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Muscle To Masterpiece: The Greatest Chevrolet SS Models Ever Made

Vukasin Herbez February 3, 2023

It’s amazing how two simple letters can pack so much meaning for car enthusiasts. Chevrolet and its “Super Sport” models, or SS for short, have been a truly dominating force in the auto world since the early 1960s. The SS series was one of the first “royal family” models in GM’s stable. Technically, the SS designation was introduced in the late 1950s for a special track-only Corvette.

But it became truly well-known when those two S were bolted on the fenders of the 1961 Impala. That was the exact moment when the SS moniker became legendary and set the path forth for many cars that followed. Muscle car fans remember these fire-breathing GM beasts as some of the finest muscle cars of Detroit’s Golden Age, and for good reason. Check out the greatest car that bore the coveted SS designation right here.

1961 Chevrolet Impala SS 409

The legendary 196q Impala SS (Super Sport) package has its place in muscle car history as a very important model that promoted performance to the general public. This was one of the first high-performance automobiles that were relatively affordable and fast. Everything started when Chevrolet decided to transform its 409 truck engine for use in passenger cars and found out it could outrun all other cars on the road. Just with mild modifications to the engine, it could produce up to 409 HP, enough to propel the Impala from 0 to 60 mph in just six seconds flat (via Motor Trend).

At the time that was Corvette territory. So as a mid-year introduction, Chevrolet presented the SS package. It featured bucket seats, sports trim, and other details. It came with a 348 V8 engine with 350 HP. However, the most interesting option was the 409 V8 with up to 409 HP if you opted for the dual quad intake system. Even though Chevrolet sold over a million of its full-size models, it only made 456 Impalas SS models that year. Out of those, only 142 Impalas came with the 409 engine. Interestingly, the 409 option was available for all Chevrolet full-size models in 1961. Hence, Chevrolet could make sedans and wagons with 409, but those cars have yet to surface. Today, the 1961 Impala SS 409 is one of the most valuable cars in Chevrolet’s storied muscle car history.

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1962-64 Chevrolet Impala SS 409

Chevrolet constantly battled Ford in the full-size sedan market. In 1962, they took a gamble by introducing an elegant generation of Impala that departed from the design standards of the day. Chevrolet wanted to dominate the lucrative full-size sedan market and equipped the Impala with everything it had. The new model featured five body styles, six engines, three transmission choices, and a long list of optional equipment. It also had one influential and innovative version – the Impala SS. First introduced in 1961, the Impala SS returned in 1962 in a new body style with the same engine, a mighty 409 V8 with up to 409 HP.

The car and engine proved so iconic that the Beach Boys even had a hit single with the song “409.” Today, the 1962-64 Impala SS is a popular car since its production numbers are high, and it is one of the best generations of Impala SS ever. During its three-year model span, the design endured subtle changes without affecting this timeless model’s elegance and classic proportions. However, in 1963, the SS was introduced as an options package that could be ordered with any engine, not just the famous 409 (via Hemmings).

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1965 Chevrolet Chevy II Super Sport

The Corvair was an entry-level Chevrolet. But for muscle car enthusiasts, the Chevy II was the entry-level car into the SS world. At first, the SS package was an appearance option that debuted in 1963, but it would take two years before Chevy II got appropriate firepower under the hood. In 1965, Chevrolet offered a 327 V8 engine with 300 HP on tap (via Motor Trend).

Since the Chevy II was a small, compact model by ’60s standards, its performance was more than vivid. The Chevy II SS could match the Pontiac GTO and other famous models of the day. Despite its performance in compact, light, and affordable packages, the 1965 Chevy II SS could have been a better seller. That was primarily because the Chevelle was introduced the same year and took some of the Chevy II’s customers.

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1965 Chevrolet Chevelle SS Z16

The Chevelle Z16 is a fully loaded regular Chevelle with all the available speed options. It features a 396 V8 engine with a Muncie four-speed gearbox and heavy-duty suspension. Even some dealers weren’t aware that this option existed, as Chevrolet refused to market the Z16 for some reason, making this Chevelle a secret model (via Hemmings).

The Z16 was fast but also expensive for a Chevrolet. That’s why they made only 200 of them. This model debuted in 1965 model year only, and most of the dealers still needed to get the idea Chevrolet built it. Almost all of the models made were coupes.

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1967 Chevrolet Camaro SS

On September 22, 1967, Chevrolet introduced the Camaro in front of an eager audience. The motoring journalist and automotive public saw a brand new, elegant car with a modern design. It impressed with the classic long hood, a sporty stance, and well-executed details and trim. Chevrolet chose to abandon the third body style, which was a good decision from this standpoint (via Auto Evolution).

The new Camaro came with a selection of straight-six and V8 engines, starting from a small 230 six-cylinder and going all the way up to the mighty 396 V8 with 325 HP. The idea was to offer a wider arrange and more powerful engines than Ford to attract sporty buyers. The 1967 to 1969 Camaro SS came in two flavors – 350 SS and 396 SS- and could be coupe or convertible. With more power than the comparable Mustangs, a sleek design, and great performance, the first-gen Camaro SS was a big hit and one of the best pony cars of the 1960s.

