Short for Super Sport, models bearing the SS suffix have always stood apart as performance-focused offshoots of mainstream Chevrolet models. The badge traces its roots to the mid-1950s and has remained a fixture in the American automaker’s lineup ever since — a two-letter shorthand for something faster, meaner, and more desirable than the model it’s based on.
Not only has the SS badge become a popular offering in the United States, but the Super Sport derivatives have also found devoted followings in other markets, including Australia. Spanning more than half a century, these are the coolest models ever to wear the SS badge.
1956 Chevrolet Corvette SS
Production years: 1956
1956 Chevrolet Corvette SS Blue At Car ShowFlickr
Engine
4.6-liter naturally aspirated V8
Horsepower
310 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque
295 lb-ft @ 4,400 rpm
0-60
Undisclosed
This C1 Corvette was the first Chevrolet model to wear the SS badge and started the entire SS lineage. Not only was it the first, but it was the only one of its kind, with a single example produced. It was also the automaker’s first purpose-built race car, founded on a tubular steel space frame that drew inspiration from the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. Its fiberglass body was unconventional for the era.
Power came from a 4.6-liter small-block V8 fitted with a Rochester Ramjet fuel-injection system, a 9.0:1 compression ratio, an aluminum cylinder head, a revised camshaft profile, a larger exhaust system with tuned-length headers, and a four-speed Borg Warner manual transmission. Decades after this model was built, Chevrolet planned to revive the SS nameplate in the C6-generation Corvette, a project that would ultimately evolve into the C6 ZR1.
1961 Chevrolet Impala SS
Production years: 1961-1964
1966 Chevrolet Impala SS Exterior Finished In White Photographed On The Side of A RoadChevrolet
Engine
6.7-liter naturally aspirated V8
Horsepower
360 hp @ 5,800 rpm
Torque
409 lb-ft @ 3,600 rpm
0-60
6.7 seconds
Although not considered a bona fide muscle car, the 1961 Impala SS was one of the earliest examples of a performance-focused model offered on an affordable platform — one that debuted as part of Chevrolet’s new model year lineup in 1961. At the heart of the Chevrolet Impala SS was the 409 (6.7L) engine, which set it apart from the 348 cubic-inch (5.7L) V8 used in other models.
Key attributes of this engine included forged aluminum pistons, a more aggressive camshaft, a four-barrel Carter carburetor, and a high compression ratio — all of which contributed to a meaningful bump in power output. The Impala SS is credited with establishing a new American tradition: affordable cars packing potent engines and capable of holding their own against Europe’s finest performance saloons.
First-Generation Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu SS
Production years: 1964-1967
1964 Chevrolet Malibu SS Convertible Exterior Finished In Black With Top Down Classic Cars LTD
Engine
5.4-liter naturally aspirated V8
Horsepower
300 hp
Torque
360 lb-ft
0-60
9.7 seconds
The Chevrolet Malibu began life as a subspecies of the Chevrolet Chevelle, with 1964 marking its first model year. The SS badge was exclusive to the two-door coupe, offered in hardtop or convertible configurations. A six-cylinder engine was available, but the more compelling choice was the V8, which could muster 300 hp.
Distinguishing aspects of this model included bucket seats, an optional four-speed manual transmission, additional gauges, and bespoke wheel covers. Chevrolet would eventually replace the Chevelle nameplate with the Malibu name in 1978. A year after introducing the first Chevrolet Malibu SS, Chevrolet revised the 1965 model year, which gained a revised front grille, new exhaust pipes, and a redesigned rear.
1969 Chevrolet El Camino SS 396
Production years: 1968-1972
1970 Chevrolet El Camino SS Exterior Finished in Orange And Photographed In Fall Chevrolet
Engine
6.5-liter naturally aspirated V8
Horsepower
375 hp
Torque
415 lb-ft
0-60
7.6 seconds
For the 1968 model year, the platform was revised and shared with the Chevelle station wagon. Riding on a longer wheelbase than previous iterations — a change that boosted sales — the Chevrolet El Camino occupied a unique niche, blending pickup truck practicality with traditional road-car manners.
The 1969 model year brought notable design changes. The El Camino’s 396 cubic-inch (6.5L) V8 engine was framed by a double-dome hood, while options such as power windows, a blacked-out grille, a bold SS badge, and connected quad headlights paired with a slotted bumper defined the look. The 1970 model year added a more aggressive stance and a freshened interior.
1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454
Production years: 1970-1975
1969 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu SS in Blue Driving Down A Road With Field In BackgroundChevrolet
Engine
7.4-liter naturally aspirated V8
Horsepower
450 hp @5,600 rpm
Torque
500 lb-ft @ 3,600 rpm
0-60
6 seconds
The Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 is one of the most sought-after muscle cars ever produced, and for good reason. The derivative discussed here is the second-generation model, which received updates to its body and frame. The most significant addition to the Chevelle range, however, was the SS 454 itself — introduced as a direct response to the high-displacement Mopars of the era.
