Chevy "Street Art" SSRs Journey Across America

[Troy Roberts]

Twenty Artists Commissioned to Capture the Spirit of America and the SSR


DETROIT - Twenty artists, four from each of Chevrolet's five U.S. marketing regions, have been commissioned by Chevy to create original works that capture the spirit of America and the SSR as an American roadster. "Street Art" is one of eleven "pedigree" themes for the SSR Signature Series, the marketing program developed around the first 25 saleable Chevy SSRs.

One Signature Series SSR will be dedicated exclusively to each of General Motor's five U.S. sales regions. Each vehicle will embark on its own unique journey throughout the region, appearing at music festivals, art festivals, state fairs, air shows and sporting events. Along the way, Chevrolet representatives will collect memorabilia, photographs, autographs, news clippings and other keepsakes that capture the essence of the vehicle's travels. These collectibles will help create a "pedigree" specific to each SSR. All four commissioned pieces of artwork and the other memorabilia gathered for the pedigree will be auctioned with its particular vehicle at the conclusion of the program later in 2003.

"The look of the SSR is inspired by the late-1940s/early-1950s Chevy 'Advanced Design' pickups, its feel is of a modern day open-air roadster and its heart is all American," said Janet Eckhoff, Marketing Director for Chevrolet's Mid-Size Trucks. "By commissioning artists from different parts of the U.S. who are inspired by the spirit, people, culture and landscape of their area, we hope to capture the essence of what makes our country wonderfully diverse as well as what makes the SSR uniquely American."

"Street Art" artists (listed by region):

North Central: (Signature Series SSR vehicle #008)

Pegi Ballenger, Lakeville, Minn.
David Chapple, Grand Blanc, Mich.
Gordon France, LaGrange, Ill.
Gregory Gove, Chicago, Ill.
Northeast: (Signature Series SSR vehicle #006)

Michael Leu, Forest Hills, N.Y.
Andy Russell, West Seneca, N.Y.
Jane Stoddard, East Amherst, N.Y.
Curtis Woody, Upper Marlboro, Md.
South Central: (Signature Series SSR vehicle #007

Jerry McClanahan, Corsicana, Texas
Jane Pronko, Kansas City, Mo.
Eli Rodriguez, Jr., Dallas, Texas
Dave Stefaniak, Carrollton, Texas
Southeast: (Signature Series SSR vehicle #009)

William Kwamena-Poh, Savannah, Ga.
Dennis Lighthart, Hertford, N.C.
Tere Pastoriza, Miami, Fla.
Patrick Sullivan, Wilmington, N.C.
West: (Signature Series SSR vehicle #010)

Stan Cline, Winnetka, Calif.
Patty Forte' Linna, Brier, Wash.
Mark Keller, Sausalito, Calif.
Keith Wicks, Somona, Calif.
The Unique "Signature Series"
All 25 Signature Series vehicles will be identical in appearance and feature content that is not available on any other 2003 model year SSR. These features include Ultra Violet exterior paint; chrome Signature Series badge on the "waterfall" interior panel "signed" by GM or supplier team members directly associated with the SSR program; silver stitching on the black leather-wrapped steering wheel and seats; addition of the SSR logo on the VIN plate; Signature Series badge on the tailgate, body-color engine cover with silver insert and billet aluminum strips; and body-color auxiliary gauge package located on the floor console, floor mats which include the SSR logo, and cargo compartment trim with wood strips, lights and drop-down storage.

Part roadster, part pickup
There is nothing else like the SSR in the market today. It's part roadster, part pickup and is a completely innovative expression of Chevy's proud heritage. A highlight of SSR's design is a unique power-operated retractable hardtop that stores vertically and out-of-sight between the passenger and rear stowage compartments.

The frame and chassis of the SSR are similar in design to Chevy's mid-size TrailBlazer family of sport utilities. All major exterior panels are of one-piece stamped steel. Under the hood is a new aluminum-block version of GM's Vortec 5300 (5.3-liter) small-block V8 that drives the rear wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission. Rounding out SSR's sporty street machine appearance are 19-inch front and 20-inch rear tires and wheels.