1970 Chevy El Camino vs 2004 Chevy SSR - Generation Gap: Pickup Cars 

I don't think it was a fair fight. I love the SSR, but the el Camino is a cult classic with a following that's huge. It takes an enthusiast to appreciate the SSR for what it is. I'd take the SSR. I like the el Camino as well though. Anything GM

it's a 1970 el camino with a 454 and a 4 speed.. it wins.. don't even have to watch this comparison

5 Seconds watching this and already the obvious winner is the 1970 El Camino

The SSR is very unique, I love the retro styling. Problem is that it was made as a truck but marketed and priced as a Corvette. No one in their right mind would use a Corvette as a work truck. The El Camino on the other hand came in different trims and was more available to the "general public". It was sold for many years unlike the SSR. Yeah the bed is kinda off putting but it just seems more rugged and can do what it was meant to do back in it's time. I love both choices but if I had to choose i'd go with the Elco.

The 1970 El Camino makes any nerd look like a movie star. The SSR looks like a PT Cruiser only worse.

Supercharger whine sounds great WHEN there's actual engine noise behind it, and not just the sound of a hairdryer. ;)

As much as I love the SSR's retro styling, I couldn't live with its engine noise.

My dream car is a black 1970 El Camino I don't know why but since the first time i saw one I thought it was the coolsest car ever

Something about the SSR makes me love it, especially the ls2 models pushing close to 400hp especially the oddity and the almost sleeper like truck

I really dig the 2004 Chevy SSR, it gives me the vibe of a modern 1950 chevy truck

ssr has a classic old school look, its unique , not one bit ugly to me, There's A LOT of cars that were asf back 50+ years ago, now collectable worth thousands

Just watched the end...I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE VISTA CRUISER. Thank you SO MUCH!!!

El camino.. all day. Every day...

As an SSR owner, I completely agree... it's an entirely different ride with the top down. It dives like it was made to go topless and I get tons of "hey what's that", or thumbs up, or pictures just about anywhere I go. As for the supercharger... I will have to pass on that loud whining sound. I'm loving the growl mine makes and there is plenty of power to get into trouble with. Besides, the 2005 and 2006 SSRs were upgraded to the 400hp LS1 motor so no need for the supercharger. I'm not saying it's better than the El Camino. That car is an awesome classic onto itself. I can say my SSR is a blast an one of the funnest cars I have owned.

I had two Elco's and had a great time with them both. 65' and 71' 327, 411's and 350 Hi Po with 454'a respectively. Ladder bars were a must to keep traction off the line and they both were NOT a disappointment when going up against other Muscle Cars.

My neighbor has an SSR. That thing makes the best noises(car wise) I've ever heard.

I have always felt the SSR looked like a vw beetle convertible and a pt cruiser had a baby. Only problem, I don't know who was on top.

The fuck? How did the GNX loose?

That Vista Cruiser is AMAZING. Saw it on Power Tour....PLEASE do a video with it!!

So I have a 05 Colorado 4 cyl 5 speed, and I want to know if I can turbo charge or supercharge it, and get a cold air intake. Ive looked online and haven't found anything, but my friends said I'm able to. Can you help me out?

I love the ssr. It's so weird like what was gm thinking when they made it???

Chevy SSR vs PT Cruiser, for worlds ugliest car

I've seen a red SSR once. It's the only one I've ever seen. It was pretty neat. I also have a scale model of a red one.

Both beautiful and unique vehicles. With that said I'd definitely pick the El Camino.

Can you really count the SSR as a pickup?

@ 7:21 lol,look at how they spelled performance

I don't care what anyone says, the SSR was Chevrolet's Best Mistake ever. It certainly is my personal favorite.

The SSR with the top down, in my opinion, makes it look bad, but with the top up it gives it a nice retro 50s style look.

El Camino - is there even a competition here? The only thing the SSR has going for it is that a factory stock one can be had dirt cheap. The SSR is the one to park in garage and hope that it appreciates before rust takes over and the non-replaceable fenders fall off.

I really like the cars the feature, but it would be nice if they would sometimes do anything else than american muscle cars. I mean they are really great, but the big innovations in technology and design are somewhere else. It´s just, when Americans do something about cars it´s always only about american cars.

Both cars are awesome in another way, The '70 El Camino 454 is like a Legend, another masterpiece of Chevrolet in the Chevelle generation. But the SSR is also a great car, I love the retro styling, top down or hardtop are 2 different cars in 1...what is kind off unique ! I like them both, they both are head turners !

My cousin owns a yellow SS/R. 2003, 5.3L V8, Borla straight exhaust, K&N filter and some other minor upgrades... People might say it's ugly but I think it is super cool! It's a Convertible pick up truck capable of hipnotizing many people with it's looks and awesome exhaust sound.

