Yes, it’s real.  The Chevrolet SSR started life as a dream truck that combined 1930s styling cues, 1990s hot-rod modifications, and a modern drivetrain.  Thanks to overwhelming public approval, the SSR made the leap from show car to showroom, and now it’s one of Chevy’s halo cars.  Is it really a truck?  Sort of.  Think of it as the coolest El Camino ever, and you’ll be on the right track.  In its second year on the market, Chevrolet’s big-boy toy gets a new powertrain to give it some serious go power.

No one is going to mistake an SSR for anything else.  As if the retro bodywork wasn’t enough, this is also the only retractable hardtop pickup truck on the market.  The extravagant curves of the front fenders and grille sweep into a compact, arch-topped cab.  Chevy says the design was inspired by the Advanced Design pickups of 1947-54.  The bed has a rigid tonneau cover, and the rounded-off tail has circular taillights in the fenders, just like the old trucks that inspired it.  Chevrolet’s signature horizontal chrome bar bisects the line of the headlights up front.  The SSR’s fender lines are echoed on other Chevrolet products as well, but nothing else has curves like this.  The massive wheels, measuring 19″ in the front and 20″ in the rear, are the most overtly modern aspect of the SSR.

A cozy, “twin cockpit” interior echoes the exterior design with an aluminum-finish horizontal trim panel running from left to right and across the doors.  It’s matched by the steering wheel’s crossbar, too, and a cool auxiliary gauge pod rides low in the footwell.  The retractable hardtop is a marvel of packaging.  Instead of folding clamshell-style, like the hardtops in Mercedes and Lexus roadsters, the SSR’s top stacks vertically behind the passenger compartment.  This unique mechanism allows the SSR’s cargo capacity to remain unchanged whether the top’s up or down.  It also impresses the heck out of anyone nearby.  The tall seats are comfortable, too, and the high seating position makes the SSR surprisingly easy to drive.  There’s not much space for anything larger than a cell phone in the cabin, actually.  Arguments will rage as to if the bed is really a pickup bed or not–it’s carpeted, but plastic runners make it possible to load slightly dirty or awkward cargo without destroying it.  The tonneau cover isn’t removable though, so capacity is limited.  We used the SSR to haul carpet, groceries, and several large boxes, and it was happy to act like a small truck.

No American-style hot rod would be complete without a V8 under the hood, and the SSR delivers.  After complaints that it was sluggish during its first year on the market, Chevy crammed an LS2 6.0 liter V8 (borrowed from the Corvette) into the engine bay for 2005.  With 390 horsepower on tap and rear-wheel drive, the SSR isn’t a disappointment on the road.  Unlike other boutique cars like the Plymouth Prowler, the SSR can back up its street-rod looks with serious acceleration and a most satisfying roar.  A choice of four-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmissions is available.

But is it really a truck?  Underneath the skin it is.  The SSR rides on a hydroformed separate frame.  With the SSR’s top down we noticed a fair amount of body jiggle on uneven roads.  The double A-arm from suspension and live-axle rear are also there to ensure that this little hot rod can do a bit of work if needed.  We’d just as soon use a Corvette to tow a trailer, but Chevy says the SSR will pull up to 2500 pounds.  Traction control is included, as well as a limited-slip differential, to help keep the SSR pointed straight in slippery conditions.  On the road and during a sudden snowstorm, the SSR proved to be remarkably easy to drive, with excellent balance and predictable handling.  The power steering is on the heavy side, but it’s also direct and responsive.  It’s a confident enough driver that we found ourselves cruising at freeway speeds even in the snow.

Thanks to Michigan’s crazy winter weather, we had a warm day to drop the SSR’s top and cruise around Detroit, too.  The SSR gets attention wherever it goes, and we got the thumbs-up from Mazda RX-8, Chevy pickup and Harley-Davidson drivers.  The SSR may be a toy, but it’s a comfortable, easy-to-drive toy that’s not completely useless when it comes to the real world.  Pricing starts at $42,430.  Our test SSR featured heated seats, a premium sound system and neato-keen color shifting paint, and stickered for $46,685.

Specifications:
All specs are for the 2005 Chevrolet SSR, which we tested.
Length:         191.4 in.
Width:            78.6 in.
Height:            64.2 in.
Wheelbase:        116.0 in.
Curb weight:        4760 lb.
Cargo space:        23.7 cu.ft.
Base price:        $42,430
Price as tested:        46,685
Engine:         6.0 liter OHV V8
Drivetrain:         four-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Horsepower:         390 @ 5400
Torque:         405 @ 4400
Fuel capacity:        25.0 gal.
Est. mileage:        15/19