One doesn’t usually describe Chevrolet products as fun, sporty, futuristic, retro and eye catching. The Super Sport Roadster convertible truck (isn’t that a contradiction?) is all of those things. In fact, if you want attention on the street or freeway, this is the vehicle for it.

GM and Chevrolet decided to compete with the futuristic/retro and fun offerings from their U.S. competitors, such as the Chrysler PT Cruiser, long gone Plymouth Prowler and the Thunderbird from Ford. It’s not that these cars will make a mint for their parent companies out of their production and sales. They won’t. Some of them may even lose revenue. It’s showing off the internal thinking and capability of each company and how they are in tune with, or are willing to set today’s auto fashions. It’s to bring people into the showrooms, hoping to sell them the utilitarian profit-making car or truck they need.

Chevrolet’s Super Sport Roadster convertible truck will get you attention on the street, particularly when you lower the all-metal top.

Chevrolet adopted the SS in SSR from various sporty models through the years starting with the 1961 Impala Super Sport all the way to today’s 2004 Impala SS, the 2004 Monte Carlo supercharged SS and the 2003 Silverado SS pickup.

The SSR is an interesting concept, a convertible truck. It actually does better as a convertible than it does as a truck. The truck bed is small, sort of a large trunk, something that is missing in most of today’s convertibles. As a convertible, when you lower the all-metal top through a series of Rube Goldberg mechanisms into the truck bed, there is no question you will draw a crowd. It’s amazing that all that metal goes through complicated geometric paths to sort of fold into a small space in the front of the truck bed. In reverse, it rises up like a school of reptiles obeying some snake charmer’s music, until it flattens over your head and neatly grips the windshield frame, although maybe not tight enough, since there is definitely some irritating wind noise above 50 mph.

Driving the SSR invites some complex emotions. It rides like a truck, too lumpy for a convertible. The steering is truck heavy. The motor sounds like a truck engine. But when the top is down and you’re looking over the hood, your hair blowing in the wind, it definitely feels like a convertible.

The engine in the 2004 test vehicle is an all aluminum 5.3-liter, 300 hp, pushrod V-8, essentially the same engine as the 290 hp V-8 in the Chevrolet Trailblazer. This motor has a distinctive growl, which is quite pleasant with the top down, but a little loud with the top up. The transmission is a fairly smooth shifting four-speed GM Hydra-Matic with overdrive. For 2005, Chevrolet has upgraded the engine to the Corvette 6.0 liter, 390 hp V-8. That should make it a rocket ship, since the 300 hp test truck is no slouch. For 2005, look for an optional six-speed manual gearbox.

The 2004 test SSR had a base price of $41,370. When you include the preferred equipment group with engine cover insert, memory package, heated seats, am/fm stereo with six-disc in-dash Bose sound system, cargo compartment wood trim, running boards, towing package, cargo netting and custom floor mats, it adds $4,495 to bring the final price to $45,865 before destination charges of $625. The 2005 base price is $42,430. The standard equipment includes four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, aluminum wheels, front and side air bags, remote keyless entry, power heated mirrors, power seats, cruise, leather seating surfaces and driver information center.

The EPA estimated fuel consumption is a thirsty 16 mpg city/19 mpg. highway and the warranty on the SSR is three years/36,000 miles.

The SSR is eye candy for most observers. It is beautiful to look at in the same way that the Ford Thunderbird is beautiful to look at. As a convertible it is more practical than the Ford since it has a decent-sized trunk to put your stuff in for a long journey. However, the SSR carries a hefty pricetag, no doubt due to the inevitable manufacturing difficulties producing the big fenders and the very complex roof mechanism. In fact, the price tag probably would exclude some potential buyers who can afford the Thunderbird at $5,000 less.

If you’re looking for fun, attention-getting transportation and have $46,000 to spend, go to Mossy Chevrolet in Encinitas, look over the SSR and take a test drive. Take in those colors — they are special.

Motoring since 1952, Austin Lynas has owned 55 cars and at one time raced mini-sedans in England. An aerospace engineer, he was instrumental in developing the anti-skid systems used in British military aircraft that preceded today’s ABS systems. Lynas can be reached by e-mail at austin@sandiegometro.com.