Here's some info and pictures from John Shaw,
This is only the second car I have ever seen with that "Motion" gear reduction unit, it gave 30% and could be shifted on the fly so you could live with a 4:11 on the highway....

Here's what John told me...
>>>Here are the pic's of my '69 Mako I was told by the original owner Reggie Fountain. With Fountain Power Boats, that he bought this car new. And sent it to Motion for the body. He said he wanted to be able to go to Florida, without stopping. So they built him a 40 gallon fuel cell, that's why the gas filler is in the center. And he wanted it streamline to cut the wind. To take the mirrors off.<<<Cheers, T.













|UPDATED|3/16/2003 7:02:31 PM|/UPDATED|

You know fountain powerboats were here in North Carolina. Note the expired North Carolina inspection sticker. Also note this car has provisions for a front bumper, but no rear one. Seems like I saw something on this unit a while back, I just can't remember. No air conditioning. That front grille treatment is the one that I have the pattern for the grille. Looks like a really neat car. I am partial to having the gas cap in the center. It needs more tail lights. I am struggling with the tail lights on mine right now. Not sure of which way to go.
Great car and thanks for posting the pictures!

______________
Randy

You know my idea with custom is please yourself first,
When mine is done it will be liked or hated....
IMHO,
About tail lights the one on each side that Silva seemed to like never did anything for me, looks like something's missing, I love the look of the early firebird tail lights that a lot of Mako rebody have, from a design standpoint I believe Chevy should have never put round tail lights on the vette, a wide narrow light like on the 60/70's Camaro/Firebirds would have helped with the wide low look most vette owners want, well at least I like the wide low look, I believe the round tail lights on vettes is a carry over from the 60's when they were going for a European look.
The Gas cap looks far better in the center, I assume it's over on the side of some Makos to try to get more of a GM showcar look but to me the rebody is a beautiful custom but to me only vaguely looks like the show car, like a Fiberfab Avenger / Valkyrie looked vaguely like a GT-40.

Which brings us back to the mystery multicolored Mako that looks 95% GM show car in the pictures.

But even I wouldn't molest a Motion/Silva built car.....

Cheers, T.

It's hard to say what I would do if I had a real "factory built"
car. It would definately be worth a ton of money if you could document that it was a Motion car. I am not exactly sure as to why they bring such a premium. I bought my 69 because it was a Mako Shark II kit. I didn't care who made it. My 73 is so far from what the other Tn kits are, especially with the spoiler.
To each his own. Thats what makes customs, custom. Even if you don't like a particular car, you have to give the builder credit for his work.

______________
Randy

"IF" I had any real Motion car,
I would anty up to Mr Motion for the paper work sell it for top dollar to the person that puts value on that type thing,
Finish my project alot faster and pay off my house...
There's a difference between a Motion turn key and one worked on in the Motion Garage....Motion did some wild and wonderful things and have a cult following.
I have also read posts/magazines that said less than kind things about the Motion techs.
I have heard all along that 5 Motion mako turn keys where built,
How many "kits" did Motion install/sell after they took molds off Silvas parts is anyones guess....
I still say there are far less than 100 makos in the world today.
What's rare is when someone has two....

Oh yeah, Randy don't be holding out too long on your surprize for us....

Cheers, T.

|UPDATED|3/17/2003 12:34:56 PM|/UPDATED|