eBay Find: Is This Well-Preserved Chevrolet HHR SS Panel Truck A Future Collectible?
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There was a time when nearly every Chevy vehicle had a performance variant — which is the way it very well should be, in our opinion. Take, for example, this 2009 Chevrolet HHR SS Panel Wagon that was up for grabs on eBay until a week ago.
With a relatively low 76,557 miles on the clock, this HHR SS fortunately has three pedals and those unique OEM wheels that we find quite appealing, despite the rest of the HHR design being an acquired taste for some.
Under the hood sits the glorious 2.0 turbocharged LNF four-banger, the same engine used for quite a few applications, including the Chevrolet Cobalt SS (from 2008-2010). Like the 2009 Cobalt SS sedan, the 2009 HHR SS panel truck was a low production vehicle, with only 216 having rolled off the assembly line. For the sake of total transparency, those figures are for the window-less panel truck model, as there were actually 2,346 ‘standard’ HHR SS units sold in 2009.
Some find low-production numbers appealing, and are turned on by the prospect of having a rare car. Others believe that there’s a reason for vehicles with low sales volumes — because nobody wanted them in the first place. So with that said, we you — is this HHR SS a future collectible, or a waste of $16,500 price tag? Let us know what you think in the comment section below.
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The panel SS is very rare. The fans of the HHR SS generally pay much for these models so I expect it will sell for close to this price.
Just a low mile HHR SS are going for a good bit of money in the mid west. I saw one sold recently with $40K miles for $18K. It was in showroom condition.
Others with low miles but more weak will go $12k-14K.
Even the standard HHR models are still going used in this area for $6,500 to $9,900 which is good for all they cost new and being as old as they are.
At work they have become a very popular used Daily Driver buys. Just in my department we have 5 recent purchases.
I would not be supervised if this one sells for close to this price.
If you have never driven an SS I would recommend it. Once you have you would really be shocked how well the GM Performance division tuning works on this one.
It makes for a great sleeper on the street. Also the SS is so off the radar many people think you just stuck SS emblems on it.
It is a shame this one came along during the bail out and never really got known.
The reason these were not in greater number is for several reasons.
#1 few people knew about them and they only had a hand out card one year for marketing. If I recall the SS never was included in the regular books.
They also never offered any marketing on the panel and half panel.
#2 these were not cheap and many dealers stood on the price.
The biggest issue was people just did not know about them. GM going broke and the lack of marketing is key here.
It was no different than my 1972 GMC Sprint SP big block. It was sold in the hundreds but it was marketed so little too.
I suspect with the present popularity of the HHR and in the future these may be a special car.
I told my wife ours will be worthless till I sell it and then it will take off in price. I have had several cars this way.
Very reasoned analysis and thoughtfully accurate.
owned an’08 HHR LS. Traded it in on my ’14 Silverado. Talk about driving shock. Night and Day. Got $7k on trade-in. Hade 85k miles. Drive delivery HHR every day at work. Front end are noisy. Sway bar bushings always wear out. Clunk. clunk. Otherwise very practical. They will be missed when they are all worn out.
There’s a huge difference between the bottom end 08 HHR LS and a 2009 HHR SS Panel.
Pro Tip: The HHR SS Panel is the fastest thing (other than a roadster/coupe) you can take (legally) with just one other passenger into three passenger HOV lanes in California. Don’t ask how I discovered that.
I don’t think this was the vehicle they intended for when they wrote the two-passenger-vehicle in 3-person HOV lane policy. but it flies… literally.
Just to put this into perspective here are some numbers.
0-60 5.3 seconds if you can get the front wheels to hook up.
14.1 Quarter mile.
Top speed 153 MPH if you are crazy enough to try it.
Now add the GM Performance Turbo Upgrade and you will see 290 HP 315 FT LBS and times off
0-60 5 seconds
Quarter mile times of 13.7
Top speed closing in on 160 MPH.
Note the upgrade is limited by the engine managment due to the weak trans axle of the era.
