What does SS stand for on Chevy?
SS stands for Super Sport, Chevrolet's performance-oriented badge used on a range of models since the 1960s. It signals a higher-performance variant or sport-oriented styling.
Across decades, the SS designation has appeared on classic muscle cars and modern performance outings, from the Camaro SS to the Holden-based Chevrolet SS sedan that was sold in the United States between 2014 and 2017. This article explores the origin of the label and how it’s used in Chevrolet’s lineup today.
Origins of the Super Sport designation
The Super Sport badge was introduced in the early 1960s to differentiate high-performance variants with upgraded engines, handling, and distinctive trim. Over time, the designation spread to several Chevrolet nameplates, becoming a recognizable symbol of performance.
- Impala SS (1961–1963)
- Nova SS (1965–1969)
- Chevelle SS (1964–1973)
- Camaro SS (1967–1969; revived in later generations)
- Monte Carlo SS (1983–1987)
- Silverado SS (2003–2006)
- Chevrolet SS sedan (2014–2017; Holden VF Commodore-based)
These milestones show how the SS badge evolved from a muscle-car-era performance package into a broader branding element for Chevrolet's sportier offerings.
Chevrolet models that have carried the SS badge
The SS designation has appeared on a wide range of Chevrolets, reflecting the brand’s commitment to performance across eras. The following examples illustrate its reach across different body styles and generations:
- Impala (early 1960s) — large, performance-focused variant
- Chevelle (mid-1960s to early 1970s) — a flagship muscle-scarred performance model
- Nova (1960s) — compact performance model
- Camaro (late 1960s and revivals) — enduring performance silhouette
- Monte Carlo (1980s) — mid-size coupe with sport-oriented trim
- Silverado (early 2000s) — pickup with sport-oriented tuning
- Chevrolet SS (2014–2017) — sedan based on the Holden Commodore, sold in the U.S.
These examples demonstrate how the SS badge has traveled across Chevrolet’s lineup, carrying different performance emphases over time.
What the SS badge means today
Today, SS remains Chevrolet’s performance badge, but its practical usage has become more focused. The Camaro SS stands as the flagship modern interpretation, offering a high-output V8 and upgraded handling. The standalone Chevrolet SS sedan (2014–2017) showcased that the badge could extend to non-coupe formats, but that model was discontinued after 2017. In recent years, Chevrolet has typically reserved the SS label for select performance variants rather than applying it broadly across trucks and crossovers.
Impact on design and marketing
Across generations, the SS badge communicates enhanced performance and sport-oriented styling, even when the exact hardware and features vary by model and era.
Summary
Chevrolet’s SS designation reflects a long-running tradition of performance-oriented variants. From early muscle-car era badges to the modern Camaro SS and the former Holden-based Chevrolet SS sedan, the Super Sport label signals Chevrolet’s commitment to higher performance and sport-inspired design, while the specific capabilities have evolved with each generation.
What does SS on Chevy stand for?
Super Sport
Super Sport, or SS, is the signature performance option package offered by the Chevrolet division of General Motors on a limited number of its vehicles. All SS models come with distinctive "SS" markings on their exterior.
What does 454 SS mean?
A Muscle Car Made for Hauling
That meant starting with a regular-cab, short-box C1500 model. The venerable 454 SS nameplate denoted a 454-cubic-inch 7.4-liter V8 making 230 horsepower and 385 pound-feet of torque.
What is the Chevy SS?
The Chevy SS was a full-size performance sedan produced from 2014 to 2017, discontinued due to low sales. It was a rear-wheel-drive "sleeper" car, meaning it had a powerful engine in a relatively understated body. The SS featured a 6.2-liter V8 engine with 415 horsepower, borrowed from the Chevrolet Corvette, and was a rebadged Holden Commodore built in Australia. It was available with either a six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission.
This video explains the performance aspects of the Chevy SS, highlighting its powerful engine and quick acceleration: 56sBixmationYouTube · Feb 3, 2025
Key features of the Chevy SS
- Engine: 6.2-liter LS3 V8 engine producing 415 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque.
- Drivetrain: Rear-wheel drive, available with a 6-speed automatic or 6-speed manual transmission.
- Performance: Capable of 0 to 60 mph in about 4.5 seconds.
- Body Style: A four-door sedan that looked unassuming but was a performance car.
- Platform: Built on the same platform as the Holden Commodore.
Why it was discontinued
- Low Sales: Despite being a high-performance car, the Chevy SS did not sell well, leading to its discontinuation.
- Production Cessation: Its production ended when GM stopped producing the Holden Commodore in Australia, the car it was based on.
Why are Chevy SS so rare?
Chevy SS sedans are rare because they were only produced for a short four-year run (2014–2017) with low production numbers, partly due to a lack of marketing and poor sales figures that were only about 3,000 per year. The car was imported from Australia as a Holden Commodore and its production was ultimately limited by the closure of the Holden plant, according to Quora.
You can watch this video to learn more about the Chevy SS's design and why it was considered a sleeper sedan: 31sAutomotive Anonymous YouTube · Jul 2, 2025
- Limited production: The car was only produced for four model years, ending after 2017, which inherently limits the total number of vehicles available.
- Low sales and poor marketing: Despite being a high-performance sedan with a V8 engine, sales were lackluster, partly because Chevrolet did not heavily market the car.
- Imported from Australia: The Chevy SS was an imported Holden Commodore, and its production run was tied to the Australian Holden plant, which GM later shuttered.
- Short lifespan: The vehicle was essentially a stop-gap model to honor a prior deal to import sedans from Holden after the Pontiac G8 was canceled, and there was no plan for a long-term replacement.
