Camaro SS Convertible Indy 500 Pace Car Sells for $225,000 at Barrett-Jackson

In a somewhat rare occurrence these days, publicity hungry General Motors, actually surprised everybody by unveiling a new Chevrolet Camaro SS Convertible Indianapolis Pace Car at Barrett-Jackson’s Westworld Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona last week.

To top it off, the very first of these 50 cars, (production of the rest isn’t scheduled to start until next month), was auctioned off for charity this past Saturday on behalf of the David Foster Foundation. Foster is a Grammy award winning music producer and songwriter whose foundation supports families with children in need of life saving organ transplants.

As part of the deal, the winning bidder will take delivery of the car at the track on Memorial Day weekend and will also be allowed to actually drive their latest toy during the parade laps of the actual race. Bear in mind this Camaro is a festival car, not the actual pacer, but still, what a chance of a lifetime.

What makes this aspect even more special is that this year marks the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the first race was run way back in 1911.

Bidding stalled out at $225,000 for this particular Camaro, but still; a Deuce and a Quarter grand is still a nice chunk of change to help families and kids in need.

A couple of interesting points – although the Camaro convertible is being listed as a 2012 model by GM, this particular car was categorized as a 2011 at B-J, perhaps as a nod to enhance it’s one-off status, ahead of the other 49 replicas. In addition, while the new Camaro close mimicks the ’69 version, the color isn’t an exact match, the stripes are a dark shade of orange and the color is Summit white, as opposed to Dover white on the original. The new one also doesn’t come with a Houndstooth interior, but still; it’s a very neat car.