Chevrolet’s new model featured the largest engine the automaker had ever used in a production car: the 7.4L LS6. That engine shared its cast-iron block with the standard 454-ci unit used elsewhere in Chevrolet’s lineup, but added stronger four-bolt main caps, a forged steel crankshaft, alloy connecting rods, and forged aluminum pistons. It was the most powerful Chevrolet of its day, outgunning even the mighty Corvette — and its looks remain just as lusted after now as they were then.
1970 Chevy Nova SS
Production years: 1963-1967
1970 Chevrolet Nova SS in Light Green Front Angle Photographed Under Spotlight Chevrolet
Engine
6.5-liter naturally aspirated V8
Horsepower
375 hp
Torque
415 lb-ft
0-60
5.9 seconds
The Nova SS featured significantly more conservative styling than the Chevrolet Chevelle SS, and the earliest models could genuinely be classified as sleeper cars. Certain details, however, hinted at the performance lurking underneath. For the 1970 model year, Chevrolet introduced a handful of updates to the Nova lineup.
On the outside, these changes translated to pronounced SS badging set in a black grille, an aggressive hood design, and dual-exit exhaust. Before tightening emissions regulations blunted the Nova SS, its 396 cubic-inch big-block naturally aspirated V8 engine delivered 375 hp to the rear wheels — enough to trade blows with the Ford Mustang Cobra Jet. Of the 274,344 Nova models produced in 1970, only 19,000 were SS variants.
1971 Chevrolet Camaro SS
Production years:1970-1981
1971 Chevrolet Camaro Green Front Angle with a Couple in a FieldChevrolet
Engine
6.5-liter naturally aspirated V8
Horsepower
300 hp
Torque
400 lb-ft @3,200 rpm
0-60
6 seconds
Easily one of the most recognizable models in Chevrolet’s history, the 1971 Chevrolet Camaro SS is a bona fide icon of the early muscle car era whose looks still hold up to this day. The 1971 Camaro offered multiple engine options, but SS models were limited to two: the Turbo-Fire 350 V8 as the entry-level choice, and the more potent Turbo-Jet V8 at the top of the range. Other noteworthy elements included a sport-tuned suspension with a special front stabilizer bar, a rear stabilizer bar, and purpose-spec shock absorbers. SS derivatives were further distinguished by hood insulation, sport mirrors, and a blacked-out grille.
2003 Chevrolet Silverado SS
Production years: 2003-2006
2005 Chevrolet SS Photographed On Sand Bank And Finished In RedChevrolet
Engine
6.0-liter, naturally aspirated, V8
Horsepower
345 hp @ 5,200 rpm
Torque
380 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm
0-60
6.3 seconds
While the SS badge is most commonly associated with classic Chevys like the Impala, Camaro, and Chevelle, it once found its way onto the flanks of the brand’s full-size Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickup truck. Compared to the standard Silverado, the SS derivative was more hot-rod than hauler, drawing power from a naturally aspirated 6.0-liter V8.
Beyond the power advantage over the standard model, the Silverado SS also wore a more aggressive look, courtesy of a lowered ride height, a sport-tuned suspension, two-stage leaf springs, and monotube shocks at all four corners. That lower stance and revised suspension also reduced squat under hard acceleration, helping the truck get off the line more cleanly.
2006 Chevrolet Silverado Intimidator SS
Production years:2005-2006
2006 Chevrolet Silverado Intimidator SS Exterior Close-Up Finished In Black Close-Up On Dealership FloorChevrolet
Engine
6.0-liter naturally aspirated V8
Horsepower
345 hp @ 5,200 rpm
Torque
380 lb-ft @ 4,00 rpm
0-60
6.3 seconds
This was essentially an offshoot of the Silverado SS, produced as a tribute to NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt. No powertrain upgrades were included, but the Intimidator SS was set apart by a suite of visual enhancements: a rear spoiler, embroidered headrests, and custom badging. While the changes were cosmetic in nature, this remains one of the most exclusive and limited expressions the SS badge has ever graced.
2008 Chevrolet Cobalt SS
Production years: 2005-2010
Engine
2.4-liter turbocharged inline-four
Horsepower
260 hp @ 5,300 rpm
Torque
260 lb-ft @ 2,00 rpm
0-60
5.7 seconds
The Chevrolet Cobalt SS was the American automaker’s first serious foray into the tuner segment. Like the Chevy Nova SS, the Cobalt SS didn’t wear its performance credentials on its sleeve. It was offered with three distinct powertrain configurations for the SS model, all of them four-cylinder engines that varied in displacement and induction method.
The largest engine available in the Cobalt SS was a 2.4-liter naturally aspirated inline-four. The most powerful, however, was a turbocharged 2.0-liter unit capable of lapping the Nürburgring as quickly as the E46 M3. It may have been a footnote in Chevrolet’s broader history, but the Cobalt SS has since earned a well-deserved reputation as a cult tuner favorite of the late 2000s.
Sources: Chevrolet.
