Specialty Vehicle Collectors Alert: SSR #2 is Going on eBay

Collectors of specialty vehicles will surely take notice of the latest announcement from General Motors that the second Chevy SSR off the line is going on-line for auctioning at eBay.
VIN (vehicle identification number) #000002 of the Chevy SSR Signature Series will be auctioned on eBay by the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) Foundation.
The SSR Signature Series will carry vehicle identification numbers (VINs) 000001 through 000025. The 10-day auction will begin on Friday, April 25, 2003, and conclude on Sunday, May 4, 2003. General Motors announced in May 2002 that it would donate the second saleable SSR built to the SAE Foundation. Proceeds from the auction will be used to provide funding for the Heinz C. Prechter Award for Automotive Excellence. Prechter was chairman and founder of ASC Incorporated prior to his untimely death in July 2001.
“I’ve been privileged to follow the Chevy SSR as a concept vehicle. The excitement surrounding its launch has been palpable. And, the SAE Foundation is thrilled and honoured to be the recipient of VIN #2,” says Daniel Hancock, president, SAE Foundation and CEO, GM-Fiat Powertrain. “GM’s generosity is evidenced by the quality of this donation, and we’re hopeful that the auction of this SSR will raise significant dollars to establish an award that will honour Heinz Prechter’s memory into perpetuity.” Details about the award are under development and will be revealed at a later date.
The SSR to be auctioned is one of 25 Signature Series SSRs recently announced by General Motors. Like the other 24 SSRs in this series, VIN #2 will have its own pedigree. Topping off the list of differentiating features are the signatures on the Signature Series badge in the vehicle. VIN #2 will carry five signatures: Rick Wagoner, president & CEO, General Motors; Bob Lutz, GM vice chairman of product development and chairman of GM North America; Gary Cowger, GM group vice president and president of GM North America; Wayne Cherry, vice president for design, General Motors; and David Treadwell, chairman, ASC Incorporated.
Like all SSR Signature Series vehicles, VIN #2 will be equipped with a number of special features that will not be offered on regular-production 2003 SSRs:
— Ultra Violet paint
— Numbered Signature Series badge (referenced above) on the “waterfall” interior panel between the bucket seat uppers
— Silver stitching on the black leather-wrapped steering wheel and seats
— Addition of the SSR logo on the VIN plate
— Signature Series badging on the tailgate
— Body-colour engine cover with silver insert and billet aluminum strips
— Auxiliary gauge package located on the floor console
— Floor mats which include the SSR logo
— Cargo compartment trim with wood rub strips, lights and drop-down storage
The highlight of the SSR is its unique power-operated retractable hardtop that stores vertically in a compartment between the passenger and rear storage compartments.