Motion Performance Tow Truck

[Z28fan]

I was going through some of my old car magazines and I found one from 1978. It has a lot of articles about Motion Performance cars and even a Motion Performance Wrecker built for a Corvette Specialty Shop. I wonder what else is out there that was built by Motion. Imagine what that truck is worth today if you could find it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

Tow Truck Article (http://pstr-m04.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/008/2A/65/C4/53/DMRDaZKY-YYQKWzbtOVOWc1YRKWhjZML0180.jpg)

Picture of Truck (http://pstr-m05.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/005/71/33/24/37/2CdkcVFVHAxBtZqy6wc+zMymo+VoRLbS0180.jpg)

[Stefano]

I believe that issue also has a couple of other interesting Motion cars in it.

[olredalert]

-----Im struck by the fact that many Motion cars were Corvettes and no one,much less Joel would tow a Corvette with that tow truck.I guess the Corvettes never broke down.It is a cool truck,however.Really made a statement!..........Bill S

[musclcar]

that's one wild looking tow truck,is there any other info on it /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[JoeC]

What magazine is it in?

[JoeG]

Never heard about that motion tow truck, nice find.
Motion also built a 1974 PhaseIII Vega estate wagon,350-incher topped off with a turbocharger.This /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif little grocery-getter would get food on the table in a heartbeat.

[Z28fan]

[ QUOTE ]
that's one wild looking tow truck,is there any other info on it

[/ QUOTE ]

There's not much info on the truck. It only shows the 2 pages I posted. The small printing on the first page reads: [ QUOTE ]
S&M Towing's main man Mike takes a
call on the mobile phone in his '77
Chevy C/30 custom wrecker. Freeport,
N.Y. based truck sports custom paint,
Phase III hood and a dyno-tuned 454
mill. Interior boasts swivel buckets, shag
carpets, stereo, CB and telephone. Note
chromed outside headers and pipes. It's
trick enough to win a custom show yet is
used for hauling seven days a week.

[/ QUOTE ]

[mahoy78spyder]

Joe, I'd be interested in whatever info you had on that PhaseIII Estate Wagon. Do you have a scan of that article by chance? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif

Ken

[Z28fan]

[ QUOTE ]
What magazine is it in?

[/ QUOTE ]

The magazine is called "CHEVY ACTION" and has SPRING 1978 printed on the front cover. It's a prtty neat magazine which also contains articles on a Motion 350 Export Turbo-Vette and an article on Motion installed big block Chevies in Firebirds.
Some neat pictures also! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif
Cover of Magazine (http://pstr-m05.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/002/58/BF/F4/32/Ltaigz15VOy2KwzwB0wbx4WceEup2J4w0180.jpg)

[JoeG]

Haven't mastered the art of scanning/sending photos.Have several photos in CHEROLET PERFORMANCE ANNUAL 1975.I would be glad to send you photos & info - you could e-mail me where to send.----By the way that car was sent to the Middle East.

[JoeG]

CHEVROLET,CHEVROLET,---MAY THE G.M. GODS FORGIVE ME. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif

[Stefano]

It seems that many of the "Chevy Action" Magazines spotlighted the work performed by Motion Performance. Motion also ran two page advs. for their Performance parts in these magazines.

January '77 Has a Phase III '77 Camaro on the cover.

May '77 has a Motion "Super" Vega on the cover as well as a Motion Corvette Spyder and other Numerous references and actual pictures of Baldwin Chevrolet.

There is even an article on a Bill Mitchell built '77 Camaro which seems to use many similar parts which were eventually used in the Yenko Turbo Z's.


The article discussed does talk about the building of "Rat Birds" and one of the cars featured in the write up is my Red/Black Motion T/A.

I also have some notes from the original owner of my "Rat Bird" which state that Mike ,the Tow Truck driver also had a different 454 PASE III tow vehilcle as he was at Motion dropping off his soon to be converted T/A.

I found it very interesting that the original owner of my "Rat Bird" actually wrote a $1,500.00 deposit check to Motion Performance for the conversion prior to having formally ordered the Trans Am from the dealership as I have both the canceled Check to Motion and the original dealer order sheet for the car. The guy kept just about every bit of documentation pertaining to the car as possible.

No wonder he charged 'Sixties Muscle' a premium for it /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

[JoeG]

There was also an article in HI- PERFORMANCE CARS 4/72 called Proud Bird where one of the Motion mechanics installed a 427, with 454 ZLX goodies, in his 70's FIREBIRD.
They called it CHEV-BIRD, slicks & open headers car ran a low 11 quarter. WINNING COMBO ----- chevy power-- firebird styling. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

[MosportGreen66]

If only every local gas station had one of those 454 wreckers.

[JoeG]

It was probably the only tow truck, where the cost of a speeding ticket was included with the tow! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif

[AutoInsane]

Has anyone called the phone number on the truck???