2006 Chevrolet HHR Receives A New Historicism Lesson: Video
7Sponsored Links
The Chevrolet HHR, what car people know as Chevy’s knock-off of the Chrysler PT Cruiser. Why did the HHR come to life? What purpose was it to serve? Regular Car Reviews takes a crack at it in the latest video.
And it all revolves around “new historicism”, something we’ll let Mr. Regular explain in the provided video above. But, basically, it was Chevrolet attempting to tap into a golden era from the past. As the story goes, the HHR was meant to serve a similar purpose the Suburban served in post-WWII America.
Except, it’s not what consumers were actually craving, which was reflected in the HHR’s relatively small sales numbers. It was the kind of car that once anyone who wanted a nostalgia trip purchased it, it was over. A flash in the pan.
But, in the process, we saw the rise and fall of retro design at General Motors. The SSR, HHR and other vehicles slowly died a nostalgic death. At least we got the HHR SS to help supplement other ho-hum HHR variants.
Sponsored Links
That was a waste of 9:28 of my life.
A lot of bs and some facts that are often distorted.
The fact is the HHR was not perfect it still was a decent vehicle for the money.
It also sold in great numbers when GM really needed the sales.
If you note it was nothing but a wagon. A cobalt wagon would never had sold in these numbers.
These were more add on sales. You can not compare it to a sedan of that era.
I have heard this guys work before and he is far from accurate or historic. He is all about sarcastic hit pieces with little in historic value.
He uses true points and then distorts them to inaccurate detail.
I know the history of the HHR well and when taken in accurate context for the time and condition of GM it did its job for a dying company going into Chapter 11.
The PT was designed by the same guy and he fixed many of the things Wong with the PT on the HHR
Again not is perfect car but it sold i numbers a cobalt wagon would never have seen.
Scott3, these were at least something different on the road.
A cobalt wagon no way would have sold like the HHR.
The HHR is way better looking than the KIA Soul and I see those things all over NE Ohio.
I’m in my 30s and cannot even fathom how many KIAs I see. unreal
There is also the fact that it was designed by Bryan Nesbitt who also designed the PT Cruiser and approved by Bob Lutz who was at Chrysler when the PT cruiser came out and approved the HHR.
Bring back an updated version of this in all wheel drive and SS upgrade, and you watch how it takes off. If we aren’t going to be offered a Trailblazer type vehicle, I’ll take this. At least it doesn’t represent the weeney style crossovers that are forced on us.
First answer how much would you for all that?
I like the idea but pricing it is where it gets difficult.
By the time you do an SS today and do it right with a proper AWD you will be $35,000 to $40,000 if you do it right.
Also a tall vehicle like this has a high center of gravity so more power and speed could lead to roll overs like the last HHR and most crossovers suffer.
Trust me I do like the idea but I also know first hand how difficult it would be to price. I bought and still own a 2008 HHR SS. The sticker on mine was almost $ 28,000 back in 08 so you can compare prices today ad see the increase. A Regal GS was $40,000 already with a similar engine.
You could do it cheaper but it will show in the lack of refinement.
I own a 2006 HHR. It is way underpowered, has a horrible suspension system, gets crappy gas mileage, has known equipment faults, and looks like a pregnant hippo. But I use it as a station wagon and it excels at that job. This beast should never be resurected from the dead.
This video sucked. The car deserves better.