honestly I wouldn’t mind having one now. They just haven’t reach hooptie-enough status for my bank account
Im right there with you guys. I always liked these. They are unique but not as odd as the Prowler is. I bet with a little engine work you could boost the horsepower a bit but otherwise this looks like a really good driver.
@@PoodlePuncher Yellow is hands down the worst car color on the planet, maybe in a Lambo or something exotic, but not on a shit car, it screams look at me!
My Dad was one of the main production / supplier quality Engineers for this vehicle they only made 74 a day at the lansing craft center. ASC made all the sheet metal which my dad over saw all their work. Brought a tester home one day when I was in high school which I got to take out on the twisties with him in the passenger seat. Loved how it drove!
American Specialty Car ASC yep worked there myself and actually a few of the folk that where there work with me at another plant, i think we all had fun building the SSR they where unique.
I think the SSR came about as a result of a board meeting where no one went home until everyone agreed, so they just used everyone's idea. That's how we ended up with a pick up truck sports car hard top convertible with retro design.
The SSR Concept was based on a full-size Silverado, not the midsize... whatever it is. The concept made more sense, with a wider cab and larger bed. I guess Chevy wanted to sell production units for a lower price or maybe better fuel economy to justify building it - the same kind of mistake Chrysler made in choosing their V6 engine for the Prowler "hotrod," dooming it from the start.
The HHR was the baby of their head of design at the time, Ed Welburn, who loved those old Chevy pickups, and as Tyler mentioned, in the early 2000's the Big 3 were in the grip of the retro car craze, so no one at GM really questioned if it was a good idea. Unfortunately Tyler loves to ascribe reasons for why cars like this were made that don't have much relationship to reality. GM never used this assembly technique on any other car, so the idea that it was a way to test out new aluminum bonding techniques doesn't hold much water. I worked at a supplier to GM at the time, and GM came to us to try to design something for the HHR, so I got to see the thing in CAD years before it hit production. When we told them that we couldn't design a part that would work because of the goofy shape of the greenhouse, they asked us to design something that violated our internal design standards, so we declined to take the job.
might be controversial, but the ssr is imo one of the sleekest designed cars exterior-wise cuz it was curvy and everything fit into each other. The front curve extends into lines at the bed and slowly curves back down, the overly dramatisized fender flares that look like it was from older hot rod-ish trucks but they merge well into the front and back without sticking out too much and causing weird lines, the headlights and tailights were flush and complimented the circular theme, the grille with the chrome stripe which went straight through the front and right where you want it and the bed isn't too long or short. The proportions are nice and tight, and I think if the interior is upgraded and a few more design aspects were changed, it would've been a perfect car/ute/truck.
Having recently axed the Camaro/Firebird after '02, GM had no sports coupe/sedan so that probably influenced their decision to build the SSR. Yes, they still had the Corvette, but that's a different animal.
I happen to love this truck, such a bold and ballsy move from its manufacturer. It must feel really cool to drive a drop top muscle truck. Niceee job hoov
The ssR is my guilty pleasure along with the Ford Thunderbird of that era. I’ve always wanted to buy one of these and do an interior update/resto-mod with some of their newer stuff
You called it an HHR a couple of times, that was pretty funny. They are totally stupid, but I love them. I also love the Prowler and the old Dakota convertible, so I have terrible taste. Looks like there is room for a turbo.
@@JBM425 Reminds me of my buddy's Jeep Cherokee Classic circa 2000-ish, damn thing was tiny on the inside. Same with mid 90s and up(when they moved from the square body model, I wanna say 1996) Blazers/Jimmys back doors.
My dad owns an SSR. The roof is problematic and it likes to occasionally leak water into the passenger floorboard. Both common issues. The leaking is basically impossible to fix because the windshield frame flexes and allows water in even after removing the windshield and resealing it. He loves the truck through.
Oh man... in the beginning watching it get forked over reminded me of the first time I'd seen this happen. I was doing work outside the city impound along the RR tracks and while I was out there I was looking into the impound lot as they moved all sorts of cars, framed and unibody, cheap and expensive, all with license plates on them, some with the car alarm blaring, and inside the building was a line of people waiting to get their cars out of jail. I vow NEVER to get my car impounded, so long as I can help it, I nearly cried looking at how those cars got man-handled by one of these pieces of equipment.
Towing is theft. It's taking property without the owner's permission. I wouldn't expect a thief and his buddies to take care of my stuff, even when they're trying to ransom it back.
Odd & quirky--I love it--looks great in black, maybe red? Chrome wheels would look nicer. Not in the purple though. Stupid GM/Chevy too stupid or lazy to import the Holden & rebadge it, or develop a new El Cam, so those of us with $$ to burn can get one of these guys. He paid under $20G's for what'll be a nice unique ride after the bodywork is done. I keep hearing that it's a turd performance wise, but I have not seen/heard anything by anyone how s/he did something about it.
@@williamonderlinde5068 I actually had the honor to see one in yellow about 6 months ago. They are extremely rare in Germany, and I see this yellow thingy drive towards me from the far. It takes the form of a pickup until it is close enough for me to see the chrome stripe going across from left to right. Never thought I would see one.
@@LexusLFA554 we have a couple older dudes here in my city that drive them. There's one yellow, one red, and I believe the third I saw was in the awful purple.
I see this as a common trend happening with alot of early GM vehicles, alot of parts are being discontinued and its becoming a problem for us but not the manufacturer. As the owner of a 09 G8 GT its becoming stressful lol
@@funnypranker34 yes, I actually have caprice ppv struts and sway bar end links on my car as they are much beefier then the factory g8 parts. Plus I got some 5th gen camaro parts as well lol.
That’s why I called it the “smartest pickup ever made” because i like retro cars. If I were to buy an EV it would be a Hyundai ioniq 5 because man that’s definitely stunning
With the vetted motor and a stick shift and a few bolt ons could be a decent little runaround toy. But for 20-30k likely in the configuration I can think of *alot* of things I could buy with that money instead. Certainly couldn't be an SSR.... Likely not even a GM 🤢
@@Colorado_Native My standard answer to all such questions would be "Pontiac Aztek". A broader minded person might say Scion Cube or Honda Element but I always figure you could store frozen fish in those.
I remember really liking the retro designs of all these when they first came out, and I still do. The designs hold up because they're so weird they just don't look like anything else on the road.
I remember a family in my home village in the Netherlands that had a very american home with all sorts of jukeboxes and two chevy's in front of their house: a bright yellow SSR 5.3 and a orange HHR 2.4. That was a very unusual sight here and I appreciated the effort they put in to get those here and keep them drivable for probably more than 10 years.
YO! This is my Dad's truck! He had that little accident just this last winter. It was his Mom's for most of it's life before that. It lived in Texas most of it's life!
Theres one street in his town that is actually fun to drive aggresively. I know this because I'm from Wichita as well lol. I used to rip my Cobalt SS down that one specific street. Dont condone it though since its an actual neighborhood main street. But its fun if your fine with being one of those assholes.
This old guy who lives around me drives one of these. He always double parks it at a super busy convince store that already lacks parking. I hate these trucks because of him
Target your anger correctly. The trucks are great. Target your anger at the old selfish fossils who don't live as an example worth respecting. That truck didn't choose to be owned by a jerk.
10:00 NEVER open or close the hood using the silver strip on the hood, they are made of plastic and will break off in your hand, Trust me. I'd consider buying it when you get tired of it. I have my Dad's 2004 and I well aware of the little quirks with them. I'm interested in that roof rack piece. I've installed a couple of the Roof struts, are easy to install just a little time consuming. That one is all stock, there are a number of upgrades the the diehards install, carpet and wood strip trunk, upgraded fan, shift link fix, suspension upgrades,....
I love the style of the SSR, and I personally own an HHR, I just don't think they are really worth what they sale for, even if I do want one. If there aren't any surprise issues with this truck, I could see it being a fine addition to your fleet
I think if they had sold these for around $20,000 and called it an "El Camino" it would have done good and had a longer run. I do not mind the power issue I think Chevy was thinking or hoping that the vehicle would take of in the customization scene so they did not bother to put a really strong motor in it thinking it would be removed. I also think this is why the vehicle was designed with a V8 and not a V6 or straight 6 because of the idea that this is a platform for customization and customizers would want to put a V8 in it so it was designed with a V8 to help with customization?
most vehicles would sell better if you cut the price in half 😂 look at that interior they were already cutting every corner to bring the price down, no way GM could have sold it in the $20k range and turned a profit.
