More than a month from now, turbocharged V-6 Chevrolet and Honda engines will roar at the storied Brickyard in Indianapolis, Indiana. With practice opening May 11th at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 2013 IZOD INDYCAR’s coveted race, preparations are well underway for the 97th running of Indy 500. Acknowledged under the term “The Month of May”, the practice, qualifying and the main 500-mile race is one of the greatest opportunities for automotive pomp.
Since 1997, General Motors has been the sole provider of the Indianapolis 500 pace car. Chevrolet and the former Oldsmobile brand have led contenders to the race’s green flag 33 at a time. For three of the past five years, the Chevrolet Camaro has received the nod for the momentous Indy 500 duty. Though the pace car announcement for the 2013 race has yet to be made, a special limited number of Chevrolet Camaro convertibles will bid honour to event.
Comprehensively commemorating the enthusiasm of automobiles, Chevrolet has collaborated with an iconic creator of scaled car replica products. Producing the small die-cast vehicles that stoked the fires of car love for countless youngsters, Hot Wheels has grown in recent years to become part of life-sized Chevrolet Camaros. First displayed at the 2011 SEMA Show custom car show in Las Vegas, a sparkling green Chevrolet Camaro served as a tribute to one of the original sixteen Hot Wheels made in 1968. Making rounds on the auto show circuit, the Chevrolet Camaro Hot Wheels custom has spawned a limited production variant. May’s 2013 Indy 500 will host 33 examples of the production model Hot Wheels edition Chevrolet Camaro convertible.
Distributed to the directors of the 500 Festival, the Chevrolet Camaro convertible Hot Wheels edition vehicles feature a blue exterior. A single black stripe running along the center of the Camaro’s hood accompanied by a black soft-top roof. Stylish wheels are framed with a red accent reminiscent of past Hot Wheels die-cast. Along with the Camaro badging and official Indianapolis 500 graphics, Hot Wheels badging is found on the corners as well as on the pony car’s front grille. Hot Wheels logos adorn the front seats of the special edition Camaro convertible. Red stitching along the seating and interior surfaces brightens the Chevrolet Camaro convertible Hot Wheels edition’s cabin.
Unlike the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and the recently unveiled recreation of the Z/28, the Hot Wheels edition is entirely for show. An appearance package to be available in limited numbers on the 2013 Chevrolet Camaro, the Hot Wheels edition adds an additional $6,995 above the vehicle’s regular sticker price. As the 2013 Indy 500 draws closer, the 33 Hot Wheels-themed Camaro convertibles will receive some light mileage in ceremonies including the 500 Festival Parade.
Information and photo source: General Motors
