Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Technology, Videos, Chevrolet, GM
2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible - Click above for high-res image gallery
When General Motors showed some hardcore Camaro fans an early version of the convertible, they apparently received some less-than-favorable feedback. It turns out the Camaro faithful weren't all that smitten with the old-fashion whip antenna (not to be confused with the shark fin antenna for XM satellite radio and OnStar transmissions) protruding out of the topless muscle car's boot. The retro antenna was deemed to be a necessary evil due to the fact that, like most new vehicles, the hardtop Camaro hides the antenna in the rear window. And we all know that just won't work if the rear window can be stowed with the rest of the top, so engineers and designers had no choice, right? Well, as it turns out there was an option B.
The General turned to Antenna Performance Engineer Don Hibbard, a "lifelong Ham radio enthusiast," to shed the ungainly appendage. This was no easy task, though, as GM insisted that whatever the solution, it needed to perform every bit as well as the unit embedded in the hardtop's rear glass. To make matters a bit more interesting, Hibbard and his colleague, Gregg Kittinger, didn't exactly have all the time in the world to get the job done.
In a span of only 10 months, Hibbard was able to work some magic. The new Camaro Convertible will feature an AM/FM antenna that is built into the Camaro's rear spoiler. The embedded receiver will reportedly work as well as the rear window antenna from the hardtop, but without the retro eyesore. Now, if only they cold solve for the awkward trunklid combo of the CHMSL, satellite radio and lip spoiler...
Hit the jump to check out a video of GM's clever antenna solution and to check out the official press release.
[Source: General Motors]
Continue reading Ham radio geekery fixes Chevy Camaro Convertible's antenna [w/video]
Ham radio geekery fixes Chevy Camaro Convertible's antenna [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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