Nah, if they wanted an "el camino" they could have brought over the UTE version of the commodore, which was already sold stateside as the pontiac G8. They had a legitimate el camino and just wouldnt bring it over here for...reasons.
@@Nick-ue7iw I think GM knows a thing or two about the US car market, I mean they brought us the new Blazer because clearly the Equinox was slightly too small
Exactly what the car is, Ive had 30 plus Elkys & this is a great replacement & teh top goes down , its a very usefull truck if you use it as one The wife has over 110k on hers
This thing looks like a modern day El Camino. I didn't even know the Chevy SSR was even a thing because I've never seen one driven around town. The SSR looks like it would be popular among surfers, because it has a bed where you can put your surfboard, and it has a retractible convertible hardtop roof.
My Friday morning has been sucking so much, I come to my office to check emails and I say to my self, I need a break. I sure hope there is a Hoovies Garage TH-cam video to give me that 15min break. Thank the good lord that Tyler just posted a video. My Friday just got better. I am not joking! Your videos give me the best breaks from work. Thank you so much.... Please keep uploading on Fridays and keep being the dumpest automotive TH-camr out there.
I remember when these came out, I have always thought they were cool looking and the fact that they have a V8 in them is a plus for sure, the LS 2 engine is the better engine obviously. This is a perfect truck for your hooptie fleet.
Hey Hoovie, owner of a Lincoln LS here. The Sister car of the new Thunderbird you mentioned. They actually are quite fun, just really unreliable. They handle great, and the Mid 6 second 0-60 makes them quite fun.
Lincoln should've turned these into "the American 5 Series" if they were more reliable and could develop at least 2 other solid engine options. Unfortunately, GM-US never had a stab at that, it'd would be Holden with their Commodores (the G8 [VE] and SS sedan [VF] were "hand-me-downs" from Holden) that would be closest to it.
Just watched an SSR on the grand tour. In yellow it looks like it came straight out of that new Wes Anderson movie. Thought I’d hate it but now I really want one.
I have a 1 of 7 Final Production Run 2006 LS2 factory blue over silver two-tone 6spd manual that I use to pull a 19ft 75th Anniversary Airstream. There is NO BETTER tow vehicle with the top down, wide open exhaust blasting off the front of the trailer tearing thru mountain passes!
When the SSR First hit our dealership they went for big dollars then when this first customers spent their money they sat. Year 2 if we got a 6 speed it sold fast, not so much on the Automatics . The one thing about the 5.3s is ,it does not take much to make them fast . The 6.0 made it quicker but it wasn't that much faster. Also you are going to run into a parts problem if the top breaks the G6 convertible has the same issue . You can have a ton of fun with this and actually have luggage !!!!!
Funny you mentioned the G6 convertible, one of my neighbors in my apartment complex had a G6 convertible and every summer I would wonder why I've never seen that thing with the top down. I didn't know them very well so I never stopped to ask why the top is always up on such beautiful days, but that answers that... probably needs unobtainium parts.
I thought about buying one of these with a manual transmission and the LS2, but I ended up buying a 2004 GTO instead. With the 6.0L engine they were actually pretty quick, but with the 5.3L they were not fast at all. They do look incredibly cool though.
_Greatest and most interesting concept turning into an idea from the General. And the reason it tanked (so to speak) was the price tag. Here are the stats: over the four model years, the vehicle classed as a pick-up made available for sale was 24,112 units. Now for those naysayers, once the LS2 was dropped in for the '05/'06 model years(in the 6-speed version), the coolest truck on the planet at the time could rocket from 0 to 60 in just 5.29 seconds! And today, these 'beware of the red bow-tie' brigades are and have significantly gone up in value. Oh and the reason Chevy introduced the SSR was much like the C4 ZR1's: 'because we can'. Great find Tyler._
Drawbacks? I’ve owned everything from the 1920’s to the 2000’s. My current daily driver is a 1966 Chevy truck. Most down to earth and practical truck I’ve ever owned. My F350 is a nightmare when something breaks, as well as everything else I’ve ever owned made after 1990.
Talk about practical - our bright red SSR is a summer daily driver used by my fiancé who is a Realtor. What other 2-seater convertible with a sweet rumbling exhaust can turn heads at a showing, look good at a cars and coffee, and transport 3x4' steel yard signs?
Honestly, i really dont think it's dumb. I like the idea of using it to pick up materials at Lowes but also having your weekend drop top. A real two for. Absolutely would hold out for an ls2 with 6 speed manual.
Good buy. As an owner I’ll say upgrade the Bose amplifier to something better because they are crap. Also always check the reservoir for the hydraulic roof before operation because Leaks are common. Also upgrade the front electric fan. Very weak and will run over 220 in traffic
I’ve always wanted one of these. There used to be one that drove around my town not too long ago, but I don’t see it anymore. I just think they are such a unique concept.
I'd have one of them, love them, quirky, different and loads of storage, if only they were cheaper. I'd be tempted to get those plastics covered by some nice material.
This was during the retro fad Detroit got into in the late 90's early 2000's. I wanted one of these, until I started seeing them in person more often. Chevy should've imported the Holden UTE instead.
100%...i think for the use case i see most midwest truck owners ACTUALLY use them for, means the UTEs 500lb rating and decent bed size is PERFECT. Would have sold better than they think tbh
So the insurance company likely totaled this out because all the parts are discontinued for it. As an insurance auto damage appraiser, I have only written an estimate on one of these and EVERYTHING had to be repaired by the repair facility, even though some of the parts needed replacement (front+rear bumpers, left fender, left aluminum left running board, left door, left quarter panel). Within insurance guidelines, usually vehicles with discontinued parts have a high possibility of totaling out.
@@josephrowe2202 For you, in the USA maybe. For us in Europe with 0.8 liter cc and 2.0 liter cc motor... This is cool. Cool to hear and cool to know you have over 150 HP. So lucky you. 😊
I remember my buddy’s dad had one of these. He owned a pretty successful plumbing company. He wanted something fun, fast in a straight line, and something that could still carry pipes and tools in in a pinch. Other than that, he used to take it on trips to his cottage with his wife and all their stuff in top down comfort, while me and my buddy would stay back and get super stoned when they were gone. Lol.
It's great how he tries and tries to hate this truck but just cant. I have a 6 speed with 25,000 miles and an MR2 Spyder. I love never seeing either of my cars sitting next to me at at a light like a cookie cutter!
I own a Chevy SSR and a Chrysler Prowler with the rare aftermarket hardtop. I'm keeping them both in my collection. Both of these vehicles are from the Bob Lutz era when he green lighted the Prowler at Plymouth/Chrysler. Then the Chevy SSR, when he jumped ship and worked at GM. So when you look at a Prowler and a SSR and wondered if there was a connection to these two vehicles.... There is. You can see some styling influences between the two. You can thank Bob Lutz for making them happen.
I remember when this came out. People are complaining about dealer mark-ups in today's auto market need to know these SSRs were marked up to $80,000 when they first came out. I think that had a lot to kill the popularity of this questionable vehicle.....
Yes, low volume doesn't necessarily mean valuable. I remember this too... if you wanted to actually buy one, SSRs were almost double the cost of a nicely equipped Sierra 1500. And no AWD/4wd. Funnily enough the ones listed today (generally as 'collectibles') tend to run in the low $40k-50k range. For an underpowered rear wheel drive pseudo truck. The dumb thing is if they had made an actual retro pickup with 4wd, it likely would have sold a lot better. The styling was good. The execution was not.
I loved the look of these when they first came out. I had several El Caminos and Rancheros before, so wasn't concerned about the limitations as I was used to them anyway. The hardtop convertible was icing on the cake. Then I drove a new one and yuck!!! Could not believe how plain the interior was and the doors are almost blank! Put the top down and discovered the cowl shake was California earthquake levels, wonder if Tyler noticed this as well. Took it back to the dealer and ran over to Pontiac and bought the 6 speed manual GTO. Never regretted that choice, the GTO was a wonderful highway car and drove it for YEARS! Sorry Chevy.
