The Chevy SS (also known as the Holden Commodore) is a 4-door muscle car that was in production for just a bit more than 4 years. Despite having a sleeper appearance, the model can blow your mind with its incredible performance – you’ll immediately spot the difference from the regular version when the engine starts.
We were lucky enough to get in touch with one of the modified Chevy SS owners – Michael Olivares, from Bakersfield California, who was kind to tell us about his car and all the upgrades made to it.
Australian Twin – Holden Comodore
The Australian Commodore with a slightly different front end design employed a range of robust powertrains with the entry-level one being a 3.0 L V6 good for 248 hp and the top-of-the-line 6.2 L LS3 V8 capable of generating 408 hp which was available on American Chevy SS models. Performance delivered by these power units is outstanding and leaves a lot of room for improvement.
Chevy SS Build
Michael’s car has only 21 thousand miles on the clock because it’s naturally used as a weekend ride and is the third vehicle for Michael.
It came from a factory with 415 horses but now has over 700whp thanks to a 416ci stroker coupled with an LSA supercharger. It’s got a flex-fuel setup so the owner can get the performance of higher octane E85 when needed and the convenience of 91 octane if traveling long distance.
“It came from a factory with 415 horses but now has over 700whp thanks to a 416ci stroker coupled with an LSA supercharger.”
To emphasize this impressive boost in performance, Michael added a range of exterior upgrades. The car rides on 20″ AG wheels and is lowered down on Kings SSSl springs.
The most notable exterior upgrade is of course Inozotek laguna blue wrap which easily separates the SS from the masses even from a mile away.
In addition, there is a lip spoiler in front and Maverick Man spoiler in the rear. The front end also features a distinctive Race Mesh grille and the Blits vented hood. On the other hand, the interior underwent almost no modifications, with the only exception being an airbag change.
Interview with the Owner
How did you get into the muscle car scene?
– I was always into euro cars, particularly BMW. I then purchased a Cadillac ATS-V and feel I. Love with GM’s chassis dynamics. I felt they outdid bmw at their own game. I had always liked the conservative styling of the Pontiac g8 so when I heard the updates platform was coming back as a Chevy I was interested. I ended up finding this low mileage 7k miles for good prices and picked it up. Was bone stock when I got it.
Why did you choose this particular model for your project?
– I am a fan of sleeper cars and the SS in stock form is a sleeper. I also like the way it handled for a large car and the fact that they was only approximately 12k imported to the US.
What inspired you to choose this modification style?
– I want something flashy but not over the top. I really struggled with the wheel color and wrap as I generally like to be more low key, but I’m glad I went with something a bit more edgy but not too much
What challenges did you face while putting it together?
– The wife letting me spend the $$ to get it all done.
Is it your daily or a weekend ride?
Weekend for sure. I have another Holden I.e 2005 Pontiac GTO and a newly acquired 2021 Cadillac CT5-v that I intend to start a build on
Do you take it to local car shows or a race track?
– A little bit of both. I’m excited to get her on track and see if I can surprise a few hellcats
List of Modifications
Performance
- 416ci stroker motor with LSA supercharger
- BTR boost cam into stock auto transmission with zl1 torque converter
- Currently puts down over 700whp
Suspension
- Lowered on King SSSl springs
Wheels
- 20” Avant- Garde M632 (Also have a drag pack for track days)
Exterior
- Inozotek laguna blue wrap
- Maverick Man spoiler
- Maverick Man front lip
- Holden conversion with custom race mesh grille
- Blits vented hood
Interior
- Stock other than airbag change to Holden
What are your future plans for this car?
– Likely just a bigger throttle body and intake. I may, however, go with a Harrop 2650 supercharger upgrade for even more power.
“It was a lot of fun personalizing this car and making it mine. Many people just see a car as transportation but to me, it’s an extension of who I am.”
Conclusion
Michael basically built the ultimate sleeper here – exactly what the SS was meant to be, just taken to the next level. Most folks don’t even know what they’re looking at when they see one of these, let alone a properly modified example like this. The Holden conversion is a nice nod to the car’s Australian roots, and with only 12,000 of these ever making it to American shores, this 700whp beast is about as rare as it gets.
| Parts Category | Difficulty Rating* |
|---|---|
| Suspension Mods: | 3/10 |
| Performance Mods: | 10/10 |
| Exterior Mods: | 8/10 |
| Interior Mods: | 1/10 |
* Based on our build difficulty evaluation system ⓘ
The meat of this build is all business under the hood, scoring a perfect 10/10 in performance with that nasty stroker-blower setup. The exterior isn’t far behind at 8/10, thanks to that clean Holden front end conversion, while the suspension sits at 3/10 and the interior keeps it subtle at 1/10.
Watch the progress and find out more about this Chevy SS project by visiting the Instagram profile of the owner: @ss.mate!
Stay tuned for more project reviews on Specs&Mods.com – Follow us on social media, and share this write-up if you enjoyed reading it!
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