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View Full Version : Peter Falconi's Motion prepared 1968 SS Camaro!


Xplantdad
08-18-2008, 12:05 AM
About 2 years ago while having lunch with a friend (Tony) he asked me if I wanted to buy his 68 motion Camaro project, that he and his son had started to restore. Well I almost swallowed my tongue! He was going to sell the black Camaro?? Yes, he was going to sell it because his son had discovered girls and that beat sandblasting parts for the camaro all night long.


I wrote the check for the car on the spot.



Tony had this project for about 5 years, all the while collecting NOS parts for this project all of them went with the car-two pick up trucks full! I knew that he did a lot of research on this car and it paid off , finding the original owner after an exhausting effort. He gave Tony the original Bill of Sale as he still had it .Owner (Barry) ordered the car brand new in Windsor Ontario

He wanted a 427 instead of the 396 375 hp motor, but it was not available-even to a GM engineer working on the team to develop the engine for NASCAR. Shortly after receiving the car and waiting for the car at the dealership...when it arrived he took it to Motion Performance and had the transplant. He stayed at his Aunts place which was nearby while the car was being modified


Barry drag raced the car every night and raced the car every weekend..The car had a real reputation for being a street bruiser. Even today, car people remember Barry and his punishing black Camaro. On May 9 1969 Barry set the track record going 10:45 at the Detroit drag strip. He would not part with the original certificate for the record so he gave me a copy of it. I understood how important the original was to him.
.
Throughout this restoration Barry was a great help, and he sent me most of the documents
that he could find on the car. Other documents will be sent to me as soon as he finds them in a house that he has lived in for 40 years.


When I received the documents from the Ministry of Transportation I noticed that there was a new name on the record that was not there when Tony changed the ownership to his name.
I traced the name and found the second owner (John) of the car after some creative investigation
on my part. I called him up and asked him if he was the owner of the black 68 Camaro. He said that he was and I then told him his name was on the title history .Well he was very excited that the car was still alive and I said to him that I was in the process of restoring the car.


John told me he knew the first owner well and followed the car until Barry sold the car to him. John confirmed the history of the car and he told me some of the history of when he had it. John said that he made a lot of money with the car drag racing on the street. The car was turning 10:60s. One night he was racing a Hemi ‘Cuda 4 speed for $100.00 per gear...winner take all! The black Camaro ate the ‘Cuda and at the end of the quarter mile the cops had a blockade set up and their guns out and motioning John to stop, Well the ‘Cuda stopped but John did not and went around the blockade. As he passed the cops they shot at the car, missing the tires and hitting the rear quarter. The bullet went into the rear seat, ricocheted off of the seat springs then up into the rear deck and came to rest just behind the speakers!


"Did you find the bullet hole? ", John asked. I told him I did not notice the bullet yet but I would search for it later. He had a lot of balls to try and out run the cops. He hid the car for a month or so, as they were looking for this Camaro really hard..John repaired the car and repainted it.

John has pictures of the car at the track, time slips and a lot of drag racing memories as well .I hope that we can get together soon so I can get some more history of this car from John. Oh yes...I did find where the projectile came to rest when I was on my back installing the rear speakers!

The documents speak for themselves, and when I get more information and/or documents from Barry when he finds them on the motor implant from Motion I will be sending it to Joel for confirmation. I have sent Joel all the documents I have, and hope to get the work order from Barry.

In the mean time this car is now finished and its scary! With the 427, the 4:88's and the screaming M22...WOW! I am thrilled every time I drive this black monster.

Peter





http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii234/suprss70/camaroback1973.jpg


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http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii234/suprss70/frame2.jpg


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http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii234/suprss70/camaro-vin.jpg


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http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii234/suprss70/Copy2ofmotor-CE-vin.jpg


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http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii234/suprss70/Copy2ofgreatmultiplex.jpg

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii234/suprss70/Copy2ofgreatframechevelle.jpg

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii234/suprss70/Copy2ofgreatrestoredbrakebooster.jpg

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http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii234/suprss70/Copy2ofgreatsideview.jpg


http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii234/suprss70/Copy2ofgreat-front-view.jpg

mockingbird812
08-18-2008, 03:23 AM
Pete,

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif Very nice. Great history. Nice detective work. What a brute! She looks terrific! Thanks for sharing. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

CC Rider
08-18-2008, 04:07 AM
Wow, beautiful! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

NovaMob03
08-18-2008, 05:23 AM
Great history http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gifEverybody loves real Motion cars http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

jtower1969
08-18-2008, 03:16 PM
Beautiful car

Bill Pritchard
08-19-2008, 03:49 AM
Wow - great pictures, gorgeous car, and 'bulletproof' (pun intended) documentation http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif

P.J.
08-19-2008, 05:37 AM
Good one Bill
PJ

P.J.
08-19-2008, 05:40 AM
Thanks for the compliments
PJ http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

Mr. Chevy
08-19-2008, 07:05 AM
Very Cool Car!! I know right where Leamington is.. Been there many times...