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1968 Chevrolet Nova SS

The Nova was Chevrolet’s compact car introduced first as Chevy II in the early ’60s. The small, affordable model was just a scaled-down Chevelle or Impala. Still, by the end of the ’60s, it obtained serious street credibility since it became a favorite street racer’s weapon. The combination of Nova’s lightweight body and potent V8 engines made it very fast (via Hemmings).

Chevrolet introduced the SS 350 and SS 396 versions in 1968-69. The 1970 model wasn’t changed and still retained classic styling and two powerful V8 engines as an option. Independent tuners like Yenko even offered brutally fast 427 conversions. The Chevrolet Nova SS was one of the best compact muscle cars on sale since it had an affordable price, compact dimensions, and excellent performance.

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1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454

The Chevelle was always a very popular muscle car as its combination of affordability, excellent design, and powerful engines was a hit with buyers. In 1970, Chevrolet offered an expanded line of engines, including the famous 454 V8 big blocks. The regular version was called LS5 and was very powerful, but the even stronger LS6 variant made its way into only 3,700 cars. The LS-6 had almost racing compression of 11.25:1, used a bigger carburetor, and much stronger engine internals. Chevrolet rated it at 450 HP, but it’s more likely that it produced over 500 (via Newport Car Museum).

However, the mighty 454 SS wasn’t the only option for 1970. The standard engine was a 396 V8 with a still very respectable 375 HP on tap. Although the Chevelle SS debuted in 1965, the 1970 model was amongst the most desirable SS models due to the sheer beauty of its bodywork and the brutal power under the hood.

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1970 ½ Chevrolet Camaro SS

The 1970 Camaro was, strangely enough, a mid-year release due to a GM worker strike that delayed the introduction of the year’s models. However, when it finally arrived at the burning muscle car scene, the 1970 Camaro SS set new standards in the pony car segment. The first-gen SS models, the 350 and 396, were immensely popular with buyers. And 1970 brought improvements in geometry, aerodynamics, and appearance (via Audrain Auto Museum).

The SS package included 350 V8 with 350 HP and 396 V8 with 375 HP. The engines were a carryover from the last year but more than capable of propelling the new Camaro to respectable 0 to 60 mph times and helping it beat the competitors, including the new-for-1970 Dodge Challenger.

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1970 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS

In the late ’60s, the Monte Carlo was a handsome coupe-only car with V8 engines, a nice interior, and decent interiors. Even though most of Monte Carlos came with smaller V8 engines, bought by the people concentrated on the luxury aspect of this model, there still was one crazy muscle option with the SS 454 package (via Hemmings).

This version was a true full-size muscle beast with a monstrous 7.4-liter V8 engine. That pumped 360 HP and propelled the heavy Monte Carlo to extraordinary 0 to 60 mph times. For just $420 above the base price, buyers could get this trim level, which transformed this coupe from a somewhat lazy cruiser to a quarter-mile beast. However, only around 3,800 people decided to do so. The Monte Carlo SS 454 remains one of the rarest luxury muscle cars ever produced.

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1970 Chevrolet El Camino SS 454

The El Camino was a half-car/half-truck vehicle for carrying light loads and delivery duty and a useful tool for small business owners. And most of them lived their lives exactly like that. But, in 1970, Chevrolet introduced the wildest El Camino of all in the form of the El Camino SS 454 (via Hemmings).

The mighty 454 V8 LS6 was a 7.4-liter Chevrolet’s big block engine with a 450 HP official rating. The engine delivered around 500 HP in real life. It was a fire-breathing beast and one of the best engines of the muscle car era. In the El Camino SS, this engine provided significant performance figures which were close to the best regular muscle cars of the day.

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1990 Chevrolet 454 SS

The basic idea behind this model was to offer the biggest available engine in the lightest full-size truck. It embodied the muscle car philosophy in truck form. Chevrolet engineers took the ordinary 1990 Chevy 1500 pickup truck with a short bed option and added a massive 454 V8 engine to it. The enormous 7.2-liter V8 was good enough for 230 to 255 HP.

That was a somewhat diminutive number by comparison, but it also had 385 lb.-ft of torque that made it fly down the road (via Motor Trend). Chevrolet took this engine from its heavy-duty truck lineup, and it was a durable but also thirsty machine. On the outside, 454 SS was kind of low-key, without any wild graphics or color choices.

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1994 Chevrolet Impala SS

You might know the seventh-generation Impala as a taxi or police cruiser (Caprice). Or perhaps as just an ordinary family sedan standard in suburban America of the ’90s. But there was one version of this platform that threw away the boring image of an ordinary sedan for muscle car performance and felt – the Impala SS. Since the early ’90s marked the return to performance for most American manufacturers, Chevrolet installed the famous 5.7-liter LT1 V8 engine in the full-size rear-wheel drive sedan. Then they equipped it with heavy-duty suspension and components and created a modern-day muscle legend (via Car and Driver).

