INDIANAPOLIS – When the Chevrolet Camaro Convertible sets the pace for the 2011 Indianapolis 500 this Sunday, it will showcase a top built to last a lifetime, operate worry-free and maintain the appearance of its Coupe sibling.

To assure long-term durability, the convertible top underwent extensive testing during development, being opened and closed more than 22,500 times – three times more than would be expected in a typical 10 years of use. Some of those cycles were performed in extreme conditions; temperatures ranging from minus-22° F to 170° F and humidity of up to 95 percent.

“This past winter we even had our engineers driving 80 of these convertibles back and forth to work every day here in Michigan,” said Al Oppenheiser, Camaro chief engineer. “They had to open and close the top five times each day no matter what the weather was like.”

Every Camaro Convertible undergoes a water test as it completes assembly in Oshawa, Ontario. In addition, vehicles are randomly chosen to undergo an eight-minute water test at the assembly facility in Oshawa and at an identical facility at the GM Proving Ground in Milford, Michigan. More than 7,200 gallons of water are hurled at the car in a hurricane-like downpour at a pace of 900 gallons per minute.  Read more and watch the video!

1968 SHELBY GT500 no.0833 (as listed on Ebay auction id: 250811487932)

First of all, the Candyapple Red over Saddle color combination is extremely rare, with fewer than 8% of 1968 Shelbys being configured in the same way. Second, it is a documented, numbers-matching car with original invoices, order sheets, and a Marti report. Finally, it IS a GT500 after all—428 cubic inches of big block Ford in a killer, race-bred package. Buy it, drive it, and watch its value stay rock-solid.

Restored by noted Mustang restorer Bob Wilson several years ago, this snake started out as an extremely clean original piece that was really straddling the line between “superior survivor” and“in need of restoration.” The ensuing restoration was done to extremely high standards and the car has been driven less than 50 miles since completion. Today it is in outstanding condition throughout, with excellent panel gaps, and gorgeous Candyapple Red paint. The fiberglass pieces on this car are high quality reproduction units, which really is a good thing since the originals often fit so poorly that no amount of rework can make them look as good as they do on this car. The GT500 stripes along the rocker panels are accurate, and you’ve probably also noticed that this is a stripe-delete car, which is very unusual. The paint is deep, rich, and lustrous, and I can’t find any evidence that this car has ever been driven on the road. If a bright red Shelby big block can be subtle and sophisticated, this is it. Read more!

1967 Mustang Fastback Shelby G.T.500CR 900 as listed on Ebay (auction id: 290562873274)

MSN Autos recently named the 1967 Shelby G.T.500 the “ultimate muscle car.” The Shelby G.T.500CR 900 model starts with a legend, and injects it with modern supercar technology: a 770 horsepower supercharged engine, advanced multi-link race car inspired suspension, an oppulant interior and modern turn-key reliability.
Every Shelby G.T.500CR is coachbuilt at our facility located in Oklahoma. Modern amenities include authentic Shelby Performance Parts, rack and pinion steering, race inspired suspension, oversized disc brakes, and more. Engines are hand assembled out of the finest parts available, and with nearly 800 horsepower on tap the 900 model offers supercar performance. Please read the vehicle specs below. Read more and check out the pictures!

We were looking for some parts at Ebay and we stumbled upon a few cool auctions we would post here. Let’s start with the first one – FORD MUSTANG 1966 GT350 SHELBY HERTZ REPLICA aka Rent-a-racer (auction id: 170640456785).

Here is the original description:

1966 Ford Mustang Fastback Shelby GT350 Hertz Recreation. 289 V8 with C4 automatic transmission. Much money and hardwork has been invested in creating this car ensuring it is as authentic to an original Hertz Shelby as possible.

New cylinder head design combines key parts into single aluminum casting

PONTIAC, Mich. – In auto production, more power, better fuel economy and fewer emissions rarely appear together. But the 2012 Camaro 3.6L direct injection V6 engine achieves all three by combining the exhaust manifold with the cylinder head into a single aluminum casting.

Each integrated exhaust manifold cylinder head – a V6 has two — replaces a cast iron exhaust manifold, six bolts, a gasket and a heat shield and three bolts. By eliminating this joint, the potential for a gasket failure is eliminated. And the change reduces engine weight by 13 lbs. or 6 kg per engine. Reducing mass helps improve fuel economy and the 2012 Camaro 2LS model is EPA estimated at 30 mpg highway. Read more!

