The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs Chevy's New Panel

By now we have all seen the HHR Suburban and the SSR truck. My brother works in the auto industry and gave me a article that showed the Panel version that comes out next year. One of the stranger aspects was no rear exterior door handles. Opens from a button on the dashboard. I'll try to scan a picture later. Brian

sweet!

I saw a black and white photo and it looked pretty nice. In my mind it is a much nicer addition that that SSR thing was.

www.socalhhr.citymax.com/hhrpanel.html

Check this site out for more panel pics. The only thing I dont like is that its not a true panel. By that I mean the rear stock door still opens to rear seats. Still I love the silver and black two tone shown on above page and I will be getting one. If my wife lets me!

Mac

I like it much better than the Burb version for sure. Now small block it. Always said the PT Cruiser should have had a panel version also.

that looks like a neat vehicle to cruise around in...

I work at Year One--right before the HHR was released last year, we were one of four companies given pre-production HHRs to customize for marketing and design studies. Of the four companies, three of us built Panels. That made the execs at GM sit up and take notice.
At the time, they also had a panel concept show vehicle going together in their design studio. The rear panels opened up for surf board and guitar storage or something dumb...It was based on the whole "Southern California is soooo *****in'" theme.
At the time, we were told that GM had zero plans to offer a panel to the public. As a small business man (I run a swap meet), I told everyone there I talked to that it'd be PERFECT for businesses, the other builders told them it'd be perfect for shop trucks, etc. etc. etc.
Then they took our concepts out on the road and showed them. Feedback was good.

It's not a "true" panel, but I'll tell you what--access behind the front seats is a great idea, because you can stash small things up there and get them in and out easily, rather than climb into the back door and crawl up behind the front seats to retrieve something.

I think (and hope) GM has themselves a winner here. A lot of small businesses are going to get them, and they'll make fine service vehicles for a lot of companies. I think fleet-type vehicles will do well. If Chrysler re-tools the PT into a panel, they'd be smart. Ford, for once, has nothing to compete.

Brad

Hey Brad, you got pics of those first panels? Sure would like to take a gander.

BruceK,

Here's a link that will show you pics of the 4 HHR panels that Brad was talking about.

They were actually featured on an episode of TLC's "Rides" TV show.

http://www.hhrclub.org/photos_view.php

The photo's can be found under HHR Club photo's #'s 3-6 from the top of the list.

Thanks Jed. Year One and Unique my kinda car.