Pontiac was always Chevy's cooler, more adventurous sister. So aside the fact it was formed kinda like a truck and even treated as one on the market, I always felt this should would have looked more at home under the Pontiac marque. I hate that It Pontiac is gone now. RIP Pontiac! I'm more of a Ford guy myself, but I always wanted one of those GTOs too. I always wanted an SSR also! Yeah I guess it's dumb if you look at it as a truck, which it barely is. But I consider it to be a niche car. A very COOL one. I may still buy one someday If I find a nice deal on one.
My father in law has 2 of these. A yellow one with the 5.3 and a Chamaeleon paint job with a LS2 and a T56. They are both neat but the LS2 with a 6 speed is a blast. I always take it for a spin when we visit.
Around the same time, Renault made the Avantime - a minivan coupe. Totally barking but totally cool. It had full side doors on double hinges, but Renault never bothered to promote it, while pushing a seriously dull Ford Granada / Beemer M5 competitor. That failed to impress anyone.
I remember checking these out in the show room when they first came out and the salesman had me open and close the door to show me how the doors felt like an old car with a real solid thud when they close. Pretty cool they have aged well.
Have had one since 2003, Its been a great modern El camino. the wife drives it daily. I was talking to a GM executive around 2006 & told them they blew it with this truck, cut the price , strip out some content & call it an Elky . It has a hidden tow hitch that can tow a bike or a few jet skis. The roof finally crapped out this year and its a PIA to change the hydraulics. Her early build car has the 5.3 & runs 15.1's all day in the heat. Not bad for such a big heavy ride. Overall underated & a very praticle daily driver 120k miles & counting
@Rocky's Modern Life Pain in the A$$ , the main cylinder was out in durin teh build , you need to be very small or have very long arms to get to them and then bank teh floorpan to get the bolt out!
Chevy SSR was one strange beast with a throw it back design. It’s ugliness was only beat out by the Pontiac Aztek PS - Still with top down it would be a great PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) cruiser
It was a retro thing. The problem was the price just like the T-Bird. If the t-bird had come in under 30 I think people would have bought it. You probably could have gotten a pretty good original 57 for the price of one of those 2004s
Gotta admit...I'm a sucker for uniqueness. Even the PT Cruiser - despite it being just a rebodied Neon - gets points in my book for being at least different!
The SSR is not the dumbest pickup truck ever made. That title goes to the 1989-1991 Dodge Dakota convertible pickup truck. Like the SSR, the Dakota convertible was made in partnership with the American Sunroof Corp (ASC) but unlike the SSR, the Dakota convertible was made with a fabric roof so it was easy to break into and not cheap to replace. At least the SSR is a hard top. I don't think the SSR is that bad. I like the retro styling and it works well as a regular pickup truck with a fiberglass bed cover. You can also remove the SSR bed cover and store it (GM gave instructions on how to remove it and bypass the switch that told the truck the bed cover was closed so the convertible top would go down (Located in the drivers side hinge). They also sold a set up that you could use to hang the cover in your garage). As long as you did not have the carpeted bed and had the bed liner option , you could go coverless as long as you wanted to without taking any precautions.
"The Corvette truck!" - Is what it was promoted as back when it was released....Might as well call it a "HHR" LOL - At least it had the 6.0L later on....
My daughter has a 06 HHR. It is unibody if I recall. A reworked Cobalt like the Saturn SUV/CUV. She replaces brake drums every 50k (not big enough for the heavier body). Battery wouldn't fit under the hood due to the bolted on 1930s fenders. Battery is buried in the trunk, under the cargo deck, under the cargo well. Which is fun if the battery dies, since you open the trunk electrically...so you have to tunnel in and jimmy the hatch lock cable. She loves that car/truck though.
That's why I'm always on the lookout for aftermarket parts for my 2015 Fiat 500 Abarth. Eventually, OEM parts will run out, but aftermarket parts should continue for a while. I've already confirmed you can easily swap out the brakes and suspension for aftermarket parts without creating new issues or safety concerns.
A friend's husband bought one new.... along with a loooong warranty. He was glad as it was in the shop many, many times... all covered by the warranty. Overheating problems a few times, and other annoyances.
I have loved the look of the SSR from the beginning. I'd buy it off you. I'm sure you stole it. When you don't say what you paid you got a deal. Keep up the great content enjoying it. Thanks
Wanna hear a steal I bought one in colorado in February for 12 clean title 03 100k miles and all and I MEAN all the issues that the SSR has was fixed by the guy who is known as THE SHIT at ssr bullshit
All you gotta do is go to Copart (this video is a Copart ad by the way) and you'll find you can't get a sweetheart deal like hoovie did. Copart won't "sponsor" you.
@@jaccuster8258 the ssr wasn’ meant to be a fast sports car... it’s a weekend cruiser. Put a few surfaces in the back, take a drive with the wife or other and put the top down. Enjoy the scenic drives.. it’s a perfect cruising vehicle. Suitcases, cooler in the back, even a fold up tent and a small bbq! It’ll fit , then go on a causal weekend camping trip.
to whom it may concern! i had a 2007 cadillac srx4wd v6! the front shocks where designed for clearance for drive shafts !! so it appears the ssr has cadillac components ! fun fact ,love your videos
Hoovie, the setup in the front end is identical to a Trailblazer or any GMT-360 platform. To save on costs, the SSR shares the same frame as the Trailblazer and its sisters. Somewhere towards the middle of the truck, or past the crossmember you can see where GM cut the frame to shorten it, and welded it back together. Otherwise, they're both the same all the way down to most of the suspension parts/engine/tranny etc. Having driven one before, you really need to get the 06+ model with the 6.0L, the difference between the 5.3 and 6.0 is extremely noticeable in this thing.
"automakers never take chances like this nowadays" has he already forgotten about the nissan convertible crossover - Wiz "the Ac works good" hoovie "the AC works well" thanks Hoovie :)
This dated video really shows the changing times ... Now the 2005 and 2006 are doing well. The LS 2 is great. Mine only has 9k on it they are becoming very popular after all it was a Retro-build ...By the way you cannot operate the top without having your brake depressed
Around the 2 minute mark you keep calling it the HHR. I owned a HHR. Trust me that thing is WAY better than the HHR. Other than that, great video Tyler.
The Karman running gear that operates that roof is exactly the same that was fitted to the Nissan micra convertible. Even down to the geometry of the A pillar / roof lock mechanism. I was involved with its development in the early 2000s, it just brought so many memories. 👍
The sadest part in this whole video was: "Automakers would never take chances like this nowadays". Being from Europe, I have the advantage to know about DS, Peugeot and also Cupra, but still it's sad that car manufacturers won't leave their comfort zone anymore. Cars like the SSR were just as important as a 8-series from BMW or an S-Class. While they showed us what technology is capable of, cars like the SSR were like the salt in the soup. They showed us what else is possible. Very sad that this idea died.
I did an out of province inspection on one. It needed a headlight. I was like how the hell do you get the headlight out?I went online. Turned out you have to take the bumper off! Two and a half flat rate to change a head light!
You still have to do that on new Subarus… my wrx is a pain in the ass to get the headlights off and on on. Need to take out twenty odd pop clips that snap if the wind blows, the hood seal, and the mounts that hold them. Takes an hour to get it off and half an hour to two hours to get it on because you have to line up every clip and smack it into place. Painful.
Had a 2000 Nissan Altima. Same kind of thing to change the headlight bulb or any other bulbs in the headlight box.. You had to take off the liner inside the front wheelwell. Once done you had to reach in and undo the 3 nuts holding the light box in. Trouble was, you had to do it all by feel because to couldn't see the nuts. There also wasn't any room so you had to use a small 1/2 inch ratchet while you reached in up to your shoulder to loosen the nuts. Maybe this would have been easier up on a lift, but it wasn't something you wanted to pay a mechanic to do everything a headlight burnt out.
This truck made absolutely no sense and was one of the few times that a domestic manufacturer failed in launching a truck model (the other time being the Lincoln Blackwood). But when you remember how hot the retro craze was during the turn of the millenium and Chevy was desperate to fill the huge hole in their line-up from the departed Camaro (Pontiac imported the GTO to fill theirs) you can see why they gambled on it.
