Is the Caprice the same as the SS?
No. The Caprice is Chevrolet’s full-size model name, while SS stands for Super Sport—a separate performance badge that has appeared on Caprice models in certain years, but does not make the Caprice itself interchangeable with the badge.
Historically, the Caprice has served as the top-trim, full-size sedan in Chevrolet’s lineup, spanning multiple generations from the mid-1960s to the mid-1990s in the United States. The SS badge originated as Chevrolet’s performance label, used to denote upgraded engines, different suspension tuning, and sportier styling. The relationship between Caprice and SS varies by era, with the Caprice SS being a distinctive high-performance variant in some late-1960s models, while in other periods the SS badge appeared on different GM models or was not offered on Caprice at all.
The Caprice: Chevrolet’s full-size flagship
The Caprice began as Chevrolet’s top-tier full-size sedan and evolved through several generations. It offered a range of engines and trim levels, often serving as the bedrock of the brand’s luxury-meets-space-for-six market segment. Over the years, the Caprice took on many names—Caprice Classic, Caprice Luxury, and others—before the nameplate faded from the U.S. passenger-car lineup in the mid-1990s. In some markets outside the United States, a version of Caprice continued under different branding and configurations, broadening the model’s global footprint even as the North American market shifted toward other designs.
What does SS mean?
SS stands for Super Sport. It is a performance-oriented badge used by Chevrolet to denote models with enhanced powertrains, handling, braking, and often distinct styling cues. The exact features of an SS package vary by model and era, but the underlying idea is a higher-performance variant within a given model line. Caprice has carried the SS badge in certain generations, signaling a more performance-focused variant of the same basic car.
Origins and usage of the badge
Originating as a broader Chevrolet performance designation, the SS badge has appeared on multiple models besides the Caprice, including the Bel Air, Chevelle/Malibu, Camaro, and others. On Caprice, the SS variant became particularly notable in the late 1960s, offering a more powerful engine and sportier equipment than the standard Caprice. In later decades, Chevrolet used the SS designation on other models; however, the modern Caprice line in the U.S. does not feature a current factory-produced passenger-car offering labeled “Caprice SS.”
Caprice vs Caprice SS: How they relate
To understand how these two concepts interact, it helps to note where the SS badge appeared and how the Caprice line evolved over time.
- Caprice is the model name; SS is a performance badge. Not every Caprice is an SS, and not every SS comes with a Caprice badge on all generations.
- The most famous Caprice SS era occurred in the late 1960s, with the Caprice SS variants featuring higher-performance powertrains and distinctive trim compared with standard Caprice models.
- In later years, the SS badge appeared on other Chevrolet models and, in some markets, the Caprice name continued in different forms, but a contemporary U.S. passenger-car Caprice SS did not persist.
- Today, the Caprice name is largely absent from the U.S. passenger-car lineup, while the SS badge remains in use on various Chevrolet performance models (unrelated to a current Caprice offering).
These distinctions show that while the Caprice and the SS badge intersected historically, they are not the same thing. The Caprice can carry an SS badge in certain eras, but the badge itself represents a separate performance philosophy that can apply to multiple Chevrolet models across different generations.
Summary
In short, the Caprice is a model name used by Chevrolet for a long-running full-size sedan, while SS is a performance designation—the Super Sport badge—that has sometimes appeared on Caprice as a special/high-performance variant. They are related but not interchangeable. If you’re evaluating a particular car, check the trim and badging to confirm whether it’s a Caprice with an SS package or simply a standard Caprice model from that era.
