Vehicle Description
Holden Commodore sport-sedans have been incredibly popular Down
Under with our Aussie brothers for years, offering big engines,
optional manual gearboxes, touring suspensions, and killer good
looks for those that prefer 4-doors in their performance sedan. The
brass at General Motors (Holden's parent company) realized that we
Yanks also like powerful 4-door rear-wheel-drive tourers, and
readied Holden's VF Commodore sedan for the North American market,
re-badged as the improved Chevrolet SS. This particular 2015
Chevrolet SS is a beautiful representation of the limited-run car,
sized right between the Malibu and Impala in Chevy's lineup, and
features a powerful 6.2L LS3 V8, a 6-speed manual, an upgraded
exhaust, and Brembo 4-wheel disc brakes at the corners. Very few of
these cars were built, particularly in this color combination and
with a 6-speed gearbox, and with only 36409 miles on the clock,
this one has 'future classic' written all over it.
Picking right up where the discontinued Pontiac G8 (which itself
was a de-badged VE Commodore) left-off, the Chevrolet SS filled a
void in the heart of many Americans. Not since the venerable
'94-'96 Impala SS have we had such a powerful, rear-wheel-drive
Chevrolet sedan with a thundering V8 under the hood. The SS
featured a restyled chassis, with improved handling and a stiffer
chassis delivered thanks to greater use of high-grade steel that
actually made the car slightly lighter (and safer) than its Holden
counterpart. It's also blessed with a sporty design that separates
it from the rather 'rental car' look of the stock Holden - with an
aggressive front grille punctuated by modern lighting and
blacked-out grilles, ground effects that encircle the lower body,
and a dynamic rear end with an incorporated rear spoiler up top and
slick rear diffuser down below. Furthermore, the paint selection is
quite the attention grabber, dubbed 'Some Like It Hot Red Metallic'
by an enterprising Marilyn Monroe fan at GM, and aptly so because
it is HOT. Of the 2,202 Chevy SS cars produced, only 200 were
covered in this vivid shade, and with so few out on the road days
the car makes a grand entrance everywhere it goes. It's been
incredibly well-preserved, as you might expect from a cherished
vehicle with such low mileage, with only very minor signs of use on
the front end/lower portion of the vehicle. Brightwork around the
headlights, grille surrounds, fender vents, door handles, and glass
all provide added bling, contrasting the unique color while shining
up beautifully.
Step inside where the premium upholstery continues the car's
high-end, sporty attitude, while at the same time, adding in plenty
of luxury. This is best seen on the seats upholstered in luxurious
black leather hides and Alcantara inserts, featuring aggressively
sculpted front buckets wrapped around a matching factory console up
front, and an accompanying rear bench out back that looks as if
it's never been used. They have terrific detail, right down to the
red stitching and special SS embroidery on the seatbacks, and they
still have that 'new car' smell. Plus, these 8-way power adjusting
buckets up front mean you and you passenger get to individually
dial in your ideal seating position, and accompanying options and
modern features include dual zone automatic climate control,
keyless entry, power windows, power sunroof, power locks, power
steering, cruise control, tilt wheel, dual front airbags, side
airbags, parking sensors, and heated/cooled seats, just to name a
few. The factory AM/FM/XM/CD infotainment system is a touchscreen
that also includes Bluetooth, and it feeds numerous speakers
stashed throughout the cabin. The leather-wrapped steering wheel is
loaded with controls at the fingertips, matching those in the
center console, although we have to admit that the most exciting
portion of this car is the 8-ball topped, short-throw shifter that
manages the Tremec 6-speed manual below. WeatherTech floormats were
special-ordered for the car and protect the original carpets, the
dash and door panels are completely blemish-free, and the headliner
above is factory taut. The big back seat space of this full-size
sedan means it can also double as a practical family machine, and
even the spacious trunk out back looks like it's never been
used.
Even with all these attributes, the drivetrain is precisely what
makes this SS so darn special. From the thundering 6.2L LS3 V8
rated at 415HP, the Tremec 6-speed it's mated to, and rear-wheel
drive fitted with 3.70 gears that help it fly. From the sound of
the nice, choppy lope coming from the engine, we have to think that
the cam was upgraded, and when combined with the removal of the
choking factory resonators (although the cats, O2 equipment, and
factory mufflers are still in place), this particular Chevy likely
performs better than the factory-spec cars. The engine bay is
incredibly clean, with a ram-air intake, aftermarket oil-catch can,
and factory spec everywhere else, further proof that this car has
been babied since new. And even though it can tussle with anything
this side of a BMW M5, it's docile enough for your mom to drive it
every day, but get it onto the track and it comes to life. The
6-speed gearbox is as lively as they come, and you can easily chirp
the rear end and spin the back wheels in 2nd and 3rd gear, or throw
it into 6th gear on your way to the 160MPH top speed. The
well-tuned sports suspension is incredibly responsive and agile
thanks to the help of Magnetic Ride Control, while Brembo 4-wheel
disc brakes provide impressive stopping power. Gorgeous 19-inch
polished alloys add flash and come wrapped in staggered 255/45/19
front and 285/35/19 rear Firehawk Indy 500 performance radials with
plenty of grip.
A true modern muscle car, this high-powered Chevy SS comes wrapped
in a slick, rare color combination and stuffed with a luxurious
interior. Call today!