They would of sild thousands if they exported them to Europe uk and Australia as small trucks like this are the thing even vw had them on sale this size with a smaller engine.
When these came out plenty of people here in Australia said they ought to have brought them in down here. They look a lot like a 1950’s FJ Holden ute, one of Australia’s most beloved classic cars and a cultural icon here Down Under. I love these Chevrolet utes!!
I work for the company who made all the hinges for the roof and doors .. I think they made that in Lansing Michigan, had a few Trips to that plant back when it was in production.
I love these things myself. There are maybe 3 for sale here in the UK at the moment ranging from a ridiculous £60k to a much more reasonable £26k. All three have the better 6.0L and a Manual Transmission. Definitely worth looking at if you can afford to run them!
They had perfectly good powertrains and switchgear that went in the Corvette, or even the Holden SS Commodore/Maloo utes... And they chose to use to none of it. It's stupid, but cool as hell.
This would actually be a practical 'convertible' for someone like me. Random parts run trips, and a weekly trip to the big city for all the groceries and such for the week.. The trunk of an SN95 doesn't quite fit the bill, but this sure as heck would!
The price point is what killed it. Also it was too small. I remember when I first heard they were going to build a new el Camino. I was thinking and I will buy one. The end result was disappointing and over priced.
Cool idea but I'm not keen on the styling. Too much roundiness, too much plastic, can't agree with Hoovie about the front and the rims. The retro treatment can be done well but this just looks like a life-sized kids toy
I liked the SSR when I saw a yellow one for sale at the Orange County Market in October 2005. It was quite expensive from memory but I always had a soft spot for them.
I remember a salesman was trying to say "it's like a Corvette with a bed!". I said "It's a rebodied Trailblazer". The thing is HEAVY and not very fast. It'll be collectable though just because it's so weird.
2005-2006 has the LS2 6.0 while this 2004 only has 5.3L from Silverado
How does this thing still weight the exact same amount as a trailblazer SS, how is it not even like 500lbs lighter
@@fatmac8480 it’s a still piece shit even if it weighs less
@@fatmac8480 powered hard top, hard bed cover, and chassis reinforcement
@@fatmac8480 convertible top
How many times will Tyler call it “HHR”?
Next thing you'll see Tyler buying an (260hp) HHR SS Panel Delivery (that does exist) and call it an SS-R several times, just to be CONSISTENT. 🤣🤣🤣
Drinking game?
Ummmmm HHR...welp Hoovie u just lost some knowledge points from The Car Wizard...lol
I thought it was called an HHR too.
I said the same thing
I’m not ashamed to admit that I really liked these things when they came out and honestly I wouldn’t mind having one now. They just haven’t reach hooptie-enough status for my bank account
ME TOO! Though, it's gotta be Yellow
Absolutely yellow is the best color
I like them too, always have.
Im right there with you guys. I always liked these. They are unique but not as odd as the Prowler is. I bet with a little engine work you could boost the horsepower a bit but otherwise this looks like a really good driver.
@@PoodlePuncher Yellow is hands down the worst car color on the planet, maybe in a Lambo or something exotic, but not on a shit car, it screams look at me!
🙂 My Dad drove a red one and I always think of him when I see it. Rest in peace Pop, love ya.
My Dad was one of the main production / supplier quality Engineers for this vehicle they only made 74 a day at the lansing craft center. ASC made all the sheet metal which my dad over saw all their work. Brought a tester home one day when I was in high school which I got to take out on the twisties with him in the passenger seat. Loved how it drove!
American Specialty Car ASC yep worked there myself and actually a few of the folk that where there work with me at another plant, i think we all had fun building the SSR they where unique.
So he part of the reason for its failure
@@mikecrystalrobert7898 tell me you're a neckbeard without telling me you're a neckbeard 😆 🤣
I think the SSR came about as a result of a board meeting where no one went home until everyone agreed, so they just used everyone's idea. That's how we ended up with a pick up truck sports car hard top convertible with retro design.
The SSR Concept was based on a full-size Silverado, not the midsize... whatever it is. The concept made more sense, with a wider cab and larger bed. I guess Chevy wanted to sell production units for a lower price or maybe better fuel economy to justify building it - the same kind of mistake Chrysler made in choosing their V6 engine for the Prowler "hotrod," dooming it from the start.
It's like that episode of the Simpsons where Homer's brother lets him design a car...
The HHR was the baby of their head of design at the time, Ed Welburn, who loved those old Chevy pickups, and as Tyler mentioned, in the early 2000's the Big 3 were in the grip of the retro car craze, so no one at GM really questioned if it was a good idea. Unfortunately Tyler loves to ascribe reasons for why cars like this were made that don't have much relationship to reality. GM never used this assembly technique on any other car, so the idea that it was a way to test out new aluminum bonding techniques doesn't hold much water. I worked at a supplier to GM at the time, and GM came to us to try to design something for the HHR, so I got to see the thing in CAD years before it hit production. When we told them that we couldn't design a part that would work because of the goofy shape of the greenhouse, they asked us to design something that violated our internal design standards, so we declined to take the job.
@@Timmayytoo I thought he was taking about the Prowler having the bonded aluminum?
"We're making a Trailblazer pick up truck!" "No, we're making a retro fad V8 sports car!" "No, we're making a slow hardtop convertible!"
Tyler, please don’t ever stop surprising us with your odd buys! I live for them 😂
Maybe get a life?
he got it for free
might be controversial, but the ssr is imo one of the sleekest designed cars exterior-wise cuz it was curvy and everything fit into each other. The front curve extends into lines at the bed and slowly curves back down, the overly dramatisized fender flares that look like it was from older hot rod-ish trucks but they merge well into the front and back without sticking out too much and causing weird lines, the headlights and tailights were flush and complimented the circular theme, the grille with the chrome stripe which went straight through the front and right where you want it and the bed isn't too long or short. The proportions are nice and tight, and I think if the interior is upgraded and a few more design aspects were changed, it would've been a perfect car/ute/truck.
Imagine putting some 15" cragars with whitewalls and some retro style lights
@@jarrynsmith That'd be sick
Having recently axed the Camaro/Firebird after '02, GM had no sports coupe/sedan so that probably influenced their decision to build the SSR. Yes, they still had the Corvette, but that's a different animal.
@@HarryBalszak The Corvette is an animal, this is a turd.
@@HarryBalszak This is a literal turd. corvette and hsr shouldn't be used in a sentence together.
I happen to love this truck, such a bold and ballsy move from its manufacturer. It must feel really cool to drive a drop top muscle truck. Niceee job hoov
The ssR is my guilty pleasure along with the Ford Thunderbird of that era. I’ve always wanted to buy one of these and do an interior update/resto-mod with some of their newer stuff
Do it!
You called it an HHR a couple of times, that was pretty funny. They are totally stupid, but I love them. I also love the Prowler and the old Dakota convertible, so I have terrible taste. Looks like there is room for a turbo.
No, you have unique taste, I like all those vehicles you listed. I hate mass appeal cars
Just saw a Prowler yesterday, still think they re very cool and unique. +
Do you know how to catch a plymouth prowler?
I rented an HHR once and pretty much regretted it immediately. It appeared bigger on the outside but was very cramped inside.
@@JBM425 Reminds me of my buddy's Jeep Cherokee Classic circa 2000-ish, damn thing was tiny on the inside. Same with mid 90s and up(when they moved from the square body model, I wanna say 1996) Blazers/Jimmys back doors.
My dad owns an SSR. The roof is problematic and it likes to occasionally leak water into the passenger floorboard. Both common issues. The leaking is basically impossible to fix because the windshield frame flexes and allows water in even after removing the windshield and resealing it. He loves the truck through.
I dont know who told you that but it isnt true. Tell your father to jump on the SSR Facebook group. There is a way to stop that
Don't drive it in the rain dad.
