From 2003 until 2006, just before a shitstorm of debt and deceit finally caught up with GM, Chevrolet built the SSR retro truck. It was pretty much a love it or hate it sort of thing. With its retractable hardtop and standard V8 power, you'd think the SSR would be more popular than it actually was. Maybe it's because the thing cost around $42,000. Despite being overpriced, there was one aspect about the SSR that Chevy, for whatever reason, failed to take advantage of – its body-on-frame setup.

Built on the long-wheelbase version of the now also dead Trailblazer EXT, the SSR had some bona fide off-road capabilities that were never realized. Well, Chevy never realized (or cared) but this guy did. In fact, he just sold his creation on eBay for $39,500. Riding on a set of rock crawling 38-inch tires mounted on 22x12 wheels, this SSR also has another surprise: a 500 hp LS3 6.2-liter V8 instead of the 5.3- or 6.0-liter V8s Chevy offered. This guy is awesome, and he didn't stop there. Other components include an Atlas 5.0 transfer case cable shifter, disc brakes, Dana 60 front axle, and 20-inch bead locks. He claims this SSR project was put on hold after twin baby boys came along, and it still needs to be completed.

Apparently that didn't bother whoever bought it, and it's a shame Chevy didn't think of this during the SSR's life. More people might have bought them, but GM still would have filed for bankruptcy. A proper off-road SSR, as great as it sounds, would have done nothing to help GM at the time. Photos courtesy of wisemagicgetink/eBay