Chevrolet has just announced that the first 2012 Camaro ZL1 has just been sold at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Las Vegas. The sale took place last Saturday afternoon with the final winning bid coming in at $250,000.100 percent of the auction proceeds will be benefitting the YMCA of Southern Nevada. So who spent a quarter of a million for a car that would normally cost $47,000? Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports and chairman of Hendrick Automotive Group placed the winning bid.

Delivery of his new ZL1 will take place early in 2012. But why exactly is this particular ZL1 so special and worth top dollar? Besides those who will benefit from the sale, it will be the only 2012 ZL1 coupe produced with a Carbon Flash Metallic exterior paint. It will also be the 69th ZL1 produced at the Oshawa Assembly Plant as part of a tribute to the legendary 1969 Camaro ZL1. Only 69 units of that car were produced. According to Chevrolet, back in 1969, "ZL1" was the code name for the 427-cubic-inch, all aluminum big-block engine developed for Corvette race cars, but it found its way into those 69 Camaros.

Total power output was officially rated at 430hp, but in reality could produce over 500hp. Appropriately, the '69 Camaro was recently voted as the "best Chevy of all time" in a recent online contest. The 2012 Camaro ZL1 is powered by a supercharged 6.2-liter LSA V8 with 580hp and 556lb-ft of torque. Sales are set to begin in early 2012.