Get Pops a scoot around car to save his interior......Father's Day is right around the corner 😄👍🏿💯
Neoprene seats and couple drain plugs.. sounds like a fun side by side slash fencing rig 😂
Oh man... in the beginning watching it get forked over reminded me of the first time I'd seen this happen. I was doing work outside the city impound along the RR tracks and while I was out there I was looking into the impound lot as they moved all sorts of cars, framed and unibody, cheap and expensive, all with license plates on them, some with the car alarm blaring, and inside the building was a line of people waiting to get their cars out of jail. I vow NEVER to get my car impounded, so long as I can help it, I nearly cried looking at how those cars got man-handled by one of these pieces of equipment.
Doesn’t it damage them in some way?
Wow. Sad story.
Towing is theft. It's taking property without the owner's permission. I wouldn't expect a thief and his buddies to take care of my stuff, even when they're trying to ransom it back.
@@shaft3285 not really, no. You may get a scratch or two on a lower control arm, but it's not nearly as bad as it looks.
@@OnyxCobra what I worry about is pinching brake lines, exhaust pipes, and other not so robust parts.
I genuinely like the SSR. It might be odd, but sometimes it is cool when companies go balls to the wall to get something extremely silly out.
Odd & quirky--I love it--looks great in black, maybe red? Chrome wheels would look nicer. Not in the purple though. Stupid GM/Chevy too stupid or lazy to import the Holden & rebadge it, or develop a new El Cam, so those of us with $$ to burn can get one of these guys. He paid under $20G's for what'll be a nice unique ride after the bodywork is done.
I keep hearing that it's a turd performance wise, but I have not seen/heard anything by anyone how s/he did something about it.
@@williamonderlinde5068 I actually had the honor to see one in yellow about 6 months ago. They are extremely rare in Germany, and I see this yellow thingy drive towards me from the far. It takes the form of a pickup until it is close enough for me to see the chrome stripe going across from left to right. Never thought I would see one.
Install a blower on it, works wonders.@@williamonderlinde5068
@@LexusLFA554 we have a couple older dudes here in my city that drive them. There's one yellow, one red, and I believe the third I saw was in the awful purple.
Certain cars have future classic written on them while being dirt cheap at the moment: GTO, SS and this.
I see this as a common trend happening with alot of early GM vehicles, alot of parts are being discontinued and its becoming a problem for us but not the manufacturer. As the owner of a 09 G8 GT its becoming stressful lol
Can’t you use caprice PPV parts because it’s on the same Holden platform?
@@funnypranker34 yes, I actually have caprice ppv struts and sway bar end links on my car as they are much beefier then the factory g8 parts. Plus I got some 5th gen camaro parts as well lol.
G8s (and SSRs) weren't easy to get parts for when they were new. I love them but that's a really bad example of Manufacturers discontinuing parts.
I always liked the SSR. I thought it was a cool throwback truck, or a roadster with a small bed. A great truck? Probably not, but I like 'em!
They are very unique, and extremely rare! I never see them. Much more pleasing to the eye than both the Chrysler PT Cruiser or Prowler.
Ive always been one if the few that liked these
That’s why I called it the “smartest pickup ever made” because i like retro cars. If I were to buy an EV it would be a Hyundai ioniq 5 because man that’s definitely stunning
With the vetted motor and a stick shift and a few bolt ons could be a decent little runaround toy. But for 20-30k likely in the configuration I can think of *alot* of things I could buy with that money instead. Certainly couldn't be an SSR.... Likely not even a GM 🤢
Throw an ls in it then it's good
You know you are getting quality when the dealer delivers your new car with a fork lift. Much better than in a dump truck.
Yes bad quality, poor quality but not good or high quality is what you get.
It’s called a salvage car auction for a reason lmao Copart isn’t a dealer
Would have saved Tyler a step if it came in the dump truck
It could have been a Juke in a garbage truck. What's uglier than that? No, leave the Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi jokes for the political jokes.
@@Colorado_Native My standard answer to all such questions would be "Pontiac Aztek". A broader minded person might say Scion Cube or Honda Element but I always figure you could store frozen fish in those.
I remember really liking the retro designs of all these when they first came out, and I still do. The designs hold up because they're so weird they just don't look like anything else on the road.
The Thunderbird is my favorite one followed by the Prowler
I think the same thing.
Except HHRs. And Prowlers. And PT Cruisers. And Thunderbirds.
Me too, love all of these! SSR, T-bird, Prowler, PT Cruiser, Ford GT, I'm a sucker for all retro-US cars... almost bought a PT.
I remember a family in my home village in the Netherlands that had a very american home with all sorts of jukeboxes and two chevy's in front of their house: a bright yellow SSR 5.3 and a orange HHR 2.4. That was a very unusual sight here and I appreciated the effort they put in to get those here and keep them drivable for probably more than 10 years.
YO! This is my Dad's truck! He had that little accident just this last winter. It was his Mom's for most of it's life before that. It lived in Texas most of it's life!
I like how Hoovie has ONE turn in his town to test his cars lol.
Lol
It is the Midwest. And Kansas is in the great plains.
Only place in Kansas you'll find a curve is at a fast food drive-thru.
@@warren_r nonsense, we have lots of curvy gravel roads to fly off of.
Theres one street in his town that is actually fun to drive aggresively. I know this because I'm from Wichita as well lol. I used to rip my Cobalt SS down that one specific street.
Dont condone it though since its an actual neighborhood main street. But its fun if your fine with being one of those assholes.
This old guy who lives around me drives one of these. He always double parks it at a super busy convince store that already lacks parking. I hate these trucks because of him
hahaha
I punched a guy out for that!
@@canabox7112 ok tough guy
@@longjohn77 I boxed for 29 years MF
Target your anger correctly. The trucks are great. Target your anger at the old selfish fossils who don't live as an example worth respecting. That truck didn't choose to be owned by a jerk.
10:00 NEVER open or close the hood using the silver strip on the hood, they are made of plastic and will break off in your hand, Trust me.
I'd consider buying it when you get tired of it. I have my Dad's 2004 and I well aware of the little quirks with them.
I'm interested in that roof rack piece.
I've installed a couple of the Roof struts, are easy to install just a little time consuming.
That one is all stock, there are a number of upgrades the the diehards install, carpet and wood strip trunk, upgraded fan, shift link fix, suspension upgrades,....
yes, the silver hood strip is fragile, ask me how i know haha
@@johnpeters9903 how would you know
I love the style of the SSR, and I personally own an HHR, I just don't think they are really worth what they sale for, even if I do want one. If there aren't any surprise issues with this truck, I could see it being a fine addition to your fleet
I think if they had sold these for around $20,000 and called it an "El Camino" it would have done good and had a longer run. I do not mind the power issue I think Chevy was thinking or hoping that the vehicle would take of in the customization scene so they did not bother to put a really strong motor in it thinking it would be removed. I also think this is why the vehicle was designed with a V8 and not a V6 or straight 6 because of the idea that this is a platform for customization and customizers would want to put a V8 in it so it was designed with a V8 to help with customization?
most vehicles would sell better if you cut the price in half 😂
look at that interior they were already cutting every corner to bring the price down, no way GM could have sold it in the $20k range and turned a profit.
Nah, if they wanted an "el camino" they could have brought over the UTE version of the commodore, which was already sold stateside as the pontiac G8. They had a legitimate el camino and just wouldnt bring it over here for...reasons.
@@Nick-ue7iw I think GM knows a thing or two about the US car market, I mean they brought us the new Blazer because clearly the Equinox was slightly too small
Exactly what the car is, Ive had 30 plus Elkys & this is a great replacement & teh top goes down , its a very usefull truck if you use it as one The wife has over 110k on hers
This thing looks like a modern day El Camino. I didn't even know the Chevy SSR was even a thing because I've never seen one driven around town. The SSR looks like it would be popular among surfers, because it has a bed where you can put your surfboard, and it has a retractible convertible hardtop roof.
My Friday morning has been sucking so much, I come to my office to check emails and I say to my self, I need a break. I sure hope there is a Hoovies Garage TH-cam video to give me that 15min break. Thank the good lord that Tyler just posted a video. My Friday just got better. I am not joking! Your videos give me the best breaks from work. Thank you so much.... Please keep uploading on Fridays and keep being the dumpest automotive TH-camr out there.
you need to rethink life then my man if this video means that much to you you should prob focus on making your own life better
Dumpiest??
@@Fony_turgeson agree 100%
Sometimes making your life better means not enjoying life at all for a few years. Not sure why you’re acting like a self help guru in the comments.
