1973 Chevelles typically don’t normally top the list of our “must own” list but when one of them has been given the full treatment by Baldwin-Motion and packs the go-fast stuff and attitude that nothing built in the last 30 years has, we’re fully in DO WANT mode. This is a 1973 Chevelle constructed by Joel Rosen and his band of merry men at Motion Performance in conjunction with the fine people at Baldwin Chevrolet. According to the seller, this is the final car that was actually a “Baldwin-Motion” piece because Baldwin Chevrolet closed down so the cars following this one were branded as Motion cars only. We’re not sure if that is true or not, but it is a neat story and if it is true, this car is a cool footnote in muscle car history.
When you checked the boxes to have the full boogie “Phase III” treatment laid onto your car at Motion Performance you knew that the machine you were getting back would be virtually untouchable on the street. This was a truly take-no-prisoners package where the buyer got a fully worked over 427ci L88 big block, a four speed manual transmission, 4.88 gears in the back, a neato Hone-O-Drive auxiliary overdrive transmission (because with those 4.88s the car wouldn’t be much of a highway driver), sidepipes that rattle windows for days, and graphics telling the world that you were boss.
This car is 100% original according to the seller and it looks immaculate. The interior and exterior look better than brand new and it apparently even has a functional alarm system that was installed by Motion at the time all of the other work was completed. We wish the dude put some video in his ad so that we could hear the sidepipes rumbling away. The car appears to have all of the original sales documents from the dealer as well as the stuff from Motion Performance regarding the work they did to it. This is an awesome car…with a big asking price. Currently the sellers are looking for $125,000 for the Chevy. We can’t blame them. Where have you ever seen another one and one this documented?
We dig everything about this car. The stance which is period 1970s wrongness, the wheels, the graphics, all of it. Why? Because this big bastard can back it all up. These Motion cars were absolute wrecking machines in their day and we bet this Chevelle could roll into a strip and kill some unsuspecting victims.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE PHOTOS AND THEN HIT THE LINK FOR MORE INFO AND PHOTOS ON THE CAR!
eBay Ad: 1973 Phase III Baldwin-Motion Chevelle – awesome car!
I found what I want for Christmas this year if anybody is willing to get a really cool gift. Anyone? …………….Anyone?
Awesomeness
That car was restored in NJ. That car is not what its cracked up to be as advertised.
Pictures are 4 years old?
…..silver spray bombed rear brake drums?…..why not orange??
There is a pic of this car on pg. 159 of the “Motion Tales” book. It does say this was the last Motion Chevelle built before Baldwin Chevrolet changed hands. It cost $12,00.24 to build in 1973. It also says this car was restored after 1988 and it got 968 points out of a 1000 @ the Chevelle nationals.
This Phase III is legit. And I would kick a Disney princess in the (!!) on stage at the Kid’s Choice Awards just to drive it. Don’t ask what I’d do to own it. You don’t wanna know.
…i kinda want to know now
LIPSTICK ON A PIG
I saw it in person at chevelle nationals15 yrs ago. Pretty damn cool! Guy found it off nj turnpike
Ol’ Big Bumper Chevelle…nice !
I drove this car prior to it being delivered and it was an “animal.” Incredibly fast. It was the last Baldwin-Motion Chevelle, but last Baldwin-Motion car is ’74 Corvette owned by Dan McMichael. It came from dealer that took over Baldwin Chevrolet after they left.
It had been in Kevin Suydam’s collection for years before going to current owner(s).
Hey Marty, thanks for all the awesome reading materials that fueled the love of muscle cars for me growing up in the Bronx back in the early 70’s. My favorite hang out back in the days was the old White Castle on Boston Post Rd. I stillremember watching the guys setting up races. The good old days. Dang, I miss Cars Magazine, still great reading after all these years.
If its in the book, and it has the papers, its a legit Motion time piece. Not real interrested in the 73, but i wouldnt say no to owning it.
Is the extra shifter on the floor for the overdrive?
I’m not a Chevy expert, but didn’t L88’s have aluminum heads?
$125k starting bid? I don`t think so, as rare as it could be…
Fast and Fugly
70’s Bad ass. Love it.
$125,000……hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
You’d have to find the right person who wanted to blow that kind of money on it. Apparently, they aren’t out there. I wonder what an appaised value of the veh would be for it if it has a true motion L88 engine in it?
I’ll take the red Yogo!
I don’t care for that body style Chevelle, but I sure wouldn’t say no to it.
I’m with Ed, unless those are painted aluminum heads, I don’t think they are the originals. Makes me wonder how much (if any) of the engine is original, and unmolested? Still a very cool piece of muscle car history, even though the last “real” Chevelle was the ’72, IMHO.