With summer all but here, many people are getting ready to bring the ol’ droptop out of storage for some fun in the sun. That is, unless, you’re one of the many who are purchasing a brand new Chevy Camaro convertible, in which case you’re probably just getting your car now. But you’ve got to wonder, how does GM test the durability and reliability of their convertible tops, to ensure a sudden rainstorm doesn’t ruin your day trip?
Well lucky for us, the General has put out a brief video detailing exactly how it tests the ‘vert. The extremes GM goes to put good vehicles on the road is evident, as the video opens with an engineer crawling into the trunk of a Camaro convertible.
So you might be thinking to yourself “So what? Spray it with a hose and be done with the testing already.” But we both know that a lot more than a simple hose down is done to ensure the quality of the convertible top, so you car isn’t waterlogged after the next rain storm. GM goes the extra mile to test every aspect of the top, including the convertible opening mechanism.
GM tested the tops on prototype cars, often in extreme weather conditions, about 22,500 times, which GM estimates is three times more than the average convertible will be opened during the life of the car. Of course, there was also the hose-down test… which featured over 7,200 gallons of water thrown at the car over a period of just nine minutes. We think it is safe to say that the Camaro convertible top should be pretty damn reliable for years to come.