5 Greatest Chevy SS Models From the Golden Age of Muscle Cars

As the horsepower war was heating up during the late 1950s and early 1960s, Detroit's biggest carmakers began offering high-performance options for an ever-growing number of passenger cars.

While Chevrolet had the Corvette on hand for those who wanted a sports car, it decided to extend its performance offerings by introducing the Super Sport package for the 1961 Impala.

In the following decade, that package was made available on the GM division's most popular models, like the Chevelle, Chevy II/Nova, or Camaro, becoming synonymous with muscle car greatness.

Though many Bowtie cars received it, these are the five greatest SS models from the golden age of muscle cars.

1961 Chevrolet Impala SS 409

Ever since its introduction in 1958, the Impala was Chevy's flagship passenger car, but the popular land yacht was anything but a performance-oriented model.

That changed in 1961 when the division added the Super Sport (SS) package to the newly-introduced, third-generation Impala's options list.

For an extra $53.80 ($527.86 in 2023 money) added to the base price of any Impala version, the package added unique trims inside-out, a heavy-duty suspension system, and narrow-band whitewall tires.

It also offered a 305-hp 348-ci (5.7-liter) V8 as standard, but customers who wanted more power could get the optional 360-hp Turbo-Fire 409 (6.7-liter).

With that monster under the hood, the nearly two-ton Impala SS could accelerate to 60 mph (97 kph) from a standstill in 7.8 seconds and run the quarter mile in 14.02 seconds at 98 mph (157.7 kph).

By the strict definition, the 1961 Impala SS 409 was not a muscle car, but thanks to its potent V8, it surely behaved like one.

1965 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu SS Z16

After GM siblings Pontiac officially kickstarted the muscle car wars by introducing the GTO option for the intermediate-sized LeMans, Chevy decided to answer back with an SS Chevelle.

Available on the upscale Malibu two-door hardtop and convertible Chevelles, the package added chrome exterior trims, bespoke badges, and 14-inch full-disc wheel covers.

But more important than the visual upgrades, it allowed 1964 Chevelle SS buyers to get the 327-ci (5.4-liter) Turbo-Fire V8 available in either 250- or 300-hp configurations.

Though the engine made the Chevelle SS a potent intermediate with muscle car aspirations, it was no match for the GTO's 348-hp Tri-Power 389. That changed in 1965 when a 350-hp 327-ci (5.4-liter) small-block V8 was added to the options list of the Chevelle SS.

But Chevy didn't stop there. To deal a lethal punch to siblings Pontiac, the Bowtie brigade instructed select dealers to inform well-off enthusiasts and drag racers who visited their dealerships that they could get an even more potent Chevelle SS by purchasing the $1,501 ($14,538 in 2023) Z16 option.

Apart from a myriad of chassis upgrades, this "secret" option added a 375-hp, 396-ci (6.5-liter) big-block with forged pistons and crank, four-bolt mains, ported cylinder heads, a hydraulic-lifter cam, and a Holley 3310 four-barrel carb mounted on an aluminum intake.

Only 201 Z16-equipped Chevelle Malibus were manufactured in 1965, and of those, just 72 are still around today.

1967-1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS

While Ford's Mustang was breaking sales records since the second part of 1964, Chevrolet took some time to develop its own pony car.

Named Camaro, the highly-anticipated model was finally unleashed during the 1967 model year, and, to offer a worthy alternative to the Mustang GT, the new pony car received an optional SS package.

As with previous SS models, the package added the usual chassis, visual upgrades, and a potent V8-only engine lineup.

As standard, the SS came with a Turbo-Fire 350-ci (5.7-liter) small-block V8 that made between 295 hp and 300 hp, depending on the model year.

But, the legendary first-generation Camaro SS was also available with an optional 396-ci (6.5-liter) Turbo-Jet big block. Depending on the configuration, the behemoth was conservatively rated at 350 or 375 hp.

The ultimate first-gen SS was actually a combination of the Super Sport and the Rally Sport packages. Known as the RS/SS, it paired the performance upgrades of the SS with the awesome visual upgrades (like the hide-away headlamps) of the RS.

1968 Chevrolet Nova SS

Introduced for the 1968 model year, the third generation Chevy II was longer and received a fully redesigned body that made it look more appealing, but it was still a member of the compact segment.

Still, since it was reasonably lightweight, it was an excellent platform for a performance model, and aiming to capitalize on that, Chevrolet turned the Nova SS from a trim to an all-out performance package.

Like the Camaro SS, the Super Sport Novas came with a unique decal package, chassis upgrades such as heavy-duty suspension, and a standard 295-hp Turbo-Fire 350.

Also borrowed from its pony car sibling was the optional Turbo-Jet big-block that could be had in either 350- or 375-hp configurations.

With the Turbo-Jet stuffed inside its engine bay, the 1968 Chevrolet Nova SS was no longer a performance-oriented compact but a full-blown muscle car.

1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS6

Before the epic 1970 model year, the most famous SS-badged Chevy was the Camaro, but that year, GM lifted its self-imposed 400-ci (6.5-liter) ban on intermediates, which led to the creation of the greatest SS Chevy of the era.

The package that turned the freshly revised Chevelle Sport Coupe or Convertible into a formidable muscle car delivered visual upgrades such as the famous Stereo Stripes, a blacked-out grille, sport wheels, and, depending on the engine choice, a power dome or cowl induction hood.

Hardware-wise, it brought heavy-duty suspension upgrades, power front disc brakes (standard on 454 cars), and a standard 402-ci (6.6-liter) Turbo-Jet 396 V8 rated at 350 hp.

Customers unsatisfied with the standard engine could get the Z15 option that delivered the brand-new 454-ci (7.4-liter) LS5 Turbo-Jet that made 360 hp. But that wasn't the highest-performing engine available for the 1970 Chevelle SS.

With yet another box checked on the options list (LS6 Special Hi Performance option), the SS received the LS6 version of the 454.

This legendary engine could make 450 hp thanks to upgrades like a forged crank, forged conrods and pistons, a higher compression ratio, solid lifters, and a low-rise aluminum manifold, with an 800-cfm Holley four-barrel carb mounted on top.

Equipped with the one-year-only LS6 option, the 1970 Chevelle Super Sport was the greatest SS-badged Chevy from the golden age of muscle cars.