598 Sunrise Highway, Baldwin, Long Island, New York, USA
Motion Decal/Logo
Gary, met Joel Rosen, the owner of Motion Performance in 1966. Immediately after started lettering all of the race cars. He was 19 years old & still in art school.
In 1968 Gary opened his own custom auto body & sign shop, "Ultra Automation." Joel then sent all of the Motion cars to Gary for body modifications & paint. Gary put the creative Motion stripes on the Corvettes, Camaros, Chevelles & Vegas. Soon after we started modifying the Corvette bodies, flared wheel wells, hood scoops, & spoilers for Motion, which Joel named the "Phrase III GT."
The MOTION PERFORMANCE SIGN ...
was hand painted with a brush, by Gary, directly onto the rough cement facade of the building on Sunrise Highway, in Baldwin NY. The sign was approximately 5 feet high by 40 feet long. Gary was on a ladder for about 2 weeks completing this huge task.
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ABOVE - Race cars that Gary hand lettered for Motion Performance from the 1960s through the 1970s. There was no computers in those days. All the lettering was painted by hand. ( No vinyl ) Click on Thumbnails to Enlarge
NHRA POINTS MEET, 1973, Suffolk, VA:
Dennis Ferrara sets A/MP record at 138.46 mph, won class, in Baldwin-Motion 454 Camaro,
Runs against--- Bill Mitchell in Motion Minicar Thunderbug VW, set H/Gas record, won class.
Both cars sponsored by CARS Magazine,
Motion Camaro took the Eliminator win. It was a very good day!
The Ertl Company American Muscle Collection, now makes 1:18 scale die cast metal models of the race cars above & the Corvette & Camaros below
Baldwin Chevrolet
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ABOVE - Gary originally painted these cars, or painted the stripes on these Motion cars. Some of these cars have since been restored & have been repainted
Gary's Ultra Automation Business Card
Eventually things got more radical. Joel wanted to build the General Motors concept car, the Mako Shark. Baldwin Chevrolet supplied Motion with brand new Corvettes, which were delivered, right off of the truck to Gary at Ultra Automation.
Joel changed the spelling & we went into production of building the Maco Shark.
Maco Shark & Phase III GT Corvette
The original Motion Performance is now in the history books* & Joel doesn't have any grease under his fingernails any more. Joel & Gary still remain friends after all these years & see each other on a regular basis.
RIGHT; Joel Rosen, President of Motion Performance written TESTIMONY to Gary, "The Local Brush" on official Motion Performance letterhead
Joel's TESTIMONY to Gary ---- Click to read
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TODAY, GARY IS BEING SOUGHT AFTER TO PAINT THE ORIGINAL MOTION CARS
In 2010 Gary was brought into Artisan Coach Works a restoration shop in Hopatcong, New Jersey to put an original Motion stripe on the Motion Phrase III GT Corvette, ON THE LEFT, that Gary had originally built, painted & striped in 1971.
ANOTHER MOTION ORIGINAL COMPLETELY PAINTED IN 2011, BY GARY
Maco-Just after the unveiling at the MUSCLE CAR AND CORVETTE NATIONALS 2011 show
From August through October 2011 Gary has completely painted another original. It's the very last Maco Shark by Motion.
It has a radical paint scheme. It is a body off the chassis, restoration. The car was delivered to Gary's shop on Long Island, NY from Restorations Rods and Customs in Troy, Ohio.
This Maco was the feature car & made it's debut at the Muscle Car And Corvette Nationals in Chicago, IL. on November 19th 2011, a very prestigious car show.
Who else would know those original paint details?
The THUMBNAILS BELOW are an abbreviated step by step, from primer through the final polishing. Click to Enlarge
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BELOW
The finished Motion Maco Shark at the MUSCLE CAR & CORVETTE NATIONALS 2011
CLICK ON THE PICTURES BELOW TO ENLARGE OR START THE SLIDE SHOW
Double click pictures for more information
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OCTOBER 27,2011 - QUOTES FROM JOEL ROSEN (Mr. Motion) DAN McMICHAEL (owner of the Maco) and ADAM TUCKMAN (owner of the white Phrase III GT above)
JOEL; "UN FREAKIN BELIEVABLE!!! FANTASTIC! Obviously you made the right decision by going to Gary."
DAN; "You are very right about Gary. Not only is he an artist and a perfectionist, but he is really fun to work with! Look at the detail on that shark! After Gary's awesome custom paint job, now the fun part of putting the car back together ensues! Am I going to see everyone in Chicago?"
ADAM; "That shark POPS. I can't believe its painted and not an emblem. Gary - you are one talented guy."
Motion cars at the MUSCLE CAR AND CORVETTE NATIONALS 2010
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Motion Phase III Corvettes lined up at the MCACN show 2010
Today, well-authenticated muscle cars from renowned shops, like Motion, can bring more than $300,000 at auction.
* For more detailed information about Motion Performance,
check out the new hard cover book, Tales of a Muscle Car Builder by Martyn L. Schorr.
It's an interesting read & has in depth details of the Motion history & lots of colorfull pictures.
