VOLO — Imagine watching the new “Transformers” movie from a Transformer.
One lucky Volo Auto Museum visitor will do just that.
The winner of a sweepstakes ongoing now will drive Bumblebee, the beloved Camaro that Shia LaBeouf’s character, Sam Witwicky, bought in the original 2007 film. The ride will begin at the museum, 27582 Volo Village Road, and travel to the McHenry Outdoor Theater at Chapel Hill and Lincoln roads on the opening night of “Transformers: Age of Extinction,” anticipated to be June 27.
The winner and a date not only will get to drive and ride in the highly recognizable yellow and black ’77 Camaro, but also will be provided with free admission to the show as well as dinner from the concession stand.
“Normally our Star Cars are behind the museum ropes, untouchable,” said Brian Grams, museum director. “This is an exceptionally rare and exciting opportunity.”
Each museum admission wristband purchased between now and June 12 is a potential sweepstakes entry. Enter the number printed on the admission wristband at
www.volocars.com/transformers-sweepstakes.htm. The winner must be 18 and hold a valid driver’s license. The winning entry will be announced June 13.
“I’m excited about this. This is cool,” said Scott Dehn, owner of the McHenry Outdoor. “Brian approached me with the idea and I said ‘Let’s do it!’”
“Transformers: Age of Extinction” is the fourth installment in the series that begins with an adolescent Sam Witwicky discovering that his first car, a somewhat bedraggled Camaro, is, in fact, a Transformer named Bumblebee.
“Some people have nicknamed it the Beater Bee,” Grams said of Volo’s screen-used car. “It’s definitely one that people recognize … it has character.”
Showing up at “Transformers: Age of Extinction” in the car that started it all should make for an exceptionally memorable movie-viewing experience, he added.
“The winners will be in the spotlight,” Grams said. “I hope they like attention.”
Volo Auto Museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and features roughly 300 classic, antique, muscle and Hollywood cars — all indoors. For information, visit
www.volocars.com or call 815-385-3644.