2005 Chevrolet SSR

Description

The SSR was one of those great ideas at GM that took some time to perfect, much like the Fiero, the Impala SS, and the Cadillac Allante, and once it was right, it was one heck of a truck. The ones to own are the final iterations like this 2005 example, which offers just 17,912 original miles, a powerful 6.0 liter V8, as well as that screaming yellow paint job.

Ostensibly based on the Advance Design pickups of the late-40s, the SSR is perhaps the most unique blend of retro and modern we've had to date. Not merely a modern version of something old, but an entirely new niche. Is it a pickup truck? A muscle car? A convertible? Most would argue that it does all three things pretty well, and wrapping it in the curvy bodywork with deeply flared fenders gives it as much eyeball appeal as a bright red Ferrari at 8000 RPM. This one is finished in Slingshot Yellow, a high-visibility color that makes the outstanding truck really stand out, and some custom red pinstripes highlight the truck's retro profile. Following the truck's most interesting body lines, the work was expertly done, adding to the retro truck's street rod vibe. And with only 18,000 or so miles on the clock, it still looks showroom fresh in every sense of the word.

Once you're inside the SSR, it's pretty easy to forget the pickup truck look, because it's more Camaro than Cameo from behind the wheel. Deeply bolstered black leather buckets grab you in aggressive cornering, while a color-matched center console between them offers secondary controls and a big chrome shifter that's straight out of the '60s. Auxiliary gauges down low add to the muscle car vibe, and the original instruments were clearly designed to recall those in the original Camaro with three deep, round binnacles. The A/C is powerful, the stereo sounds awesome, and there are few cooler feats of automotive acrobatics than the folding hardtop, which disappears with the touch of a button. The only notable modification is a wind blocker between the seats, an effective addition that makes it all the more pleasant inside. And instead of thinking of the rear area as a pickup bed, check out the neatly tailored black carpet mat that effectively turns it into one of the world's biggest trunks.

One quick blast down the road with your foot on the floor will convince you that this is, indeed, a performance vehicle. The 6.0 liter V8 is a big step up from the early SSR's 5.3, and completely transforms the vehicle's personality. Fast, but docile, with a raucous exhaust bark that doesn't get annoying, it's the ultimate modern small block. Linked to a slick-shifting automatic transmission and a heavy-duty suspension, it likes to hustle and will feel at home on your favorite twisty road as much as on the highway. Powerful 4-wheel discs and a bunch of electronic traction aids will build confidence when you're running hard, and those massive 255/45/19 front and 295/40/20 rear Goodyears grip the road like flypaper.

Fast, fun, and even a bit practical, this segment-busting convertible pickup definitely delivers. Call today