There is no doubt that the curvaceous pickups from the late 1940s and early 1950s influenced the Chevrolet SSR, a proper mix of old design and new technology. The sweeping, complex-curved fenders of yesteryear are combined with a modern V8 engine and rear wheel drive. Even the interior is nicely done with an old-school dual cowl design and chrome lock buttons with swirl-patterned tops that look just like those from GM products of the 1960s and 70s. But the SSR takes retro-modern one step further with a slick retractable hardtop, making it the only convertible pickup truck on the market and also needlessly complicated. The Chevrolet SSR created quite a stir when first announced but the price tag, which starts are $40,000 and goes up from there, is too much to swallow for many potential buyers. Add the dealer markups when the SSR was released, combined with predicted durability problems with the retractable roof and the vehicle’s utterly impractical cargo bed, and the Chevrolet SSR ultimately never captured the heartbeat of America.