@@paulwilliams667 dude. Stop. What I said makes sense.
I remember when these came out, I have always thought they were cool looking and the fact that they have a V8 in them is a plus for sure, the LS 2 engine is the better engine obviously. This is a perfect truck for your hooptie fleet.
Hey Hoovie, owner of a Lincoln LS here. The Sister car of the new Thunderbird you mentioned. They actually are quite fun, just really unreliable. They handle great, and the Mid 6 second 0-60 makes them quite fun.
Lincoln should've turned these into "the American 5 Series" if they were more reliable and could develop at least 2 other solid engine options. Unfortunately, GM-US never had a stab at that, it'd would be Holden with their Commodores (the G8 [VE] and SS sedan [VF] were "hand-me-downs" from Holden) that would be closest to it.
Many subsequent Fords, e.g. Mustangs, use parts that were originally developed for the LS
Sorry to hear about the unreliable part the LS was a very attractive mid-size sedan in its day.
Just watched an SSR on the grand tour. In yellow it looks like it came straight out of that new Wes Anderson movie. Thought I’d hate it but now I really want one.
I have a 1 of 7 Final Production Run 2006 LS2 factory blue over silver two-tone 6spd manual that I use to pull a 19ft 75th Anniversary Airstream. There is NO BETTER tow vehicle with the top down, wide open exhaust blasting off the front of the trailer tearing thru mountain passes!
When the SSR First hit our dealership they went for big dollars then when this first customers spent their money they sat. Year 2 if we got a 6 speed it sold fast, not so much on the Automatics . The one thing about the 5.3s is ,it does not take much to make them fast . The 6.0 made it quicker but it wasn't that much faster. Also you are going to run into a parts problem if the top breaks the G6 convertible has the same issue . You can have a ton of fun with this and actually have luggage !!!!!
Just hope it has tinted windows if you get one so nobody sees you driving it!
Funny you mentioned the G6 convertible, one of my neighbors in my apartment complex had a G6 convertible and every summer I would wonder why I've never seen that thing with the top down. I didn't know them very well so I never stopped to ask why the top is always up on such beautiful days, but that answers that... probably needs unobtainium parts.
@@man_on_wheelz When they broke and I mean when. The Dealer gave you a Choice. You want to have the Top Up or Down that was your permanent choice .
@@stern12akachris32 Daaaaaaaamn lmao!!! That is terrible haha!
You are 100% wrong that the 6.0 didn't make it a lot faster. The 0-60 alone dropped by two seconds. On what planet is that not much faster??
This is seriously one of my favorite vehicles of all time, I have always wanted one.
I thought about buying one of these with a manual transmission and the LS2, but I ended up buying a 2004 GTO instead. With the 6.0L engine they were actually pretty quick, but with the 5.3L they were not fast at all. They do look incredibly cool though.
A GTO you say? Interesting... 😂🤣😎
I was going to get one but had a hernia repair instead.
I was literally looking at one, but I found a 2015 chevy caprice detectives car with a 6.0 L77 in it. I'm gonna check it out when I get off work 😆
I thought about getting one, but I was 9. Still am.
I still have my GTO. 250k miles and still pumping along just fine.
_Greatest and most interesting concept turning into an idea from the General. And the reason it tanked (so to speak) was the price tag. Here are the stats: over the four model years, the vehicle classed as a pick-up made available for sale was 24,112 units. Now for those naysayers, once the LS2 was dropped in for the '05/'06 model years(in the 6-speed version), the coolest truck on the planet at the time could rocket from 0 to 60 in just 5.29 seconds! And today, these 'beware of the red bow-tie' brigades are and have significantly gone up in value. Oh and the reason Chevy introduced the SSR was much like the C4 ZR1's: 'because we can'. Great find Tyler._
BEST LOOKING TRUCK EVER!!! I guess you would have to grow up around a 50 model Chevy truck to appreciate it!
I think these SSR's are a great combination of a classic look without the drawbacks associated with classic cars, and it's somewhat practical.
Drawbacks? I’ve owned everything from the 1920’s to the 2000’s. My current daily driver is a 1966 Chevy truck. Most down to earth and practical truck I’ve ever owned. My F350 is a nightmare when something breaks, as well as everything else I’ve ever owned made after 1990.
Somewhat at best lol
Talk about practical - our bright red SSR is a summer daily driver used by my fiancé who is a Realtor. What other 2-seater convertible with a sweet rumbling exhaust can turn heads at a showing, look good at a cars and coffee, and transport 3x4' steel yard signs?
Honestly, i really dont think it's dumb. I like the idea of using it to pick up materials at Lowes but also having your weekend drop top. A real two for. Absolutely would hold out for an ls2 with 6 speed manual.
If you're willing to spend $30 - $40K for the 6 speed LS2, sure ... the auto 5.3 is half the cost.
Can you put a dirt bike in it? How about a sleeping bag in the back? Will 4x8 sheetrock or paneling fit?
Good buy. As an owner I’ll say upgrade the Bose amplifier to something better because they are crap. Also always check the reservoir for the hydraulic roof before operation because Leaks are common. Also upgrade the front electric fan. Very weak and will run over 220 in traffic
And do an LS2 engine swap
Rock auto has the fan but you are correct, it is a weak spot
I’ve always wanted one of these. There used to be one that drove around my town not too long ago, but I don’t see it anymore. I just think they are such a unique concept.
I'd have one of them, love them, quirky, different and loads of storage, if only they were cheaper. I'd be tempted to get those plastics covered by some nice material.
This was during the retro fad Detroit got into in the late 90's early 2000's.
I wanted one of these, until I started seeing them in person more often.
Chevy should've imported the Holden UTE instead.
100%...i think for the use case i see most midwest truck owners ACTUALLY use them for, means the UTEs 500lb rating and decent bed size is PERFECT. Would have sold better than they think tbh
Pontiac was going to, in 2009……
The funny part is when you called it an HHR several times 😂😂😂😂
A relatable POS as well
To be fair, the front looks similar to an HHR.
Two daft pseudoretro GM products from the same decade with very similar names... yeah, I'll give him a pass on that.
It's really more like an STD, as the wizard notes.
You are my spirit animal
Hello Alex 💪
All the charisma and all the money
Hey Alex you should do a tour of the USA with Phil on your channel!
Alex!
So the insurance company likely totaled this out because all the parts are discontinued for it. As an insurance auto damage appraiser, I have only written an estimate on one of these and EVERYTHING had to be repaired by the repair facility, even though some of the parts needed replacement (front+rear bumpers, left fender, left aluminum left running board, left door, left quarter panel). Within insurance guidelines, usually vehicles with discontinued parts have a high possibility of totaling out.
I love learning these fun nuggets of car knowledge from these videos. I had forgotten that GM did a retro truck.
This is the coolest truck! I imagine Hoovie driving this and listening to ZZ Top. 😎
🎶 "Gimmie all your Lovin'
All your Hugs and Kisses Too!🎶
i dont think Hoovie knows who or what ZZ top is lol
It is a close call with the song YMCA from the village people. It is the hear dresser version of a pickup truck.
It's about as cool as Crocs
@@josephrowe2202 For you, in the USA maybe. For us in Europe with 0.8 liter cc and 2.0 liter cc motor... This is cool. Cool to hear and cool to know you have over 150 HP. So lucky you. 😊
I remember my buddy’s dad had one of these. He owned a pretty successful plumbing company. He wanted something fun, fast in a straight line, and something that could still carry pipes and tools in in a pinch. Other than that, he used to take it on trips to his cottage with his wife and all their stuff in top down comfort, while me and my buddy would stay back and get super stoned when they were gone. Lol.
Was that in Calgary?
one of these days wizard is gonna wave you through the shop and out the other door 😂
It's great how he tries and tries to hate this truck but just cant.
I have a 6 speed with 25,000 miles and an MR2 Spyder. I love never seeing either of my cars sitting next to me at at a light like a cookie cutter!
I own a Chevy SSR and a Chrysler Prowler with the rare aftermarket hardtop. I'm keeping them both in my collection. Both of these vehicles are from the Bob Lutz era when he green lighted the Prowler at Plymouth/Chrysler. Then the Chevy SSR, when he jumped ship and worked at GM. So when you look at a Prowler and a SSR and wondered if there was a connection to these two vehicles.... There is. You can see some styling influences between the two. You can thank Bob Lutz for making them happen.
