Well, tipster Pat L, you’ve really done it this time. This (catalog) Motion Performance Custom 1972 Chevrolet Corvette is about as outrageous as a car needs to be. Built out of Motion Performance catalog and not by Joel Rosen at his own shop, the car nonetheless exudes 1970s excess in all respects. If you want to be “That guy, you know, with that crazy Corvette,” then prepare to get near to the 30-thousand dollar asking price here on craigslist and find your way to Clearwater Beach to collect your new ride. Heck, you might even be able to drive it home, as it currently has only 26,000 recorded miles.
Motion Performance was the brainchild of Joel Rosen, partnered (for most deliveries) with Baldwin Chevrolet in Long Island, New York. Customers would buy their cars from Baldwin, then have them run through Rosen’s speed shop to come out being what one source calls “street-legal, turn-key drag cars.” Produced in extremely limited numbers, Baldwin-Motion cars ruled the East Coast performance scene starting in the late 1960s. The car in question, as is plainly stated in the ad, is not one of these authentic tuner cars, but a customer-built Motion Vette created out of the parts catalog that so many would-be racers used to order parts for “day two” builds back in the muscle car era. The build was done in the later 1970s.
The mods are done to this car border on the ridiculous. This includes both front and rear end treatments, including an “L88 hood,” per the seller, fender flares and front lip spoiler, a louvered rear window/roof extension that reminds one of a 1963 split window, and a modified tail end. Then there’s the crushed red velour interior, fabric which seems almost to have been sprayed on, it’s so stuck to every last surface of the inside. The result is that the car “turns all heads,” but read that two ways—you might be admired, or you might be the laughingstock. It all depends on who your friends are and what their tolerance for modification is.
On the good side, this car is not overpriced for a toy, at $30K, and it has the aforementioned low miles. The engine is not super-car exotic, but the Chevy 350, with some mods, is backed up by a four-speed. That spells fun and useable driver, with what the seller describes as a smooth and “tame” idle. The paint looks good in the pictures, though it is noted as needing refreshment. OK, now we’re into the worry zone. Thirty thousand bucks to look 70s-silly is one thing. Putting another ten grand into the paint, even over what is described as silky-smooth fiberglass, is getting to the top of the value range, especially since, like most customs, this one has a very tiny market in all likelihood. But if it’s for you, then look at the super-clean undercarriage and interior as bonuses, and spend away.
That reminds me of a pimp mobile. Butt Ugly
I was thinking the same thing looking at the pics. Baby, bury me in my Baldwin Corvette’s velvet interior.
I like it. Well, except for the interior. Replace that and you have a very nice driver.
Wouldn’t change anything. For a little while anyway. I think the ridiculous but hilariously cool interior might only make it one cruising season. Just saying
Buy it and do a remake of Corvette Summer. I’d drive the heck out of that beast and I don’t even like Chevys.
This car needs to be left alone because of it’s history. It is really cool also as it has all the right parts. Why do idiots want to change an historic car that won award’s?
Change the wheels and the cheesy chrome under the hood it would be be good to go.
That 72 Baldwin Motion Vette is sweeeeeeet!
I believe they filmed half of Boogie Nights in that very interior.
There were always a few of these at the Speed Sport Custom Car Show at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto back in the 70’s. Still very cool. Not worth it to change out the interior, unless you can do your own upholstery. Drive it like it is to embarrass your grandkids!
Full blown early 70’s pimp daddy mobile!
But how many elmo’s had to die in the making of that interior.. I’d say quite a few. .I think if it’s gonna look that aggressive it walk the walk and have at least a big block and a big supercharger sticking out of hood
Its kind of like a bodybuilder on steroids who consumes a bottle of whiskey and 2 packs of cigarettes a day, way over done on the outside, absolutely horrendous on the inside.
I like it, but I just closely read the ad. Its not a Baldwin Motion car, its a tribute car built with his catalog parts. As a Vette guy, I hate the rear end on that thing. The wheel flares I like. But its just a plain jane small block 72 that has been modded out. 30K seems a bit steep on this one, but with rusted out mustangs on here, maybe not.
yikes !!!!!!!!!!!!
Period correct custom. Reminds me of something you’d see at a World of Wheels back in the ‘80s.
Drive it.
Show it.
Leave it as-is.
Its Funny because I always thought the “Rosen Treatment’ was more of a street bruiser with no Liberace sauce. I think the price may allow for a interior redo and refine the performance, to pay proper tribute to the Motion genre and basically give the interior a much needed douching …. My .02 ; )
Yes, nice car, but do the numbers match?
Seriously, not a bad price if this is your cup of tea.
The big thing, back in the day, was that at “Baldwin Motion” any car that had a Chevrolet badge (with the exception of the Corvair) could be purchased with a 427. This car is nothing but bolt-on fluff, with little remembrance of what a “Baldwin-Motion” vehicle was.