Long before Dodge started its “Hellcat the world” strategy, Chevrolet was doing something similar with its LS V8. There were the Cadillac V cars, of course, but there were also a few uses for the engine that weren’t sports car-related. In the early 2000s, Chevy jammed the mill into a Silverado pickup truck to create a rowdy SS model, and a few years later it was the Trailblazer’s turn. The SUV got an SS makeover for the 2006 model year, and one of the now-rare performance models is up for auction.
The Trailblazer SS was only produced for four years in the mid- and late-2000s, but its short run on the market is part of what makes it so cool. That, and the fact that it got a 6.0-liter LS2 from the C6 Corvette, along with a limited-slip differential and lowered suspension. The engine itself produced 395 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque when new, and here it sends power to all four wheels through a four-speed automatic gearbox.
This Trailblazer’s current owner has added more go-fast goodies, however, so the truck is likely to be even more of a hoot than it was out of the box. Mods include Belltech Street Performance adjustable struts, a chip tune, upgraded headers and exhaust, and Factory Reproduction chrome wheels.
After 14 years of what we assume was spirited use, this SS isn’t perfect. The owner says that it carries stone chips on the front end and notes that it has various scratches and scuffs across its bodywork. Nothing looks too serious, though there is one accident reported on the vehicle’s Carfax. The interior is much of the same story, with the leather upholstery showing appropriate wear for a vehicle of its age.
While it’s true that Chevy made thousands of the Trailblazer SS, it’s also true that we’re unlikely to see another one like it anytime soon. The 2021 model year saw Chevy revive the Trailblazer name for use on a crossover, and despite the fact that high-performance models of everyday SUVs are quite popular, General Motors is moving toward an electrified future and won’t likely spend too much time and money developing a gas-guzzling hotrod family hauler.