Twin screw superchargers >centrifugal superchargers and ssr automatically looses because its automatic

el Camino!!! my dream car soon ill be owning one. 👍

Living in England, I'd never even seen the SSR before, and I really like it!. If money was no object, I'd have both in my huge collection of cars. But I voted for the SSR because, although the El Camino is a looker, merely because of the pick up bed, I am just a little, and I mean a little, bored by the styling of the Chevelle. Though they are greatly improved with a good dose of lowering. (I have a HotWheels 69 Chevelle SS396)

7:22 "perfomance" lol great editing

even though im an import guy, el camino by far

Kinda' annoyed they didn't talk about load space. The SSR, I don't think you could get much in it at all. What with the short bed and hardtop taking up all the space.

It's a little hard to compete with the cream of the crop El Camino, who wouldn't want one.....but there is something to be said for newer technology, convertible top, and the most seriously unique styling in years. I noticed the comment/complaint about engine noise in the SSR..... This noise was from an add-on supercharger, and the Camino could have just as easily sounded the same, had the owner chose to go in that direction (pay attention much?). Personally I prefer turbo spool over blower wine, but either way there is no relevance to the factory version of the engine.

I really miss watching this show, do they still make episodes???

I thought these guys were supposed to be informed. The SSR wasnt gm going all out. It was yet another one of those amazing GM concepts that was fumbled for no good apparent reason. People wanted the lightweight 400 horsepower concept. People didn't want the overweight anemic SSR. The 5.3l made something like 280hp... On a car thay weighed well over 4000 lbs. They half assed it and they got half assed sales.

What in the actual fuck is that? El camino all day.

Never paid much attention to ssrs til I saw one parked the other day. Older guy original owner. Black bone stock but perfect...up close it was pretty cool Id own one. Had Caminos throughout most my life. Current one will be 30 yrs ownership in June. Cant believe its been that long chit.

i owned a 59 el camino and i have to say i love both the SSR and El camino

The king of the jungle should roar. Not whistle

How about you guy's do a Saab Sonett vs a Mazda Miata!!

Love both, but love the SSR!

You guys made me want an SSR more. I always wondered if having the top down made that car more interesting. I did always like that car. And in black with the accents blacked out it is significantly more menacing. Gotta give it to the Camino though. Now next time try an El Camino against a Holden Maloo (if you can find one). That would be an interesting challenge.

The 05-06 SSRs with the 6.0L/6MT combo were alright, but these early 03-04 5.3L/4AT ones were just junk. In stock form they were embarrassingly slow. 7.7s 0-60 and a 15.9 1/4 mile is just pathetic. Even a family sedan of the same era, like a V6 Honda Accord, would absolutely spank them.

So they had to upgrade the newer car so it can have more horsepower the the older

I love both trucks. Always loved the el camino sice a friend brought one to high school. I am drawn to 2 seat vehicles. I love roadsters. The drop top on the SSR is what makes it appealing. I checked out ine with 80,000 miles and it was a rattle trap.

The other day I met a guy with a el camino with a 454 bored to 500ci and stroked. It was pushing 650hp, when he left it completely roasted the tires through second. It had side pipes so it was ungodly loud.

I don't have the money to buy either of them but I can give my opinions. I personally like the front end of the SSR which others seem to hate so much but I think the "bed" is useless as it has less room than some hatchbacks. The El Camino is nice but I find Chevelles bland. The 454 rumble and torque is sweet but it never met a gas station it didn't love. So, if you wanted to give me one or the other I'd have to ask which one has the higher trade-in value as that is what I'd do with either one.

Matt's taste is terrible imo. I was hype to watch this series in the beginning; but after every episode it became more and more obvious what car will win

How can you hate the Looks of the SSR I always loved it its awesome.

Hands down, the "Elco" is just plain cool !

The SSR was completely lawyered to death, it had something like 32 or so warning stickers for pinch points and everything else, everywhere you looked inside was a warning sticker. The price was atrocious for it at over $41k then up to like $48k with options. I think Chevy really dropped the ball on this by trying to make it resemble a 48 pickup. The elky is the only choice for me, granted it's honestly not as useful as a pickup either but neither is the SSR. The mileage of the elky is probably with in 5mpg of the SSR too.

why not the holden HSV ute/pickup?

Are We ever going to see the next season which we were told was being filmed?

I have to know how you removed the badge from the front of the SSR!

This isn't even a comparison. The SSR looks like a car and is priced like a Corvette but drives like a truck, and can't tow or haul like a truck. Having driven both vehicles, I'd take a ratty old El Camino over an SSR any day of the week. Camino hands down.

ssr is the worst sounding thing i have ever heard. it also looks stupid and no one really wanted it. the el camino sounded nice and performed as it should but maybe you should have gone ranchero instead :)

That el camino man... just a sweet ride... very nice looking car.

its been a long time since ive seen one of those ssrs comletely forgot about em for the longest time

The ssr looks like a piece of poop....gross. They should have sold it with a paper bag with eye holes.

No contest. El Camino wins.

