One of the most popular cars to be produced by General Motors in recent times is the 2009 Chevrolet Camaro.

This is in large part thanks to its starring role in the 2007 Hollywood blockbuster Transformers. Despite the enhanced reputation of the Camaro, at the time it was only a concept car. The car that was actually used was a converted Pontiac GTO with the exterior and interior designed to look like the Camaro.

Although the concept had been developed in 2006, and spotted by Michael Bay – who cited it as the perfect vehicle – before being exposed to the wider world, it was not actually released until 2009. It marked the fifth generation of Camaros.

With the fourth generation of ending in 2002, the new cars marked the end of a seven year break. The first Camaros were introduced in 1966, falling into the pony car class with their sporty looks and performance.  4.8 million Camaros were sold worldwide between their original release in 1967 and 2002.

The fifth generation Camaros came with a number of choices for engine and transmission. The global 3.6-litre V6 made by General Motors was a standard, and gave over 240 horsepower, while a 6.2-litre V8 engine could also be fitted, giving over 400 horsepower. Buyers could also choose between six-speed manual or automatic shifts.

If you are looking for an eco-friendly or save money on petrol bills, the Camaro may not be the car for you, it is a V8 “petrol chewing mahine”. If you are this way inclined you are better off getting a hybrid car or another car that takes advantage of renewable energy as a secondary fuel source.

While the Chevrolet Camaro is one of the most famous cars to come out of the American automobile hub of Detroit, the new models were actually assembled in Canada, and used the same platform as another car that falls under the General Motors umbrella, the Australian Holden Commodore.

Transformers gave the world a sneak preview of a 2009 Chevrolet Camaro before it was released. In the film an Autobot, an extra-terrestrial robot named Bumblebee, takes on the form of a dingy yellow 1976 Camaro and is purchased by an unsuspecting main character Sam Witwicky.

Later in the film, in order to help Witwicky impress his crush, played by Megan Fox, it takes on the form of a more appealing 2009 Camaro by scanning one as it passed by.

The 2009 Chevrolet Camaro proved to be a very popular feature of the film, itself a huge success, to the extent that Chevrolet revealed a new special edition package based on the Transformers film in 2010. It boasted the same yellow livery with a black strip, and was accompanied by Autobot wheel caps and Transformers logos.

The value of these cars vary, but they can be worth up to $45,000. Most car insurance companies will not insure cars such as these for their full value, so it is a good idea to get an agreed value when looking for car insurance quotes.

Just in case you’re not entirely convinced of your next man-toy purchase… check this cool vid…