| On July 4th, 2007, the movie version of the | | | | shorter than that of the Camaro, so it was a |
| 1980s cartoon Transformers hit the big screen. | | | | natural fit to use the GTO. One major |
| The biggest stars of the new movie are in fact | | | | complication was that the GTO is a uni-body, |
| the cars, not the actors. GM scored big in this | | | | which means the build team could not just throw |
| regard, as five different GM models are featured | | | | a new body on the GTO chassis. |
| in the movie. These GM models include a Hummer | | | | To start, the build team cut the body off the |
| H2, the Pontiac Solstice, a GMC Top Kick truck, a | | | | GTO and went to work with the remaining |
| 1976 Chevy Camaro, and lastly, the star of the | | | | structure. Next, they welded up a box frame to |
| movie, a 2009 Camaro known as Bumblebee. | | | | add rigidity to the car and make up for all the lost |
| The only known model of this car is the concept | | | | material. GM supplied the fiberglass body panels |
| car, which debuted at the 2006 North American | | | | for the project, using the same molds that were |
| Auto Show. Many who have seen this movie may | | | | used to build the show car. This guaranteed the |
| be wondering where this 2009 Camaro came | | | | fitment would be as perfect as possible. |
| from, considering it is still a concept and not being | | | | The interior panels were also largely formed out |
| produced for sale. There is a quite interesting | | | | of fiberglass. The build team did use a large |
| story behind how this car was built. | | | | majority of the stock GTO interior, most |
| In early planning stages, director Michael Bay was | | | | noticeably the stock GTO seats and gauges. The |
| searching for cars to use in the upcoming movie. | | | | interior is fairly simple compared to the stock |
| He has a long past with GM, having directed | | | | GTO, or even the Camaro concept, and does not |
| numerous commercials for them, and approached | | | | feature many amenities production cars normally |
| them about using GM cars for the movie. While | | | | do. There was one amazing feat the build team |
| touring the GM facility he found a car that struck | | | | was able to accomplish: retaining the factory air |
| his fancy: the 2009 Chevy Camaro concept car. | | | | conditioning. The finished product is far from a |
| He decided at that moment that the Camaro was | | | | production car, but it is close enough to fool |
| the car he had to have for the movie. | | | | many. The wheels appear to be large alloys, but |
| GM agreed to supply the production company | | | | are actually a hubcap made of composites to look |
| with two Camaros for the movie; however, the | | | | like wheels. The car does not have functional |
| main problem was that they had to build them. | | | | windows either, they are fixed Plexiglas. It also |
| GM builds cars in very large quantities, so the task | | | | has fake door handles and a fuel filler door, but |
| of building two cars was foreign to them. Also | | | | for the use it was intended for, it is perfect. |
| complicating matters was the fact they only had | | | | In the end, the Saleen build team did an amazing |
| 45 days to build the cars. GM contracted with | | | | job recreating the 2009 Camaro for use in the |
| Saleen, indeed the same Saleen who builds | | | | movie. It is hard to build two cars of this caliber in |
| Mustangs, to build the two movie cars. | | | | 45 days, but this team some how pulled it off, |
| Since most of the engineering for the new | | | | hats off to them! The car is fully drivable and |
| Camaro is nowhere near complete, the team at | | | | functional, and even did its own stunts! If you |
| Saleen was given two Pontiac GTO's to work | | | | haven't seen the movie, it is time for you to get |
| with. The wheelbase of the GTO was just slightly | | | | to the theater! |