For two years, Chevrolet produced a solid number of Impala SS models in several colors, with dark purple being the most popular and sought-after. The engine delivered 260 HP and propelled the big sedan to 0 to 60 mph time of seven seconds. These are not exactly spectacular numbers, but for the mid-’90s, they were quite good results.

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2002 Chevrolet Camaro SS

The fourth-generation Camaro, along with its twin brother the Pontiac Firebird, lasted until 2002 and then went on an eight-year hiatus. During its nine-year lifespan, Chevrolet improved the Camaro greatly, not only aesthetically but with the introduction of various mechanical improvements. They also implemented new, more powerful engines, which added to the performance and style of the late ’90s and early ’00s Camaros (via Cars).

Arguably the best Camaro from that period is the 2001-2002 SS version that featured a 5.7-liter V8 with 325 HP. The combination of a powerful engine, sturdy chassis, and six-speed manual made the fourth-generation Camaro SS the quintessential muscle car in every aspect. It boasted the same feel, noise, and performance as legendary models from the ’60s, but with better comfort and ride quality. The early 2000s Camaro SS is remembered as one of the best affordable muscle cars from the period. It was also an excellent basis for modifications since the venerable V8 had significant potential. Achieving 400 to 500 HP from the LS1 V8 was relatively easy for buyers to do.

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2008 Chevrolet Cobalt SS

Although it was discontinued, the Cobalt SS is one of the best affordable performance cars. Available as a supercharged, turbocharged, or naturally aspirated model, the best SS was the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder introduced in 2008. The engine delivered 260 HP, astonishing by the standards of the day and more than any of its competitors (via Car and Driver).

Also, the Cobalt SS had big tuning potential and it was easy to get even more power from this engine. Although based on regular Cobalt, the SS version was different from the boring economy car it originated as.

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2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS

Camaro fans were disappointed when Chevrolet decided to retire the nameplate for the 2003 model year. It looked like Mustang had finally won the muscle car battle since the Firebird was gone and the Mustang was the only domestic muscle car on the market at the moment. However, it turned out that Chevrolet was waiting for the right moment to return the Camaro to the market in a redesigned, restyled, and re-engineered form (via Edmunds).

That moment came in late 2009 when a brand new, fifth-generation Camaro arrived on the eager market. After a few years of showing concept cars and design renderings, Chevrolet was finally ready to present its modern interpretation of the classic Camaro shape. It had a brand-new, highly-advanced chassis and engines. The base engine was a V6. But right from the start, the fifth-generation Camaro buyers had the option of the SS model with a 6.2-liter V8 engine and 426 HP. It made the 2010 Camaro SS one of the fastest domestic cars at the moment. With an advanced chassis and brutal performance, the Camaro SS was far better than the Mustang GT of the same vintage, which helped Chevrolet beat Ford in the sales war.

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2014 Chevrolet SS

With a 6.2-liter V8, 412 HP, precise steering, and neutral handling, this car rivals Europe’s finest sports sedans. This model is a Holden from Australia rebadged as Chevrolet and fine-tuned for US customers (via Car and Driver).

Its performance numbers are respectable as a 0 to 60-mph sprint is possible in just 4.7 seconds while the top speed is over 150 mph. The Chevrolet SS is a good proposition for people who need a practical sedan but want a sports car. The styling is elegant and unassuming, which is good since this car can surprise many regular sports models with its performance. The Chevrolet SS is a definite future classic.

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2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer SS

The Trailblazer is quite a common SUV that will not raise any attention from other motorists or police. However, the SS trim comes with a 6.0-liter V8, which produces 400 HP resulting in a serious performance. Most enthusiasts think SS cars were only sedans, coupes, and similar cars, but the SS moniker could be found on pickups and SUVs as we see here (via Car and Driver).

The good thing about Trailblazer SS is that it looks like any other GM SUV from the period and that it is relatively cheap to acquire. But it is far from an ordinary SUV. Overall, this Trailblazer is a very competent model that can go drive fast and provide a decent amount of value for car fans looking to jump into the Chevrolet waters.

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Muscle To Masterpiece: The Greatest Chevrolet SS Models Ever Made

1961 Chevrolet Impala SS 409

1962-64 Chevrolet Impala SS 409

1965 Chevrolet Chevy II Super Sport

1965 Chevrolet Chevelle SS Z16

1967 Chevrolet Camaro SS

1968 Chevrolet Nova SS

1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454

1970 ½ Chevrolet Camaro SS

1970 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS

1970 Chevrolet El Camino SS 454

1990 Chevrolet 454 SS

1994 Chevrolet Impala SS

2002 Chevrolet Camaro SS

2008 Chevrolet Cobalt SS

2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS

2014 Chevrolet SS

2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer SS

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