I remember when this came out. People are complaining about dealer mark-ups in today's auto market need to know these SSRs were marked up to $80,000 when they first came out. I think that had a lot to kill the popularity of this questionable vehicle.....
Yes, low volume doesn't necessarily mean valuable. I remember this too... if you wanted to actually buy one, SSRs were almost double the cost of a nicely equipped Sierra 1500. And no AWD/4wd.
Funnily enough the ones listed today (generally as 'collectibles') tend to run in the low $40k-50k range. For an underpowered rear wheel drive pseudo truck.
The dumb thing is if they had made an actual retro pickup with 4wd, it likely would have sold a lot better. The styling was good. The execution was not.
I love the SSR and the HHR SS. Hope to see this one brought back to it's former glory!
I loved the look of these when they first came out. I had several El Caminos and Rancheros before, so wasn't concerned about the limitations as I was used to them anyway. The hardtop convertible was icing on the cake. Then I drove a new one and yuck!!! Could not believe how plain the interior was and the doors are almost blank! Put the top down and discovered the cowl shake was California earthquake levels, wonder if Tyler noticed this as well. Took it back to the dealer and ran over to Pontiac and bought the 6 speed manual GTO. Never regretted that choice, the GTO was a wonderful highway car and drove it for YEARS! Sorry Chevy.
Damn 6 speed GTO eats this thing up all day, great choice ur a real one ⚡️💪
No brainer choice!
Pontiac was always Chevy's cooler, more adventurous sister. So aside the fact it was formed kinda like a truck and even treated as one on the market, I always felt this should would have looked more at home under the Pontiac marque. I hate that It Pontiac is gone now. RIP Pontiac!
I'm more of a Ford guy myself, but I always wanted one of those GTOs too. I always wanted an SSR also!
Yeah I guess it's dumb if you look at it as a truck, which it barely is. But I consider it to be a niche car. A very COOL one.
I may still buy one someday If I find a nice deal on one.
The voice over is brutal, not sure how often you do them but this one is noticeable
My father in law has 2 of these. A yellow one with the 5.3 and a Chamaeleon paint job with a LS2 and a T56. They are both neat but the LS2 with a 6 speed is a blast. I always take it for a spin when we visit.
that thing is so cool. I remember seeing it around when it came out, thought it was the coolest thing ever. Nice buy man
Around the same time, Renault made the Avantime - a minivan coupe. Totally barking but totally cool. It had full side doors on double hinges, but Renault never bothered to promote it, while pushing a seriously dull Ford Granada / Beemer M5 competitor. That failed to impress anyone.
I remember checking these out in the show room when they first came out and the salesman had me open and close the door to show me how the doors felt like an old car with a real solid thud when they close. Pretty cool they have aged well.
that's the only real quality feeling bit you touch then. don't get me wrong, I love these.
I'll also say, these cars were NEVER intended to be sports cars, but cruisers with decent enough acceleration. It's the design that makes the car.
It's a hideous design.
My dad had one of these and it was actually a pretty sweet ride! I love them!
Have had one since 2003, Its been a great modern El camino. the wife drives it daily. I was talking to a GM executive around 2006 & told them they blew it with this truck, cut the price , strip out some content & call it an Elky . It has a hidden tow hitch that can tow a bike or a few jet skis. The roof finally crapped out this year and its a PIA to change the hydraulics. Her early build car has the 5.3 & runs 15.1's all day in the heat. Not bad for such a big heavy ride. Overall underated & a very praticle daily driver 120k miles & counting
@Rocky's Modern Life Pain in the A$$ , the main cylinder was out in durin teh build , you need to be very small or have very long arms to get to them and then bank teh floorpan to get the bolt out!
How many times does Hoovie incorrectly call his new (to him) SSR an HHR? I've counted twice in the first two minutes.
OMG, how are you going TO LIVE ?!?!??
Came to the comments to see who had noticed 😅
At least it's not riptide blue.
He says himself, this is the dumbest channel, and we love him. So, it’s an SSR now.
I was wondering if it was intentional or not cause he was talking about the PT Cruiser.
I've always loved the concept of a roadster pickup truck. Chevy should've put the Silverado SS's 454 in this thing from the beginning.
Should have kept the Cyclone and Typhoon.
Chevy should make a newer SS 454 but now with their ZZ632 1000hp V8
I own one. 454 big block wouldn't fit. The 6.0 liter adds 100 hp. It's awesome. A 6.2 would've been coll or a 7.0 would've made it a legend.
Yes...that fire breathing 235hp 454🤣
Chevy SSR was one strange beast with a throw it back design.
It’s ugliness was only beat out by the Pontiac Aztek
PS - Still with top down it would be a great PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) cruiser
Aztek's look is definitely unfortunate since it has features that are desirable for people who like to camp. I don't know of anything that compares.
It was a retro thing. The problem was the price just like the T-Bird. If the t-bird had come in under 30 I think people would have bought it. You probably could have gotten a pretty good original 57 for the price of one of those 2004s
I like the styling. I love the 40-50’s look and it’d be a fun weekend cruiser
Gotta admit...I'm a sucker for uniqueness. Even the PT Cruiser - despite it being just a rebodied Neon - gets points in my book for being at least different!
The SSR is not the dumbest pickup truck ever made. That title goes to the 1989-1991 Dodge Dakota convertible pickup truck. Like the SSR, the Dakota convertible was made in partnership with the American Sunroof Corp (ASC) but unlike the SSR, the Dakota convertible was made with a fabric roof so it was easy to break into and not cheap to replace. At least the SSR is a hard top. I don't think the SSR is that bad. I like the retro styling and it works well as a regular pickup truck with a fiberglass bed cover. You can also remove the SSR bed cover and store it (GM gave instructions on how to remove it and bypass the switch that told the truck the bed cover was closed so the convertible top would go down (Located in the drivers side hinge). They also sold a set up that you could use to hang the cover in your garage). As long as you did not have the carpeted bed and had the bed liner option , you could go coverless as long as you wanted to without taking any precautions.
"The Corvette truck!" - Is what it was promoted as back when it was released....Might as well call it a "HHR" LOL - At least it had the 6.0L later on....
HHR SS was fast and you could camp out of it way easier than WRX. Turbo 5.3s are easy speed.
That's what I always called it "the corvette truck" my mom's veitnam vet cousin got one, though he was too cool for school in it lmao :D
hoovie did accidentally call it the HHR at 2:10
My daughter has a 06 HHR. It is unibody if I recall. A reworked Cobalt like the Saturn SUV/CUV. She replaces brake drums every 50k (not big enough for the heavier body). Battery wouldn't fit under the hood due to the bolted on 1930s fenders. Battery is buried in the trunk, under the cargo deck, under the cargo well. Which is fun if the battery dies, since you open the trunk electrically...so you have to tunnel in and jimmy the hatch lock cable.
She loves that car/truck though.
@@STho205 I could get on board with a HHR equipped like a cobalt ss supercharged, like a pt cruiser SRT 4 lmao :D
The Doug DeMuro of pickup trucks
12:00 amazing that new cars are being totaled because of a lack of parts...which oddly enough if they get parted out should help fix that problem.
That's why I'm always on the lookout for aftermarket parts for my 2015 Fiat 500 Abarth. Eventually, OEM parts will run out, but aftermarket parts should continue for a while. I've already confirmed you can easily swap out the brakes and suspension for aftermarket parts without creating new issues or safety concerns.
Newer vehicles get rebuilt not parted out. Hence the no parts..
Honestly, I love these. They look so cool and classy. I would own one if I didn’t make 13 an hr.
A friend's husband bought one new.... along with a loooong warranty. He was glad as it was in the shop many, many times... all covered by the warranty. Overheating problems a few times, and other annoyances.
