A Tribute to Transformers 1 to 5: Bumblebee

There have been seven Transformers movies on the big screen since 2007, including Transformers (2007, T1), Revenge of the Fallen (2009, T2), Dark of the Moon (2011, T3), Age of Extinction (2014, T4), The Last Knight (2017, T5), the prequel Bumblebee (2018, T6), and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023, T7).  The next in the series hits the screen in 2024, entitled A New Generation.  These movies have made billions of dollars on the silver screen, as well as increasing demand for cars, particularly the Camaro.

As you can see by the image on the right, Chevrolet designed this 2014 Camaro to be a tribute to the Bumblebee edition from the Transformer movies. The standard Transformers 1 rally stripes were across the hood, trunk and rear spoiler, with the ground effects (front spoiler and side and rear lower valances) from the newly released Z/28 which was only brought back for 2014 and 2015. Transformers 1 was produced by Steven Spielberg in 2007 and introduced the world to the upcoming resurrection of the Camaro with the 2010 model, as production ceased in 2002 on the fourth generation Camaro. When the new 5th generation (2010 model) of the Camaro was released in 2009, sales skyrocketed in a large part due to the big screen success (and subtle promotion) of the newly designed Camaro with a retro-look reflecting back on the 1969 model Camaro. With each subsequent Transformers movie, the look of the Camaro used for Bumblebee changed. By the time this Camaro was built by Chevrolet, three sequels had hit the big screen, yet this Camaro most closely resembled the one used in the first Transformers movie, with the exception that it was a convertible. In fact, the convertible version of Bumblebee was not used until Transformers 5 in 2017 (although Chevrolet knew it would be forthcoming).

Boatman Automotive truly transformed this Camaro from the original T1- Transformers Tribute to a Bumblebee edition that pays tribute to all of the Transformer movies which featured the newest generations of the Camaro. The wheels that came from the factory are the same as used in T1. Notice the functional ram air hood below and you will be reminded of T2, Revenge of the Fallen, with a ram air hood of the same width. The rally stripes used in T1 were modified in T2 to flow over the hood scoop, as is done on this one. T2 also featured the 2013 front end of a ZL1, however, Boatman Automotive upgraded this to the 2023 Camaro ZL1 front clip, as you can see by the unique grill and vertical fog lights that only the ZL1 had. The pronounced heat extractor vents integrated into the hood appeared in T3 - Dark of the Moon, T4 - Age of Extinction and T5 - The Last Knight; The "shark gill" ones used in this hood most closely resemble the T4 edition (which happen to be the same year model as this Camaro in the movie).

The "eyeliner" daytime running lights installed by Boatman Automotive seen above were used both in T4 and T5 movies (although they used a 2019 SS edition for T5). The black front spoiler was used in T4.

As you look at the image below, you will notice the vertical doors, which were used in T5 in both the coupe and the convertible that briefly appeared in that movie.

The tail lights that Boatman Automotive installed are the same as used in T5, which certainly modernized the look from the rear. The real spoiler reflects on T4, The dual tip tail pipes were used in T4 and T5 and were installed with the MagnaFlow performance exhaust system.

The chrome wheels were the same ones used in T1, however, the Transformer logo was used in the center cap from T2 to T5, as well as on the front fenders, so Boatman Automotive added them to this one, as well. Painting the ground effects black, which extend beneath the doors and around the back bumper pays tribute to T4 and T5, which had the same. Although the side stripe does not have its roots in the Transformer movies, it is reminiscent of the '69 Camaro Yenko edition which had this type stripe - and it does complement the rest of the modifications done by Boatman.

Boatman Automotive also installed the quad gauges on the center console, used from 2010 t0 2015 in the SS editions (T1, T2 & T3). These have their roots back to the 1969 Z/28, where the quad gauges first appeared in Camaros. Competition tuning, in concert with the other functional performance enhancements (functional ram air and a Bernoulli AirFlow Accelerator feeding a Cold Air Induction intake installed by Boatman Automotive, with the MagnaFlow exhaust system), all served to provide optimal performance while enhancing fuel efficiency on this Camaro.

It is easy to see that Boatman Automotive transformed this factory tribute to T1 into a tribute to all Transformer movies, from T1 to T5! Kudos to the team at Boatman Automotive for taking on this project and doing it so well.

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To find out more about what we can do to help you and your family members, email us at support@boatmanautomotive.com or call 865-748-2424.