The real trick is the suspension was tuned by Mark Stielow of GM the same Mark that did the Z/28 and other world class cars.
John Heinricy also over saw the project and ran a lap at the ring only a couple tenths off the 5th gen Camaro SS. in the mid 8 min range.
The car did suffer some bugs from the lack of GM investment of that era like the cheap interior and the issue on the sway bar links but over all this was a killer package.
Now keep in mind the standard Malibu is close to these numbers already in power and an Upgrade would move it to over 300 HP easy. Lets hope they offer this package for the Malibu and the Camaro Turbo as it is a simple and cheap upgrade now with a better transmission to deal with it.
Interesting story, I was flying back to Alabama from Dulles a few years back from a work trip. It’s a Friday afternoon and I’m in line to board when I get a text alert that my flight from Charlotte, where I was connecting, back home was canceled due to wintry weather…on the Alabama end, not Charlotte. I got to Charlotte and the only way I was getting home before Sunday was to drive from Charlotte, in snow, or hop a late flight to Nashville and drive from there, in snow. Got to Nashville late, after midnight I think, and the only thing available to rent from Avis was an HHR. For what it’s worth, it handled the road conditions like a champ. It was probably about 50-60 miles southward before the snow fully cleared up. I gained a new respect for the HHR that day.
Very reasoned analysis and thoughtfully accurate.
boy do I have a deal for you folks. $8950 Canadian Dollars works to roughly $6821 US dollars!!! Semi Panel MANUAL 6 Speed!! 74000 miles roughly….
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/calgary/2009-chevrolet-hhr-ss-wagon/1186871676?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true
Half Panel not as rare or in demand though it does have a back seat.
Wrong.
With only 199 AA5 optioned HHR SS, they are more rare.
The Canadian spec HHR SS panel is the rarest, with only 16 or so made.
There is no such thing as a semi panel or half panel. The only HHR’s offered were the LS, LT, LT1, LT2, SS, Panel, and SS Panel. The HHR’s with no rear corner windows were HHR’s with the window delete option. The book value is the same as a regular HHR. The SS Panels were limited to 216 and only produced in 2009.
Great article. I currently own two of the 216 HHR SS Panels, one with over 130,000 miles (I have enjoyed each mile myself) and a 2nd with only 15,000 miles with the GM Stage 1 upgrade. Both black and incredibly fast. Check out my HHR SS Panel Facebook Page and send a pic of your HHR SS Panel to share with all of us SS Panel enthusiasts!
Briandsmia,
You go man… I only own one 2009 Black HHR SS Panel, 33,200 miles, 5 Speed. I am second owner. It has never been driven in snow or salt and is 100 % stock. It is my second HHR panel, I had a 2008 LT2 5 speed. I loved it until it was rear ended by a GMC Serria. The LT2 was a great touring car, the SS is a true screamer.
We have a 09 LT in the family; it’s moms now 2.4 engine . Mom loves it and I got a tell ya I love it everytime I drive it . To bad they weren’t better refined . But it’s a great little o town driver .
Hey guys, I’m currently selling my Black HHR Panel SS. It has 60k miles on it and it runs perfect.. I’m not using it much cause I don’t want to put the miles on it.. It’s a
Florida car from the get go.. I’m looking to get $12,000 for it..
I’ll take it
Actually, the “Half Panel SS” which was the SS with the AA5 RPO code is rarer than the “Full Panel” because there were only 199 made. Also only 2009. They are getting to be a lot more popular lately and I think they have their own particular attraction.
Bought one at first sight.
Really??? Never seen an SS with quarter window delete.
Its definitely a collectable but the 2010 HHR ss Wagon can easily be transferred into a panel. So you have to find an original to make it really collectible
I would love to have a HHR Panel SS. I’m not too worried about the mileage because having owned an automotive machine shop I’m certain I can put it back in the shape it needs to be. My problem is I would never spend that much money for one. Besides, I’m 73 years old. I may be short on money but I have more than enough talent. I would have added plenty of time as well but at my age, who can say for certain, lol!