PERFORMANCE POWERHOUSE: A Custom 1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS Baldwin-Motion Phase III
November 15, 2024
Posted by Barrett-Jackson
While high-performance car culture on the East Coast was largely ignored by the California-centric enthusiast press during the 1950s and early 1960s, that editorial bias changed forever when journalist Martyn Schorr joined forces with Joel Rosen to form Motion Performance in 1964. First located in Brooklyn, followed by a move to Long Island beside the Baldwin Chevrolet dealership in 1966, Motion Performance quickly gained notoriety as the go-to place to buy and hop up the quickest Chevy-based cars of the era, with Joel handling many aspects of the operation and his wife Judith handling the front counter and assisting customers.
By 1967, new cars sold through Motion’s partnership with Baldwin Chevrolet delivered guaranteed mid-11-second quarter-mile performance while retaining the full factory warranty coverage. The good times rolled until 1974, when both the U.S. Department of Transportation and Environmental Protection Agency threatened massive fines on each car Motion Performance sold, temporarily ending one of the most amazing chapters in high-performance automotive history. Fast-forward to the mid-2000s, when Rosen partnered with Joel Ehrenpreis and Larry Jaworske to form Motion LLC, with original Motion co-founder Marty Schorr once again orchestrating PR and advertising.
The new Motion enterprise lived up to expectations almost immediately with its new 540 Camaro SuperCoupe that won GM’s Best Design Award and rocked the crowds at the 2005 SEMA Show. The car also earned critical praise in the April 2006 issue of Musclecar Enthusiast, which referred to the SuperCoupe as “America’s Greatest Supercar.” New and very limited-edition models followed, including the 1969 Baldwin-Motion SS-427 and Phase III big-block Camaros, announced in March 2006 with a planned cap of just 12 new cars to be built in all. Among that select few is this stunning custom 1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS Baldwin Motion Phase III, Car No. 2 of the limited-edition batch of new one-off cars, which will be selling with No Reserve during Barrett-Jackson’s 2025 Scottsdale Auction.
Engines have always defined Motion’s musclebound cars, and this Camaro is certainly no exception with its 540ci, 600-horsepower cast-iron big-block Motion V8 engine topped with lightweight aluminum cylinder heads, a 1000-cfm Holley 4-barrel carburetor and, of course, polished finned aluminum Motion rocker covers. All that power is delivered to the pavement by a Tremec TKO 5-speed manual transmission, Dana 44 posi-traction axle and hardened steel high-torque axles located by a Control Freak independent rear suspension system. Supporting features include a Billet Specialties Tru Trac pulley system, Hooker headers feeding a mandrel-bent dual exhaust system and a Be Cool all-aluminum radiator with electric cooling fans. Stopping power is delivered by four-wheel stainless-steel brakes, including 6-piston front and 3-piston rear forged calipers engraved with the iconic Motion name.
The Camaro’s classic exterior features front and rear spoilers, a handcrafted L88-style fiberglass hood and steel body panels. The gorgeous all-leather custom interior features a Vintage Air system, plus a custom dash and console and Motion Classic Instruments. Entertainment beyond the Camaro’s wicked exhaust note is courtesy of a Kenwood audio system, including two-channel amplifiers and an in-dash stereo head unit.
The Camaro’s interior was signed by none other than Joel Rosen, aka “Mr. Motion,” and the sale of this awesome Baldwin-Motion Phase III Camaro also includes full Motion documentation, plus a dyno sheet confirming engine output and several pieces of signed Motion memorabilia. Just 398 miles have been covered since build completion. Road contact is via a set of Motion-influenced Bore Speed alloy wheels, measuring a beefy 18×8 inches front and 18×10 inches to the rear, adorned with striping and badging in the Baldwin Motion tradition. Of course, iconic “RS” Rally Sport and “SS” Super Sport visual details bridge the original 1960s glory days of Baldwin-Motion and American performance cars with the build quality and automotive technologies of today. While an incredible performance car and visual statement in its own right, this 1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS also provides a fitting tribute to Joel “Mr. Motion” Rosen, a true Renaissance man and innovator, whose legend continues as strongly as ever today.
For your chance to own this piece of automotive history, register to bid at the 2025 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction, January 18-26 at WestWorld.
Written by independent automotive journalist David Neyens