First I saw some out of date thinking on 04 SSR. Visors do not have to be turned down to raise or lower top. Second. My head does not hit back window in my 04 SSR. El Camino it does. Third. That Magnison supercharger is not available in a bolt on part. Lingfelter installs them as a custom install on the SSR. Auto Anything sells the supercharger for about $10,000. Only place on line to get one? Maybe? The stock SSR with no Supercharger like mine. Makes over 350 hp with performance bolt ons & a tune from Diablo Preditor. The horse power & control of many SSR systems. Right now my SSR is over 350 hp & 24 mpg with 13 second, 1/4 mile passes. The temperature the cooling fans is changed, This is helpful driving in stop & go traffic, ALL YEARS SSR have cooling problems & will over heat with stock components & Tune. The tune also important is control the on board computer to increase fuel flow & makes power like the supercharged version in this video. So I say that comparing a 70 el Camino to a supercharged SSR is not equal. Yes, a el Camino is a very nice truck through the years. The SSR is a 4 year run of a specialty classic retro version. The SSR all years 03 to 06 will some day increase in value. I have had my 04 SSR for 10 years. bought with 79,000 miles with many electrical problems. Mostly ABS is too close to Catalytic Converter melting solder in control module. & cooling fans not keeping temperature down drawing too much power. Now I have 158,000 miles. I went to a Cruise in in down river Detroit Mi. The weather was HOT 95 degrees humid. My SSR temperature never rises above 195 degrees with A/C on full & top up or down. So next time compare Equal Trucks. Because both Chevrolet trucks are separate in markets to different buyers owners.

Next season would it be possible for you guys to drive some old cars that aren't from one of the big three? There are so many interesting cars you could have used for your comparisons other than the usual suspects you selected this season. It would have been nice to see some more obscure vehicles from the likes of Studebaker, Nash, AMC, or Packard. Heck, it would even have been nice to see something like an MG, Triumph, or Alfa Romeo. Other than that I enjoy the show and say keep up the good work. As for this round, it's the El Camino hands down.

In my opinion the SSR is one of the ugliest trucks ever designed. Seems like a love or hate it kinda thing.

that ssr is horrid

I love both of them the car with a truck bed theme is so awesome to me that even I drive a car with a truck bed but mine was modified it's a 1998 ford mustang with the rear window and trunk cut out and water proofed

I'll take em both. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

The SSR looks shit and sounds shit!

My neighbor owned an SSR. I swear it brought down property values. Its not a pretty car.

After owning an '05 SSR, which had the LS2, I can honestly say that I don't miss it. It had power, but thank GOD I was able to sell it for $2,000 less than what I paid for it. It was heavy and extremely small inside. The bed I liked, a lot for what I needed it it for, but overall, never again with I fall in an impulse buy.

I'll take the 70 El Camino. Love the ZL2 flapper cowl induction hood. That would look good beside my 70 Z28 with the M22 rock crusher. You can have the SSR.

ok first that ssr made me puke in my mouth a little and 2nd it has a 5 liter v8 WITH a supercharger and is only putting out 380hp?thats just shitty engineering

why would anyone ever want an SSR? it's one of the ugliest vehicles ever made.. I take better looking shits.

1970 El Camino SS is my dream car!

You guys misspelled "Performance" in the performance section of the video.

That SSR is for sale on Lingenfelter's website, $47,000.

i've always loved the El Camino.

1970 El Camino SS all the way!!! I so want one some day when I return to the U.S. from Asia.

I'm really surprised Lingenfelter didn't have an LS2 SSR. The 5.3 is kind of vanilla, even with the supercharger. I would like to see an episode with a couple of wagons... maybe a CTS-V and a Nomad?

The SSR is both roadster and truck . Wow ! Nice .

That el camino is beautiful :)

do a video on the Impala

Le me get this straight the 2004 Chevy SSR has a supercharged 5.3 L V8 that makes only 385 Hp? How did they manage to get that few horse power? What is the supercharger doing? Decreasing the power?

I LOVE your video's, but it would be cool if you were to do a 0 to 60 SIDE BY SIDE! Anyway' you've got yourself another fan.....good stuff guys, thanks.

My mom owns a 1980 el Camino, but my grandpa is fixing it up. We're in California and he's in El Paso

Despite the 1958 model being my ultimate favorite, I definitely have to go w the 70 El Camino in every category you judged, however I find the convertible top on the SSR to be appealing, I feel there really should have been a convertible option for the El Camino during it's production years..

The Chevy SSR is beautiful in design, but who would own such a thing? The 1970 El Camino stands out more.

SSR All the way, I usually prefer classics but I love the look of the Chevy SSR

the SSR compared to its market counter parts, the HHR and the PT cruise is a hands down winner, it has v8 power and is a great little sport truck. now compared to a rat motor el camino there's really no comparison. huge chevy fan here, love them both.

I love, and want, both of these "trucks". Would prefer the SSR with a manual.

I think the el camino, is an all around beautiful car!

Did any of the SSR's come with that blower out of the factory? Surely the fact it been customised got that thing a point.

I love my SSr. Have since day one. You forget. Convertible with power and modern engineering. Muscle, I get it but Modern, Unique, Roadster

Why did you not pick a Holden Ute? Now that thing is amazing!

I own an 86 El Camino. The ssr is like trying to be a sport car with a bed. Yet the bed is super small and can not for much at all in it. I do have to agree that in like 20-30 years people might like them since they are considered collectables. Other then that nothing is really good about it.