2004 Chevy SSR Bob V.

What kind of vehicle is it that makes you look around when you’re stopped at a traffic light and hear the exhaust growl of something with an attitude....and all you see is something that looks like an old friend, a ‘47-‘53 Chevy PU, but this one is a little edgy and swoopy modern? Hmmmmm? Must be a Chevy SSR.

The SSR (Super Sports Roadster) made its TV debut on New Year’s Eve 2003 and was chosen as the Indy 500 Pace Car for 2003. It is a very unique vehicle designed by Andre Hudson to be built on the Chevy Trailblazer platform. Among the many unique features of the vehicle is the retractable hardtop, shades of late ‘50’s Ford retractables. In 2005 it got more horsepower with a Gen IV LS2 and a Tremec 6spd that allowed it to turn 14 second ¼ mile times. The vehicle kept evolving till the production ended March 17, 2006 with the final SSR being a unique black-on-silver model making the total production run of 24,150 vehicles. GM has a history of making short runs of really neat performance cars; Pontiac Fiero ’84-’88, Pontiac’s new GTO ’04-’06, Pontiac Solstice/Saturn Sky ’05-’09 and the Chevy SSR ’03-’06.

Bob’s SSR is a 2004 year model in Slingshot Yellow that he had ghost flames airbrushed by Performance Auto Crafters in Locust Grove, VA. He has changed the exhaust to a 5” Stainless Magna Flow cat back system to complement the K & N cold air intake system. Bob has also installed a Jet high performance computer tuning unit that he says gives him a bit over 500 hp at 7700 rpm and the trans now shifts like a performance car should. One of the ways he keeps the SSR in top shape is by running Royal Purple products exclusively in his ride.

Bob bought his SSR almost 6 years ago at Reymore Chevrolet in Central Square, NY. He didn’t have to be sold on the SSR when his brother, the Finance Manger at the dealership, told him about the SSR they had. He fell in love at first sight with the unique vehicle and wrote a check for 48K on the spot! Since it is a daily driver (when no salt is on the road) he now has nearly 70K miles on it driving around and giving people something to wave at. Bob is not shy about driving the SSR over the road either, having been to Florida, Maine and points in between. Bob attends local cruises and shows around Stafford, VA and likes to talk with people about his unique ride....I haven’t been able to talk him into hauling some gravel for me in his truck yet....but I’m sure he wouldn’t mind! grin

1967 Olds. 442 Jim F.

It’s a small world….Jim and I could have crossed paths before in Southern California. When he was in Santa Maria, CA trading in his ’64 Chevy Impala SS for a new 1967 Olds 442 Sport Coupe, I owned a Signal Oil gas station in Perris, CA. I had a ’57 VW that I was racing and terrorizing the street with at the time and we cruised to Newport Beach, Malibu and Sunset Strip occasionally so we may have seen each other….maybe not. Jim was visiting his parents while on leave from the Army when he purchased his Olds and after his visit he was on the road driving his newly purchased toy to Augusts, GA where he was stationed at Ft. Gordon. Jim has kept the Olds these 43 years and now drives it around Stafford and environs. I think the first time I saw Jim and his Olds was at a Bruster’s cruise in Stafford, VA.

Jim says he used the Olds as a daily driver until 1990 when it became a “special” car. Now he puts 1500 miles a year cruising around mostly local areas, giving people something to wave at or supporting charities by attending local car shows. There were only 5,215 of the ’67 Sport Coupes made and just a few in Jim’s original paint color of champagne with a black vinyl top. Jim changed the color in the 80’s to its current medium blue metallic color and lost the vinyl top. Before he had it painted he moved the radio antenna from its original location in front to its current location on the right rear quarter panel.

In an effort to address an overheating problem with the original 400 inch motor and a vibration he couldn’t get rid of in the drive train, in 1987 he changed the motor to a 455 Olds and the 4 spd to a TH 400 trans, problems solved! He also changed the stock rear to a 12 bolt Chevy unit with a 3:36 posi. He then added power steering and changed the original front drum brakes to disc stoppers from a ’71 Cutlass. Jim installed a set of 14 inch SSI wheels with BF Goodrich tires, including the spare in 2005. Then in 2007 the Olds was treated to a frame on restoration by Dwayne Morrow of Stafford. In 2008 he upgraded the intake with an Edelbrock Performer unit topped with an Edelbrock 600 cfm carb. The original points distributor was changed to an HEI unit from a ’75 Olds. Jim has kept most of the original parts so the car can be reverted back to its original condition if he wants to. As with most of us during this challenging economy any new modifications are being put on hold but Jim says that his next adventure with the motor will be a different timing chain and bump stick, to match the intake’s potential.

Some of these pictures were taken by Jim’s partner in crime, Maria. Maria owns and runs an auto related business, she makes show boards. Since she is the photographer she can really stage the cars correctly for the most impact on the boards. If you are in the market for a show board you need to take a look at what Maria makes. Most Friday and Saturday evenings you can see Jim & Maria setting behind their Olds at Virginia Barbeque in Fredericksburg, VA on Friday and Bruster’s Ice Cream in N. Stafford, VA on Saturday….drop by and say Hi….they both love to talk about our hobby.