After successfully launching SS & Phase III 427 Camaros, Joel Rosen concentrated on Corvettes: ’69 BALDWIN-MOTION PHASE III SS-427 CORVETTE.
That’s how author-photographer Randy Leffingwell describes the ’69 BALDWIN-MOTION PHASE III SS-427 CORVETTE in “Joel Rosen’s Saturday Night Special.” The feature appeared in Randy’s coffee-table book American Muscle Cars, which is about the late Otis Chandler’s legendary collection. One of the finest examples of Rosen’s cosmetically and mechanically updated Corvette is this stunning, unrestored 14,451-mile 500-horsepower Le Mans Blue SS-427, residing in Kevin Suydam’s collection. It’s surrounded by prime examples of the quickest, fastest, rarest and most exotic examples of factory-built and low-volume “dealer/tuner” cars. His collection is considered by true Musclecar aficionados to be one of the “best of the best.” Originally built for Ohioan Richard Eyajan, this car has become one of the most recognizable Baldwin-Motion Phase III Corvettes because of its past exposure in the Chandler collection and coverage in American Muscle Cars.
Growing up in Kodiak, AK, Kevin Suydam learned about high-performance cars by reading every car magazine available. He dreamed of owning a Baldwin-Motion car one day – even though he had never seen one in person.
“Of all the Chevrolet dealer-built specialty cars, Baldwin-Motion cars, especially the Phase III versions, offered the ultimate in performance plus maximum-impact image. When I graduated high school in 1970 and moved to Seattle, WA, I bought my first real high-performance car,” said Suydam.
It wasn’t until the early-1990s that Kevin got seriously interested in collecting Baldwin-Motion cars. His first purchases were a 1969 SS-427 Camaro and a Phase III SS-427 Corvette, both still in the collection. Originally invoiced by Baldwin Chevrolet at $7,672.45, this Corvette received the full Phase III treatment. The conversion from 435-horsepower factory tri-power to 500 horsepower Phase III included a Weiand aluminum intake manifold, 850-cfm dual-feed Holley (L88) carburetor, dual electric fuel pump, Phase III cam and kit, Super-Spark ignition and tuned headers plumbed to factory side exhausts. Also installed were Super-Bite suspension and traction bar, Le Mans alloy fuel filler, L88 hood, fender flares, slotted and polished mags, GT mirrors, SS-427 emblems and signature paint trim. Kevin’s car is not equipped with the optional hood tach, above, right, popular with many purchasers. With its original matching number 500-horsepower big-block, close-ratio M21 four-speed and 4.11 Posi gears, this head-turning Corvette still delivers ground-pounding performance. But Suydam doesn’t drive the car very often, because of its low original miles.
“One of the reasons I don’t take the Corvette out often is that its thundering exhaust note often sets off alarms of cars parked along the road!”
The largest collector of Baldwin-Motion cars, Suydam considers the Le Mans Blue ’69 BALDWIN-MOTION PHASE III SS-427 CORVETTE to be one of the most important cars in his spectacular collection.
NOTE: The Phase III SS-427 Corvette conversions started with some 1968 models, predating the ultimate Baldwin-Motion Corvette, the Phase III GT!
Check out Scott Teeters’ CORVETTE REPORT for additional coverage of Baldwin-Motion Corvettes @ http://www.corvettereport.com/rare-cars-youtube-channel-profiles-the-baldwin-motion-phase-iii-corvettes-video/
Everything you’ve always wanted to know about Motion and Baldwin-Motion can be found in, https://www.amazon.com/Motion-Performance-Tales-Muscle-Builder/dp/0760355606/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1493151743&sr=1-1&keywords=MOTION+Performance%2C+Tales+of+a+muscle+car+builder