That is exactly how a trailblazer is so the front CV axles can run to the wheels
I have loved the look of the SSR from the beginning. I'd buy it off you. I'm sure you stole it. When you don't say what you paid you got a deal. Keep up the great content enjoying it. Thanks
Wanna hear a steal I bought one in colorado in February for 12 clean title 03 100k miles and all and I MEAN all the issues that the SSR has was fixed by the guy who is known as THE SHIT at ssr bullshit
All you gotta do is go to Copart (this video is a Copart ad by the way) and you'll find you can't get a sweetheart deal like hoovie did. Copart won't "sponsor" you.
I know they're ridiculous and don't drive that great, but I'd totally own one of these, mostly just to take to car shows. They're just crazy looking.
How well fitted is the driving experience for just cruising? I don’t know why but I want one more than anything
It’s the perfect vehicle for cruising too be honest
@@jaccuster8258 the ssr wasn’ meant to be a fast sports car... it’s a weekend cruiser. Put a few surfaces in the back, take a drive with the wife or other and put the top down. Enjoy the scenic drives.. it’s a perfect cruising vehicle. Suitcases, cooler in the back, even a fold up tent and a small bbq! It’ll fit , then go on a causal weekend camping trip.
I'd change the wheels to something more retro (whitewalls, steel wheels with chrome) and add flames up the side 😀
It's cool like the truck with the viper engine in it.
to whom it may concern! i had a 2007 cadillac srx4wd v6! the front shocks where designed for clearance for drive shafts !! so it appears the ssr has cadillac components ! fun fact ,love your videos
Hoovie, the setup in the front end is identical to a Trailblazer or any GMT-360 platform. To save on costs, the SSR shares the same frame as the Trailblazer and its sisters. Somewhere towards the middle of the truck, or past the crossmember you can see where GM cut the frame to shorten it, and welded it back together. Otherwise, they're both the same all the way down to most of the suspension parts/engine/tranny etc. Having driven one before, you really need to get the 06+ model with the 6.0L, the difference between the 5.3 and 6.0 is extremely noticeable in this thing.
Weirdly enough I love the SSR it’s a quirky little truck and they are super cool to see because of the rarity
"automakers never take chances like this nowadays" has he already forgotten about the nissan convertible crossover - Wiz "the Ac works good" hoovie "the AC works well" thanks Hoovie :)
the murano cross cabriolet came out over 10 years ago
@@modadabhoy4991 wow I didn't know, they don't exist where I am, I've only seen the one from the video. And wasn't 2010 yesterday ?
the SSR is actually cool asf and I’d love to own one.
agreed. thats like calling a ranchero or el camino the dumbest truck ever made. wrong.
@@trubahhh those are arguably more attractive than this
This dated video really shows the changing times ... Now the 2005 and 2006 are doing well. The LS 2 is great. Mine only has 9k on it they are becoming very popular after all it was a Retro-build ...By the way you cannot operate the top without having your brake depressed
I guess me being from NY at 12:40 after the curve test it's WIDE open in Kansas! My god we definitely would have start and finish lines on that road!
You should get an STS turbo system for it. It looks like it has plenty of room in the rear for the turbos. That would wake that thing up.
Around the 2 minute mark you keep calling it the HHR. I owned a HHR. Trust me that thing is WAY better than the HHR. Other than that, great video Tyler.
I've always loved these, I don't care how most grumps think they suck. I'm not buying one for someone else to enjoy
Also, 2:08 close enough
@Borat Sagdiyev Feel free to buy me a better car then :)
"I'm not buying one for someone else to enjoy" Exactly, if I'm not spending your money, don't tell me how to spend it.
The Karman running gear that operates that roof is exactly the same that was fitted to the Nissan micra convertible. Even down to the geometry of the A pillar / roof lock mechanism. I was involved with its development in the early 2000s, it just brought so many memories. 👍
The sadest part in this whole video was: "Automakers would never take chances like this nowadays". Being from Europe, I have the advantage to know about DS, Peugeot and also Cupra, but still it's sad that car manufacturers won't leave their comfort zone anymore. Cars like the SSR were just as important as a 8-series from BMW or an S-Class. While they showed us what technology is capable of, cars like the SSR were like the salt in the soup. They showed us what else is possible. Very sad that this idea died.
I did an out of province inspection on one. It needed a headlight. I was like how the hell do you get the headlight out?I went online. Turned out you have to take the bumper off! Two and a half flat rate to change a head light!
Ford Fusion is the same way.
You still have to do that on new Subarus… my wrx is a pain in the ass to get the headlights off and on on. Need to take out twenty odd pop clips that snap if the wind blows, the hood seal, and the mounts that hold them. Takes an hour to get it off and half an hour to two hours to get it on because you have to line up every clip and smack it into place. Painful.
Had a 2000 Nissan Altima. Same kind of thing to change the headlight bulb or any other bulbs in the headlight box.. You had to take off the liner inside the front wheelwell. Once done you had to reach in and undo the 3 nuts holding the light box in. Trouble was, you had to do it all by feel because to couldn't see the nuts. There also wasn't any room so you had to use a small 1/2 inch ratchet while you reached in up to your shoulder to loosen the nuts.
Maybe this would have been easier up on a lift, but it wasn't something you wanted to pay a mechanic to do everything a headlight burnt out.
New fords and vw sold in uk and Europe do the same thing.
When this truck came out I fell in love with it. It looks like a great Cruzer. 💪😎💪
You should see someone about those arms my guy.
@@AliOfBaba that's funny
This truck made absolutely no sense and was one of the few times that a domestic manufacturer failed in launching a truck model (the other time being the Lincoln Blackwood). But when you remember how hot the retro craze was during the turn of the millenium and Chevy was desperate to fill the huge hole in their line-up from the departed Camaro (Pontiac imported the GTO to fill theirs) you can see why they gambled on it.
Failure is not unknown at GM. GM knows failure like the back of their hand.
They would of sild thousands if they exported them to Europe uk and Australia as small trucks like this are the thing even vw had them on sale this size with a smaller engine.
When these came out plenty of people here in Australia said they ought to have brought them in down here. They look a lot like a 1950’s FJ Holden ute, one of Australia’s most beloved classic cars and a cultural icon here Down Under. I love these Chevrolet utes!!
I work for the company who made all the hinges for the roof and doors .. I think they made that in Lansing Michigan, had a few Trips to that plant back when it was in production.
It's the gearing ratio that makes it slow. It's geared like a truck. Change the gears and it will FLY!!!
And add a turbocharger. 😁
It,s a little heavy and the 5.3 is not a torque monster. better highway cruiser than a tire burner
Living in the UK it's the first time I've ever seen one and I think it's mint! What a great looking weirdo of a vehicle.
I love these things myself. There are maybe 3 for sale here in the UK at the moment ranging from a ridiculous £60k to a much more reasonable £26k. All three have the better 6.0L and a Manual Transmission. Definitely worth looking at if you can afford to run them!
They had perfectly good powertrains and switchgear that went in the Corvette, or even the Holden SS Commodore/Maloo utes... And they chose to use to none of it.
It's stupid, but cool as hell.
The Maloo would have been a better choice for GM to sell than the SSR.
This would actually be a practical 'convertible' for someone like me. Random parts run trips, and a weekly trip to the big city for all the groceries and such for the week.. The trunk of an SN95 doesn't quite fit the bill, but this sure as heck would!
Wizard is such a cool and humble guy.
The price point is what killed it. Also it was too small. I remember when I first heard they were going to build a new el Camino. I was thinking and I will buy one. The end result was disappointing and over priced.
Cool idea but I'm not keen on the styling. Too much roundiness, too much plastic, can't agree with Hoovie about the front and the rims. The retro treatment can be done well but this just looks like a life-sized kids toy
I was going to get one until I saw what Chevrolet wanted for it. It was just an overpriced toy
Over priced at $44k new but the 5.3's are holding at $20k after 20 years. . Better than a cadillac or buick worth nothing after 20 years
I have legit always wanted one of these since they came out. Still looking today for a one priced decently
Might be able to get this one cheap soon
I really enjoy Hoovies' videos, but the sound levels were jumping all over the place for me. Anyone else experience this?
It was like a spaghetti western for me
Me too. Audio and video weren’t in sync.
I never thought I’d hear the Wizard quoting Scottie Kilmers well known phrase at 17:48 " ring that bell"...🤣
I liked the SSR when I saw a yellow one for sale at the Orange County Market in October 2005. It was quite expensive from memory but I always had a soft spot for them.