Chevrolet SSR

The Chevrolet SSR (Super Sport Roadster) is a retractable hardtop convertible pickup truck manufactured by Chevrolet between 2003 and 2006.

Chevrolet SSR
Overview
ManufacturerGeneral Motors
Model years2004–2006
AssemblyLansing, Michigan
Body and chassis
ClassPickup
Body style
LayoutFR layout
PlatformGM GMT368 platform
Related
Powertrain
Engine
  • 5.3 L LM4 V8 (2003-2004)
  • 6.0 L LS2 V8 (2005-2006)
Transmission
Dimensions
Wheelbase116.0 in (2,946 mm)[1]
Length
  • 2003–05: 191.4 in (4,862 mm)
  • 2006: 191.5 in (4,864 mm)
Width78.6 in (1,996 mm)
Height
  • 2003–05: 64.2 in (1,631 mm)
  • 2006: 63.8 in (1,621 mm)
Chronology
PredecessorChevrolet El Camino

The 2003 and 2004 model years used General Motors' 5.3 L 300 hp Vortec 5300 V8.[2] Performance was 7.7 seconds for 0–60 mph (0–97 km/h) with a 15.9 second quarter mile run at 86.4 mph. The 2005 SSR used the 390 hp (291 kW) LS2 V8 also found in the C6 Corvette, Trailblazer SS, and Pontiac GTO, and also offered a manual transmission option, the six-speed Tremec, for the first time.

For the 2006 model year, the LS2 engine featured minor modifications that boosted its output to 395 hp (295 kW) (automatic transmission) and 400 hp (298 kW) (manual), respectively. Performance improved dramatically with the LS2, the 6-speed manual version had an advertised 0-60 mph (97 km/h) time of 5.29 seconds. In addition, GM badges were added to the vehicle.

Design
Chevrolet SSR
1954 Advance Design pickup

The SSR's "retro" styled design was inspired by Chevrolet's late-1940s Advance Design trucks, in particular the 1947–1955 pickups. The vehicle rode on a GM368 platform specific to it, a version of the period's highly adaptable GMT360, and featured a steel body retractable hardtop designed by Karmann and built by ASC.[3][4] The body of the truck, namely the front fenders, were made with deep draw stampings, a forming technique that had not been used in automotive stampings in decades, and required a "relearning" of the forming technique. The production model was based on the SuperSport Roadster concept car shown at the 2000 Detroit Auto Show. An early-production SSR was the pace car for the 2003 Indianapolis 500 auto race.

Sales
Rear view

The SSR was introduced as a 2004 model on New Year's Eve 2003.[5] In spite of marketing efforts which included the SSR being used as the pace car for the 2003 Indianapolis 500,[6] it sold below expectations with under 9,000 sales at US$42,000 each. Citing a 301-day supply of SSRs, General Motors in December of that year announced five weeks of layoffs at Lansing Craft Center, the factory that made the SSR. On November 21, 2005, GM announced that it would close the Craft Center in mid-2006, spelling the end for the SSR. The final SSR, a unique black-on-silver model (Highest VIN 1GCES14H06B126138), was built on March 17, 2006.[7] Analysts estimate that 24,150 SSRs were produced in total. Of the total production, 24,112 were available for sale to the public.

Motorsports
SSR with the top down

An attempt was made at a land speed record using a highly modified version of an SSR during the Bonneville Speed Week in August of 2011. In spite of the team's efforts, the SSR in question was deemed ineligible to race in the class that they intended to compete in due to an air dam that did not conform to the class rules. They were permitted to race the truck for "time only" but the truck proved unstable at speeds approaching 200mph. Unfortunately the truck never reached speeds anywhere near close enough to take the record. That same year a 1996 GMC Sonoma put the class record even further out of reach by running nearly 10mph faster than the previous record.

gollark: Yes, but instructions aren't equal in difficulty of execution or something.
gollark: Consider an actual CPU: NOP is basically free, unfathomable vectorized instructions are æ.
gollark: But what if you use TONS of time with one instruction?
gollark: when the chronoapioform interacts with a time-reversed version of itself
gollark: Wondrous!

See also

References
  1. Newbury, Stephen (2002). The car design yearbook 1. Merrell Publishers Limited. ISBN 1-85894-190-3.
  2. Huizenga, Paul. "Storm on the Horizon: Tracing Today's Super SUV Origins". Driving Line. NItto Tire.
  3. "Production problems slow Chevy SSR introduction". Automotive News. December 14, 2005. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  4. "What a Concept: Chevy's SSR is more than just a new truck for GM". Autoweek. August 3, 2003. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  5. Amanda Silva (May 15, 2015). "The Chevy SSR: A Curious Conversation". Auto Influence. Retrieved July 6, 2018. But the coolest SSR on-screen moment came in the form of a 2003 Chevy roundup of sorts, a commercial showcasing the year’s ten new Chevrolets, directed by Michael Bay of big-budget action film acclaim, like Transformers. How appropriate. Airing on New Year’s Eve, this sixty-second spot introduced the SSR to the world. A new car…uh…truck…or convertible…for the new year.
  6. "Indianapolis 500: The 8 worst Indy pace cars of all time". USA TODAY. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  7. Barbara Wieland. "Tearful workers say goodbye Last SSR rolls off Craft Center line". Lansing State Journal. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved March 20, 2006.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.