Rich

SuperNovaSS
08-19-2008, 07:16 AM
66 Nova SS Trade in. Wonder if it was an L79? I bet is was if the owner opted for a 427 in the Camaro.


Jason

Andy
08-19-2008, 07:41 AM
Very nice 68. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

P.J.
08-19-2008, 04:25 PM
Jason
I was thinking that too. I will ask him the next time I talk to him or I can pay 50.00 to get George to send me the GM documentation
PJ

47Hammer
08-19-2008, 06:39 PM
That's a cool story and one good looking car, even back in the day with the rallies on her. Barry must have owned the streets back then. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/headbang.gif

MrMotion
08-19-2008, 08:18 PM
Yes the trade-in was an L79. Congratulations Pete on becoming the new "Keeper" of a true "sleeper" from the MuscleCar era. Also this car was the only Camaro produced for the Canadian market with this colour combo and equipped this way. The radio was as much as the M22, crazy money for that day.
Tony

P.J.
08-19-2008, 08:36 PM
Tony
Thanks for the compliment, I asked Barry why he bothered to order such an expensive radio at the time. He told me that he had the fastest car in town and wanted to have the best stereo radio in town.At the time stereo was just comming in so it was like an ipod today.When I turn the stereo on in the car and the motor is not running the stereo sounds as good as any car stereo today.
PJ

mockingbird812
08-19-2008, 08:56 PM
Curious why this is not a "Supercar Feature" http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif ? I'd like to see it there! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

PeteLeathersac
08-20-2008, 12:49 AM
Whttp://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/drool.gifW...Lhttp://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gifhttp://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gifKS great!!!

A genuine Motion 427 swap '68 Camaro in black w/ steelies...what more could a fella want?.

Being a GM Engineer, did the owner supply the 427 for the swap or did Motion source it?.
And didn't you tell me before that the owner kept the original L78 engine but it disappeared in more recent years?.
Also, being a '68 and a GM Engineer ordered car, that's not a MM Cowl tag by chance is it? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif.

Has anyone run that L79 Vin through the Ministy of Transportation or GM Canada Vintage Services?http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hmmm.gif.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif
~ Pete

P.J.
08-20-2008, 02:03 AM
Pete
Thanks for the compliment.
Motion provided the 427 short block.Yes he had the l78 short block in his garage for a dogs age.Then lightning hit his garage and half of the garage burned.Then he called Detroit Muscle speed shop and sold all the motors including mine.I contacted them to find out if they could give a lead on where it went and they would not even respond.The original owner of the Camaro new the owner and that is why he sold it to them cheap.
What do you mean MM cowl tag??
No one that I know has run the numbers on the Nova, I have its history for the owner if I can find him. Some day!!
PJ

P.J.
08-20-2008, 02:09 AM
Thanks Sam for the compliment

I dont know why, I wanted to post the car because it has a very special history.Should it be a Super Car?? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
PJ

x Baldwin Motion
08-20-2008, 03:28 AM
It's a SUPER CAR !!!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif


anyone ask.... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/Can-I-Have-It.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

P.J.
08-20-2008, 03:40 AM
Thanks Chris for your input http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif
I know every time I drive it (Like the commercial says)
"When you turn the car on does it return the favor".
PJ http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

Xplantdad
08-20-2008, 07:21 AM
I think what he means by the MM tag is that it could be a "magic mirror" tag...at least that's my guess...and I'm sticking to it! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Thanks so much for sharing your really cool Camaro with all of us.... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/youguysrock.gif

PeteLeathersac
08-20-2008, 04:44 PM
[ QUOTE ]
I think what he means by the MM tag is that it could be a "magic mirror" tag...at least that's my guess...and I'm sticking to it! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif


[/ QUOTE ]


Yes...and a faint hope perhaps but considering it's a '68 and the guy was a GM engineer seeking a factory installed 427? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hmmm.gif.

And someone should run that L79 Vin...maybe it lives?.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif
~ Pete

P.J.
08-20-2008, 11:27 PM
first chance I get I will run the number with the ministry .
Pete
PJ

MrMotion
08-22-2008, 01:49 AM
It is not a MM Tag Car. Built in January 1968.

Dog427435
08-24-2008, 12:12 AM
Great story - what a history!!

Beautiful car!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

bruno17
08-26-2008, 08:27 AM
What a story....what a great car! Glad you drive it around, Peter. It looks spectacular in person.

PeteLeathersac
08-26-2008, 05:34 PM
[ QUOTE ]
It is not a MM Tag Car. Built in January 1968.

[/ QUOTE ]

What is the build date(s) of the MM '68 Copo 9737 cars?.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif
~ Pete