• Mopar HEMI Challenge one-race shootout at Mac Tools U.S Nationals to feature $15,000 winner’s purse
• $18,000 total purse up for grabs at Mopar HEMI Challenge event
• Super Stock/A-HEMI (SS/AH) Mopar HEMI Challenge drivers to do battle for 11th-consecutive year at Indy

May 16, 2011 , Auburn Hills, Mich. – Mopar® announced today that the 11th Annual Mopar HEMI® Challenge will feature Mopar-powered Super Stock/A-HEMI (SS/AH) competitors battling it out in a one-race shootout at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, Ind., Sept. 1–2. Drivers competing in the popular National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Sportsman event will vie for the $15,000 winner’s purse and a total event purse of $18,000, both the largest in the history of the Mopar HEMI Challenge.

“Grassroots racers who compete in the Mopar HEMI Challenge are the foundation of drag racing, and the reason why Mopar is involved in the NHRA,” said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO of Mopar, Chrysler Group LLC’s service, parts and customer-care brand. “These enthusiast drivers spend a great deal of time and money preparing their Mopar HEMI-powered race cars for battle, and purchase many Mopar parts from their local Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge, or Ram dealerships. They have a passion for the Mopar brand that reflects positively throughout the drag-racing world. This is why we recognize this passion supporting the HEMI Challenge.” Read more!

Ford Mustang Facebook Fans Choose ‘Mayhem’ as New Name for V6 Performance Package
• The Ford Mustang V6 Performance Package has been given a new name – “Mayhem Mustang Package” – thanks to a Facebook contest that asked for the help of nearly 1.4 million Mustang fans.

• More than 3,000 submissions were made to the Facebook page and nearly 6,700 users installed the “You Name It” app. The winner, from North Carolina, receives a three-year lease on a 2012 Mustang with the Mayhem Mustang Package.

• Mayhem Mustang Package combines lightweight 305-horsepower all-aluminum V6, a 3.31 performance rear axle and Mustang GT-based suspension and braking components. Unique 19-inch wheels and Pirelli performance tires provide superb grip and aggressive appearance.  Read more!

DETROIT – On May 5, 1961, Alan B. Shepard became the first American to travel into outer space. When he returned to terra firma, Shepard got behind the wheel of a Chevrolet Corvette – and the legends of America’s favorite sports car and spacemen have been intertwined ever since.

On May 7, 2011, approximately 30 of America’s surviving astronauts are expected to gather at Cocoa Beach, Fla., where they will participate in a parade commemorating the 50th anniversary of Shepard’s historic sub-orbital flight. Fittingly, they will be driven in Corvettes representing all six design generations built since the famed sports car’s 1953 debut.

“Each astronaut will ride in a Corvette from the generation current at the time of their mission,” parade coordinator John T. R. Dillon III said.
Read more!

Corvette Muscle: GM Invests $131 Million in Bowling Green

Wed, May 4 2011

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – General Motors said Wednesday it will invest $131 million in the Bowling Green Assembly plant to support production of the next generation Chevrolet Corvette, adding about 250 jobs.

“This is a significant day for anyone who believes that America should build world-class, high-performance products,” said Mark Reuss, GM North America president. “Corvette has no domestic peer for performance and pedigree and stands alongside the world’s best supercars with almost 60 years of continuous heritage.

“This investment in Kentucky is among $3.4 billion made in the United States since mid-2009 to keep or create more than 9,000 jobs for American workers,” Reuss said. Read more!

• Mopar® parts enhance performance and distinguish all-new 2011 Dodge Charger with limited-edition Mopar ’11 model
• HEMI®-powered, high-speed engine controller and 3.92 final-drive drop 0-to-100 km/h times to low five seconds
• Chassis features front and rear strut tower bars

May 3, 2011 , Windsor, Ontario – Building on the success of last year’s Mopar® version of the Dodge Challenger, Chrysler Group LLC’s Mopar Division will launch a limited-edition Dodge Charger outfitted with select high-performance parts and appearance items straight from the Mopar parts catalog.

Powered by the legendary 5.7-litre HEMI® V8 with 370 horsepower and 395 lb.-ft. of torque, the specially equipped Charger includes the “Super Track Pak” option that pushes the capabilities of the Mopar Charger in acceleration, handling and braking. Read more!