First 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible nets $205,000 at Barrett-Jackson

The very first Chevrolet Camaro convertible has sold at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, and it brought an astounding $205,000. Obviously, getting your hands on the very first of anything is going to cost you dearly, and quite a few were willing to pay the price of exclusivity.

But it's not just the new owner and proud papa Chevrolet that will be pleased with this sale. We're betting that this money will make some deserving youths very happy, as all proceeds are going to benefit YMCA of Southern Nevada.

2011 Chevrolet Camaro convertible leaked on Facebook

Thanks to the modern world of internet and social networking, one never knows when some good old leaked automotive information will show up, or where. Facebook has produced some great information in the past, and today it brings us a couple of official pictures of the forthcoming 2011 Chevrolet Camaro convertible.

A convertible is the final missing piece for the Camaro to be able to match it's competitor, the Mustang, model for model. The ragtop Camaro is slated to go into production at the Oshawa assembly plant in the first quarter of 2011.

Spied: Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

While the new Camaro has been outselling it's competitor the Ford Mustang, the Mustang has one thing that the Camaro doesn't: a convertible. So it's really no surprise that the Camaro has a ragtop version in the works.

A contributor from Camaro5.com recently caught a pre production version of the Camaro convertible out and about doing some testing with the top down. Follow the link for additional photos.

Chevrolet Camaro convertible contract to go to Mangna

Another hurdle for the new Camaro convertible has been cleared, as Automotive News has reported that Magna's Car Top Systems group has won the contract for the car. GM is reportedly expecting to sell 20,000 of the 'verts per year.

Edscha AG had originally won the contract, but poor convertible sales at the time forced it to back out. Magna will reportedly build the Camaro tops at GM's Corvette plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky with materials from Mexico.

GM confirms Chevy Camaro Convertible for Oshawa production

Below you will find a normal looking press release for the 2011 Buick Regal. GM is announcing that it will produce the new Regal in the beginning of 2011 at it's assembly plant in Oshawa, Ontario.

So what, you ask, does this have to do with the Camaro? Well, Oshawa is the same assembly line that builds the new Camaro. That, and GM subtly slipped in something about the upcoming Camaro convertible being produced there as well.

GM has been leading us back and forth on the issue of whether or not it would actually go through and produce a convertible version of it's pony car. This discreet little press release all but confirms it.

PRESS RELEASE:

2011 Buick Regal to be built at the Oshawa Car Assembly Plant

2009-11-25

o Second new car built on Oshawa's state-of-the-art flexible manufacturing line
o Production to begin in first quarter 2011

Oshawa, ON - North American production of the all-new 2011 Buick Regal was today confirmed for the Oshawa Car Assembly plant beginning in Q1 2011. The new 2011 Regal is a midsize sport sedan based on the award-winning Opel Insignia – the 2009 "European Car of the Year" – and it brings all of Insignia's award-winning design, technology and European-inspired performance capabilities to the North American market.

"The new Regal gives Buick a modern performance sedan and its production here in Oshawa is terrific news for our employees, the CAW, dealers and suppliers," says Arturo Elias, president, General Motors of Canada. "Combining Buick's top position in the industry in terms of brand quality with the Oshawa Car Plant's long-standing reputation for top quality assembly means customers' highest expectations will be met with this midsize sport sedan."

Production of the new Buick Regal is the latest in a string of positive news for GM manufacturing in Canada including:

* Oshawa Car Plant running maximum overtime since June 2009 that will continue into the new year to keep up with demand for the Chevrolet Camaro
* Production of the Camaro Convertible in Oshawa beginning in Q1 2011
* The recent addition of a 3 rd shift plus scheduled overtime at CAMI Automotive to keep up with strong demand for the all-new Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain
* The investment of $C90 million in CAMI Automotive which will add an additional 40,000 units of capacity to current production and result in full employment at CAMI
* The introduction of flexible transmission production at GM Canada's St. Catharines facility beginning with assembly of the fuel-efficient 6-speed front-wheel-drive transmission

The new Buick Regal joins the Chevrolet Camaro and Equinox and the GMC Terrain as the third new vehicle in the production commitment that was part of the agreement with the Canadian and Ontario Governments.

General Motors of Canada (GMCL) is headquartered in Oshawa, Ontario and employs 9,000 people nationwide. GM of Canada manufactures vehicles, vehicle powertrains, and markets the full range of General Motors vehicles and related services through dealerships and retailers across Canada.

Drop Top Customs bringing Camaro convertible to SEMA

The convertible version of the new Camaro has been an on again, off again affair that appears to be on again. While we wait on GM to decide what exactly it wants to do, Drop Top Customs will be showing off the car you see here, a Camaro SS convertible.

Drop Top is the same company that brought you their own Dodge Challenger convertible, and they've done basically the same thing to this Camaro. If you want one done yourself, they'll charge you a cool $18,000.