Mount Airy missed out on Wednesday’s nationwide release of the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, ironically because of a problem with another mode of transportation.

While other dealers across the U.S. were unveiling what some are calling the first new sports car of the 21st century during one of the most-anticipated debuts of a vehicle in years, Collins Chevrolet in Mount Airy went Camaro-less.

“Ours was stuck on a rail car in Columbia, S.C.,” Donnie McBride, sales manager at the dealership, explained Thursday morning. “As you can imagine, I’ve been turning flips for the past couple of days.”

However, the story got a happy ending later Thursday for Collins — and about 10 other Chevy dealerships in the region which were affected by the railway problem — when their new Camaros finally arrived. The lone red vehicle received at the Mount Airy dealership on U.S. 601 was one of about 6,000 made in an initial, limited-edition production run by Chevrolet, which also included black and white models.

Its arrival here was greatly welcomed. “A half a dozen people followed the trailer in,” McBride said Friday. “We sold it about 10 minutes after it came off the trailer.” One of the employees at the dealership was the buyer.

However, McBride said arrangements have been made to display the car at the business for a limited time to give the public a chance to see the vehicle. Though it is the only new Camaro the dealership has on hand, “people can order it now,” said McBride, who added that delivery can be expected within six to eight weeks.

The local dealership was glad to get the car Thursday, despite missing out on the nationwide fanfare the day before. Before it arrived, McBride was concerned that the delivery would take as long as Monday.

Along with resurrecting a popular model that was discontinued in 2002, the new Camaro’s introduction is seen as providing a jump-start to the troubled domestic auto industry. Vehicle showrooms that have been lonely places in recent months as new-car sales have stalled were more lively this week in Mount Airy and elsewhere due to the car’s release.

“We’ve had great interest for probably the last three or four business days,” McBride said Thursday. “We’ve had people come through the door specifically just to see the new Camaro.”

Until Thursday, Collins Chevrolet had to soothe that anticipation by simply supplying literature on the vehicle. “It has been a tremendous response with people coming out and trying to take a look at it,” the dealership spokesman said.

The Chevy Camaro became a beloved part of Americana after it went into production in the late 1960s, and remained so for more than 30 years.

Collins’ sales manager said he believes nostalgia is one of the reasons for the excitement surrounding the latest model which, while sporting a modern design, also has a retro look. People of all ages and backgrounds have expressed interest in the car, McBride said, including collectors.

The new Camaro comes equipped with both V-8 and V-6 engines. The V-6, however, still puts out 304 horsepower, with the V-8 supplying 426 horsepower. Its cost is listed at $22,995 to $34,180, depending on accessories.