Nearly two years ago, Brad Ocock at Year One (www.yearone.com) sent me some images of a very different HHR, one that the company’s craft guild had converted to a panel truck silhouette and stuffed with an LS V8.
“At the time they [Chevy] told us that there were absolutely zero plans to do a panel delivery vehicle off the HHR. I think a few conversations about small business owners needing something like that…and they changed their collective minds. As you can see, the production version very, very closely resembles the Year One panel, particularly in the areas of rear cargo and the solenoid-release rear doors,” said Ocock.
The first order of business was finding a Gen-4 Camaro donor. “It gave up its seats, rack steering and a complete but ultimately narrowed differential assembly. Since the plan was to include as many GM parts as possible, the front suspension retained the stock control arms and spindles.”
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The carbureted LS motor with the NASCAR flavor came straight out of Chevy’s back door and was positioned with a 4L60E automatic. While Year One crew retained the stock front sub-frame assembly, they were obliged to construct an entirely new one for the rear suspension and outfitted it with coil/over shock absorbers.
What has become of the shadow truck? Year One began driving its Vicious Closet on the Hot Rod Power Tour last year. “We made it from Georgia to Florida and one or two other stops, but were ‘asked’ by Chevrolet to not do that anymore,” Ocock added. “Chevrolet currently has the Panel in a warehouse.”
