If you’re as excited as we are by the 2012 Chevy Camaro ZL1, it might be wise to understand the historical significance of those three letters at the end of Chevy’s retrofied muscle car. Way back in 1969 – a year some consider to be the apogee of Camaro history – the automaker built just 69 ZL1s, each powered by an aluminum-block 427-cubic-inch V8 that was otherwise unavailable in the Camaro and built specifically for drag racing.

The ’69 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is highly coveted by collectors, and a perfectly stunning example was auction at the 2012 Barrett-Jackson event in Scottsdale. Though this particular ZL1 saw plenty of use on the drag strip, it’s been completely restored to like-new condition. We just drove the new 2012 ZL1 (full report coming soon), so we were keenly interested in seeing this one cross the auction block. The final bid came in at 0,000, putting the actual sale at 1,000.

Check out our high-res image gallery of live photos above, and be sure to click past the break, where you can watch a video of it being auctioned and read more about the 1969 Camaro ZL1 after the break.

Continue reading Barrett-Jackson 2012: 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 races across the auction block [w/video]

Barrett-Jackson 2012: 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 races across the auction block [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 21:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Classics

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The eagle-eyed among you may have spotted something suspicious lurking on the Chevrolet Code 130R and and Tru 140S concepts, both of which debuted here today at the Detroit Auto Show. Each concept prominently features the legendary Chevrolet Corvette cross flag emblem, or at least appears to at first glance.

The Tru 140S wears the badges in question on the center caps of all four wheels while the Code 130R proudly displays them as integrated turn signals on the front fenders. According to Nicholas David, a senior exterior designer with General Motors and the man behind the Tru 140S, the cross flag emblems identify both concepts as members of a new “passion portfolio” within Chevrolet.

Once upon a time, the cross flags found themselves on a number of sport-oriented Chevrolet vehicles from the Corvair to the Corvette. As the years progressed, the badges fell off of every model but the Corvette. Now, David says GM wants to expand its family of sports cars, and each new member will feature the cross flags. With SS and RS models lining showrooms, GM isn’t exactly short on sports branding as it is. Fortunately, the cross flags likely won’t detail a separate trim so much as a family of vehicles.

It’s worth noting that while the emblems on the two concept twins are remarkably similar to the cross flags of the Chevrolet Corvette, they aren’t identical. The Corvette relies on a curled flag with a gold Bowtie and a fleur-de-lis on a red field, while the Code 130R and Tru 140S make do with just the Bowtie.

Why do the Chevrolet coupe concepts have Corvette cross-flag emblems? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Concept Cars

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General Motors has just unveiled the Tru 140S Concept at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, the second of it’s youth-oriented concepts. Spiritual sibling to the Code 130S Concept, the Tru 140S is designed to bring exotic styling to the compact segment. Based on the bones of the Chevrolet Cruze, the vehicle comes equipped with the same 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, though with a bit more power. The vehicle puts 150 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels via either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. Like the Cruze, GM says a production version of the Tru 140S Concept could be capable of up to 40 mpg highway.

Like it’s rear-wheeldrive twin, the Tru 140S Concept would carry an MSRP of around ,000 were it to go into production. And how likely is that to happen? GM has made it clear it intends to offer a more stylish, evocative compact vehicle in the near future. Given the fact that the Tru 140S rides on the Cruze platform, there’s a good chance we may see something like it roll out of GM in a few years. Consider our fingers crossed. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Chevrolet Tru 140S Concept is the meaner Cruze

Chevrolet Tru 140S Concept is the meaner Cruze originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog

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