1966 Baldwin Chevelle Motion??

[pibohmark]

Hi Guys, I am new to the board and need a little help. I recently went to an estate auction and purchased a pretty nice 1966 Chevelle SS with 38,500 miles. I bought the car from the family of the original owner and there are quite a few receipts from the maintenance of the car thru its life and the receipts and their dates seem to lend credibility to the actual mileage.

The car has the original window sticker from Baldwin Chevrolet and a rather curious receipt from the same dealer for the installation of a 427 engine at the time of purchase. I have ran the numbers on the engine and it does match up to the correct year (1966) motor. The car has 427 emblems where the 396 should be.

There is also a receipt for the sale of the original 396 engine several months later to another individual. The car is straight and appears to be all original except the washer bottle is missing.

What I am looking for is some opinions as to weather or not I am better off doing a frame off and putting the 396 back in or leaving it as a 427. From the receipts and the documentation that goes along with it, the car and the engine were ordered from GM on the same dates. The engine appears to have arrived 3 weeks prior to the car and the service order is date three days after the delivery date of the car.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[Pantera]

I am sure that you will get lots of answers to this but I want to make one point. You say put the 396 back in it. That woudld be great only if you still have the actual 396 motor that came out it! Otherwise I think the value of it is higher with the 427 in it.

It may not be a "Motion" built car but it is documented and that is worth a lot in the collector car world. some day there will be a higher value on Survior unrestorded cars than frame offs.

Only you, can be the judge of what condition it actually is in. Sounds like you have a neat piece of history there. Give it a good home.

Good Luck which ever way you go....

[COPO]

I don't believe there are any Baldwin Motion cars prior to 1967, but if you have the paperwork you described, you can post it and go from there.

[427TJ]

Here's a photo from Marty Schorr's 1982 book "Chevrolet, The Performance Years." It is a period photo of a Motion-prepped '66 Chevelle SS.

The photo caption states:

"Motion Performance built a limited run of both 396 and 427 solid-lifter, four-speed '66 Chevelle SS models with prototype Chevrolet cowl induction plumbing as used on NASCAR cars."

[sixtiesmuscle]

First, will you please fill in your profile info. You have come to the right place, assuming what you have posted is accurate.

Pantera, why do you say it's not a Motion built car? If there really is an order/receipt from Baldwin Chevy, showing delivery of the car with the 427 when new, I would think that's just what he has.

Now, I'm a skeptic too because this story is almost too good to be true, but, let's see what our new friend posts to verify the story.

[JoeG]

Charlie Masons '67 427 Chevelle should be the first one sold thru Baldwin--,but Motion was still a performance shop before Baldwin ,in BED/STY--(Pitkin ave. I think)--Could be a early Motion conversion ---if he has the docs.

[pibohmark]

Please let me clarify a point, the original invoice does not show it to be a 427 engine. The engine was installed at the dealer at the time of delivery. I cannot find anything either on the car or the paperwork that says Motion. What should I be looking for? Thanks

[Mr70]

It sounds like a Magnificent Find.
I don't hear Motion mentioned anywhere in the Paperwork,it was ordered new from Baldwin Chevrolet,then a 427 transplant done at Baldwin Chevrolet it sounds like.Even if thats the case,I would leave that 427 engine in that Chevelle,especially with the docs to substantiate it.
Just out of Curiosity,do you know where the Original 396 Engine it was born with is at today,seeing as you said it was sold to another later on?
What paint color/interior color and options are on this Car when delivered new,such as tach.,Trans & rear ratio,does it have a Cowl Plen.etc.?
Can you post some Pictures for us..WELCOME!

[pibohmark]

I only have the doc showing that the engine was sold back in 1966. No idea where that individual is nor the engine.

The car is Marina Blue with blue interior, 4 speed but I am not sure of the ratio. Still learning about the car. It has a factory tach that reads up to 7000 RPM, another thing I have noticed in my research is that some tachs go to 6000 and some 7000. Any ideas why?

The engine appears to have been dressed up with valve covers and breather and a few extras and is not in the original from factory appearance. The hood has the lovers but is not cowl induction. Wheels and tires are not original.

[Astock]

The value or rarity is the 427 installed by Baldwin. Who cares about the 396?