OK all you MP Motorheads out there!!
Here is the question..... A co-worker of mine has a 73 Vette. He says It's a #'s matching smallblock. I'm gonna check for him. The back window on the shark is slanted as opposed to the straight stock version. This was a feature of the phase III Vette, I believe. The guy lives in Baldwin, NY. Same town as the old BM shop was. Did BM turn out a version of the Phase III in a small block. Or possibly the motor was changed from a big block. Moreover, I have never seen the window conversion kit out there. Has any one else. Any info would help. Thanks, L8ter, Paul.

 

They coulda cranked out some SB's, but it'd be my guess back then that if you're going to Motion for a Vette you had to get the BB. From what I remember they modified them based on customer orders. You could get anything from mild to wild and in any state of tune. My money would be on the original engine being yanked a long time ago.

The slanted window however is another question I know nothing about---I've never even seen one with a slanted window except here on the forum.

 

There were front and rear body customing kits you could buy. Most went broke from little demand.

Today you can still buy the ones that survived. Ekler's sold a slant back window years ago. They quit making them some time ago.

Terry

 

Motion operated a garage that did dyno tuning and repair/replacement work and many different jobs on all makes of cars. Motion also sold his parts mail-order and from a showroom at one time. The slanted rear window was advertised in the Motion catalog as a way to add interior space and may have been purchased individually. here is a link to a documented 1973 350 Motion Manta Ray but I believe the guy was told by Motion it was the only small block one built in 73.

http://www.yenko.net/features/2000/August2000.htm

 

Joe,
Thanks for the info. I'm on my way to work now. So I'll see him and give him the news. I'm sure this is not the answer he's lookin for. How do you know so much about these cars?? Did you work there at one time or another? L8TER, Paul.

 

I will relate something that happened about 4 years ago now....
the 'owner' of Baldwin Chevy....short old little guy, walking with a cane, who claimed he owned the dealership before he retired here to Orange Park Fl....
I can't remember his name now...well he showed up at cruise nite once or twice here at the local K mart parking lot....400 some cars show up for those cruise nites...well he is walking around looking and pay particular attention to a friend's car....it's a Monte, well he has this Monte painted up and done just right like as if Baldwin/Motion would have done it, even had Motion stickers on it...so this guy walks over and looks at John Tibbet's car and says that's a good fake,....they never did a Monte....John laughs and says correct, the fellow walks away....but the word spread that he mentioned to someone about once owning Baldwin chevy....he had mentioned it to me too....but I assumed he was just bullpoopieting....
this fellow did not appear to be in good health, and we have not seen him for about 3 years now....so I suspect our mystery man may have been telling the truth, but wonder if there is any way to check with Rosen, he may know where his old friend went....and wether he's still alive....

GENE

 

When I was doing body panel homework two years ago, I was able to email Joel Rosen and find out about Manta Ray and other Motion goodies availability. He had a Manta Ray front clip, but no rears with the duck tail or slanted glass windows. I gathered that none had been made for quite a few years. Demand has apparently tubed.

Spike

 

Paul,
I did not work at Motion. I have been collecting Motion articles, catologs, parts, etc. since mid 80's. I also belong to the SuperCar club where a few members have Motion cars. I spoke with Joel and others who worked at Motion and find the Motion story interesting. The cars, the history, the wild advertising, drag racing, Government shutdown, 9 sec street Vega, Corvette show car copies, pictures of Joel and Zora -It's a great car story.

 

Mrvette, Quite a story. Could be true. There's a CVS drug store there where Baldwin Chevy used to be. Just a tid-bit for ya.

spike, I also spoke to a player of the old Motion Group on line. About 6 months ago through their website. Think his name is MadMike. At the time I was looking for urethane bumper covers. He only had Camaro parts though.

Joe, Yea It's a cool point in time for muscle cars. I used to check out their shop a lot back then. SpeedWorld.com sits there now. They sell mostly rims and accessories. By the way, I checked the 73 vette's #'s last night and they are matching. This was just a shot in the dark on my buddies part. Wishful Thinking!! L8TER, Paul.