Much like the members of the 27 Club, there are numerous cars produced over the years that definitely didn't deserve their early, untimely ends. You don't have to scratch your head for very long before you come up with nameplates like the Kia Stinger, a model that, while its sales did begin to dip near the end of its life, is sorely missed three years after its axing. There's also the Honda S2000, the Japanese automaker's small, rear-drive sports car that behaved like a flea on the roadway and which many gearheads still miss to this day.Among those dearly departed, there's also a Chevy sedan that definitely deserved more time in the limelight than it got. It's called the Chevrolet SS, and it's one of the brand's more forgotten-about models of the 2010s. In essence, the SS is a four-door sedan with a large V8 buried under its hood. As a captive import, its bones, body, and virtually all other aspects hail from the Land Down Under. Why Chevy Imported An Aussie Sedan ChevroletThe Chevrolet SS's story actually begins in the late 2000s, roughly five years before its eventual arrival on the market. In 2009, Pontiac — a now-defunct GM subsidiary — was discontinued. General Motors had gone through a bankruptcy, followed by a major restructuring and operational streamlining. Once the corporate dust settled, Pontiac, Hummer, Saab, and Saturn were all thrown in the trash. With the departure of Pontiac, GM lost one of its most popular modern muscle sedans: the G8.Chevrolet With the G8 now a thing of the past, enthusiast GM purists were heartbroken. The conglomerate no longer offered any four-door V8 models, leaving those with a thirst for speed but a desire for practicality with few options. GM felt this, and decided it needed to do something about it. The solution was to get in contact with its Australian subsidiary, Holden, and broker a captive import deal involving the VF-series Commodore.Chevrolet The deal stipulated that Chevrolet would import roughly 2,000 to 3,000 Commodores, rebadged as the Chevrolet SS, into the US. Its first model year was slated to be 2014. Virtually nothing was changed from the VF Commodore to the Chevy SS apart from minor front and rear fascia tweaks, small interior changes and, of course, its badges. Sales began in late 2013, and the SS sported a base MSRP of roughly $43,475. Sales Were Lukewarm At Best However, problems immediately began to crop up for the SS, despite its promising looks and spec sheet. Chevy did virtually no advertising, and its model name was seen as confusing, considering the "SS" nameplate had been attached to a wide swath of popular, performance-oriented versions of standard models since the 1960s. Compounding the sales issues was its high starting price, which alienated some Chevy buyers, as the brand is typically known for much lower-priced models, save for its pickups or the Corvette.Chevrolet Initially, Chevy told the world it expected to sell anywhere between 10,000 and 15,000 examples per year. However, sensing that reality would set in due to its place as a niche halo vehicle, internal GM sales projections actually sat around 2,000 to 3,000 per year. In the end, the latter estimations proved fairly accurate:2014 Sales Total: 2,479 units 2015 Sales Total: 2,895 units 2016 Sales Total: 3,013 units 2017 Sales Total: 4,055 units The spike seen in the 2017 model year was due to the model's abrupt cancellation announcement, resulting in a surge of last-minute orders that forced Chevy to import roughly an extra 1,000 from Australia. The end of the Chevy SS coincided with the end of the VF Holden Commodore's production. At the same time, Holden's Elizabeth assembly plant in South Australia closed indefinitely, ending the location's 55-year run. Now's The Time To Buy A Chevy SS ChevroletDespite being somewhat underwhelming in its original sales totals, the Chevy SS has begun to experience a used-market renaissance. From roughly 2022 to 2025, its value was steadily declining. According to Classic.com, its average auction sale price was approximately $46,432 in January 2022. By September 2025, that amount had fallen to about $38,429. Of course, some of this downward movement can be explained simply by new-model depreciation over the years.However, over the last year or so, the SS's values have begun to climb again. From that low point mentioned above, its average auction sale price sits right around $39,844 as of June 5th, 2026. According to GM Authority, the Chevy SS market warmed up significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, after which it experienced a cooling phase. Now, as average prices have dipped below $40k, it seems more and more folks are keen to get their hands on a used Chevy SS.Chevrolet Because of this, the SS now looks to have entered into yet another warming phase. But, if the trend holds, it's in its very beginning stages. So, if you've ever wanted to get your hands on one, now might very well be the time to act. What Goes On Under The Hood ChevroletA 6.2-liter V8 is largely responsible for the Chevrolet SS's overall penchant for performance. The engine belongs to GM's famous LS-based small-block V8 family. More specifically, the engine itself goes by the name of "LS3." The engine was the LS2's direct replacement and debuted on the '08 Corvette. It boasts higher-flowing heads than the LS2, along with a more aggressive camshaft profile. Its compression ratio sits at 10.7:1 in stock form, with high-flow fuel injectors borrowed directly from the LS7. Unlike some Corvettes, which used a dry-sump oiling system, the Chevrolet SS employed a wet-sump system. It produced an equal amount of both torque and horsepower.Backing up the LS3 was a single transmission option: a six-speed 6L80-E automatic with steering column-mounted paddle shifters. A six-speed Tremec TR-6060 manual gearbox joined the fold in 2015. As you can expect, rear-wheel drive was the sole drivetrain option. Its suspension setup is fully-independent, and consists of MacPherson struts with multi-link lower control arms up front, with a four-link configuration at the back. It's built on GM's Zeta Platform, which is shared with models like the Chevrolet Camaro, and is set up for both on-road comfort and track-ready sportiness. Its chassis was described as highly rigid, as it utilized significant quantities of medium- and high-strength steel.Chevrolet Beginning in 2015, Chevy included its Magnetic Ride Control (MRC) system as standard, which offered three selectable drive modes: Normal, Sport, and Competition. Before the introduction of the MRC system, the SS offered Tour, Sport, and Performance drive modes. All drive modes, regardless of model year, also sharpened steering and throttle response, as well as exhaust note.*Specs courtesy of Chevrolet & Car and Driver testing What Else It Has To Offer ChevroletInside, the Chevrolet SS takes on a much more "standard" look, apart from its suede and leather seats sporting "SS" badges on the seat backs. Chevy offered the SS as a single-trim, fully-loaded model, with the only two optional upgrades being a power-sliding moonroof and a full-size spare tire. It also happened to be one of the first models sold by the brand that carried automatic parking assist as a standard feature.Other standard features included Chevy's MyLink infotainment software, Sirius XM and Pandora Radio, and the expected Bluetooth connectivity. A head-up display (HUD), as well as blind-spot monitoring and lane departure warning systems were included, too. Should You Pull The Trigger On An SS? CarsAndBidsAll signs point to "yes." If the current market trend holds, its value will only continue to climb. Whether you're interested in buying one as an investment, or just something to tool around in, the SS's low production numbers mean it will likely always be in some sort of demand. That means, once it's time to sell, you'll most likely be able to get all of your money back. Potentially, even a little extra.
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