Chevy has already launched the Camaro Convertible what seems like several times, but now we have the first live photos of the drop top American muscle machine ahead of its official debut at the LA Auto Show tomorrow.

Sporting a rag-top, rather than a hard-top, the convertible model gains just 200 lbs over its coupe counterpart. Added bracing has been added to the chassis, as well as under the hood, where a massive strut tower bar is a very obvious addition. Both the V6 and V8 engines will be offered with either a manual or automatic transmission. The V6 engine having been upgraded recently now makes 312-hp, while the V8-powered SS will make as much as 426-hp with the 6-speed stick.

Unfortunately many of the cheap plastics from the coupe carry over and they even stand out more thanks to some bright paintwork. This stands in stark contrast to the high-grade leather seats, that are perfect for showing off with the top dropped and feel extra smooth.

Exact pricing hasn’t been set, but Chevy says the car will start at around $30,000 and base V6 models will come better equipped than the entry-level Coupe trim.

GALLERY: 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

Official release and video the car after the jump:

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It’s not even officially out yet, but at this year’s Barrett-Jackson auction in Las Vegas, an early 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible went under the gavel for a healthy $207,000.

It joined a roster of high priced cars that rounded off the top five sellers at the auction; but what was interesting, is that apart from the first and second highest priced cars that sold – a 2008 Bugatti Veyron ($770,000) and 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren ($412,500); the other three were General Motors products.

Besides the Camaro ragtop, a customized 2010 Camaro coupe sold for a whopping $350,000 and a 1981 Corvette went for $150,000. Wow! Who would have thought that we’d see the day when a 1981 Corvette (the year that a de-bored 305 V8 was available), would sell for six figures. Mind you, stranger things have happened.

The last time the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro was spied, it was outside the car’s production facility in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. These latest spy shots come from the other side of the world.

GMInsideNews forum member isszy captured two photos of eight of the drop-top Camaros at a Holden facility in Fisherman’s Bend, Australia.

The Camaro Convertible was originally scheduled to debut as a 2010 model, but due to GM’s recent financial troubles the project was put on hold. Now that GM is out of bankruptcy, the economy appears headed for a rebound and the Camaro coupe is such a big success for the still-struggling automaker, the Camaro Convertible is back on track for a 2010 debut as a 2011 model.

GALLERY: 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible Spy Photos

[Source: GMInsideNews]

The Camaro Convertible has been an on-again, off-again model for Chevy. Officially, it is now on-again and in case you don’t believe the rumors, here are a few pics of the car sitting outside GM’s Oshawa, Canada plant – where the new Camaro is assembled.

No doubt the decision to go ahead with the car as a 2011 model was made after the popularity of the hard-top, with 14,000 pre-orders. In fact, the Camaro plant in Oshawa is running at heightened capacity and the summer brake has been delayed in an effort to keep up with demand.

With few convertibles offered any more, GM is poised to grab a big portion of the drop-top market. We would also expect that fleet sales of the convertible to rental car agencies could be high, especially if Chrysler eliminates the Sebring Convertible.

Sales of the Camaro Convertible are also likely to be majority V6 models and as the hard-top gets 30 highway mpg, we can expect similarly high numbers for the open-air machine. No doubt the car’s fuel-economy factored in to the green-lighting of the project by GM’s new bosses.

After reviewing the hard-top, we’re certain a convertible version is a good plan. The car’s comfortable sedan-like ride will work well for top-down cruising and we definitely won’t be able to complain about a lack of head room. With the Camaro’s curb weight in excess of 3,800 lbs, however, expect the drop-top to weight in at over 4,000 lbs.

[Source: Autoblog]

[Photo Credit: Brad Miller]