MOTION SIGN FOR SALE

[Verne_Frantz]

For those who might be interested, this is the history of the sign as honestly and accurately as I know it from the day it was removed from the Motion building, based on what I was told.

A good nearby friend of mine grew up on L.I. and was close friends since high school with "Steve" (the fellow I bought the sign from). A couple years ago, my friend related the story Steve told him of picking up the sign the day it was removed from the building and destined for the trash. Steve took the sign home and put it on the ground in his back yard. It was there for maybe 4-5 years.

Back when I posted a question about "Richie Zul's" '63 Impala (which I had wrong, and meant to say "Richie Brown"), I also emailed Joel asking him for information about the Impala. In one of those emails to Joel, I mentioned that I knew the whereabouts of the original sign. Joel's reply was just a curious question about how the guy had acquired it. I told him the story as it was told to me, and he didn't really say anything else except "interesting". …. So, Joel had knowledge of the sign surviving long before Rick's later query as to whether the (a) sign existed. Someone with that question contacted Joel, and his reply was "looooong gone". It did not appear that Joel had any interest in the sign himself, or he surely would have asked me (the only lead he had) more about where it was. I don't believe that indicates I gave Joel any inconsideration at all. Joel was the very first person I told about the surviving sign. If he had told me he wanted it, I would have done my best to help him get it. I have a lot of respect for him.

When Rick's topic came up about whether a sign existed, I only had vague details and a poor description of it, so I made my own inquires about what it might have looked like, to compare to the descriptions I had heard. I asked my friend if he would contact Steve and ask if he would consider selling the sign to me. The answer was yes - but for a high, non-negotiable amount. Apparently, Steve was interested in purchasing another high priced street rod from an estate sale. I went to Steve's home on L.I. in April and bought the sign. Steve had a small house with a 2-car garage that was filed with another hot rod and a '48(?) Pontiac. There was no shop and no access to the back yard for another car.

After hearing the statement that the sign had shared space with the '57 Nomad, I made other inquires and learned that Steve had also been good friends with "Nicky", who used to work at Motion and also had owned a '57 Nomad. I was told Nicky had died about a year ago, the Nomad had been sold, and Steve didn't know where it was, although he had a few contacts that might have known. Steve said he was contacted by "someone about a month ago" about the Nomad. No mention was made that that person saw or was told about the sign.

So, according to what I had been told, there was no indication the sign had ever shared the same space with the Nomad. It sat in Steve's back yard from the day he brought it home till the day I bought it. So, unless I was lied to, along with his lifelong buddy (which I doubt), that's the truth, as I know it, so I stand by my statement. If different facts surface, I'd be as interested in hearing them as anyone.

Regards,
Verne

[Mr70]

I would like to Publicly Thank Verne Frantz,& his Lovely wife Janet,for their Hospitality they offered me this last weekend.They really made me feel welcome after I personally drove 15 hours one way to Bring this Iconic Symbol of American Muscle Car history Home to Illinois safe & Sound in my own Vehicle.
Cross Country Shippers would have destroyed this Fragile sign within minutes of acceptance.(No Disrespect meant)
Vernes Tenacity in acquiring this sign from the begining have to be recognized as well.
The sign itself has exceeded all my expectations,and as I stare at it here now,the wheels are in "MOTiON" to have it illuminate as it once did,and possibly the letters brought back to there original shade of Red,if not they will be left as is,not Substituting them,...and that's it.
Plans are to maybe bring it to VetteFest this November,and then SCR8 next summer.It deserves to be seen and touched,not stored away in a container.
It really does give me goose bumps staring at it,& I hope it will to others in the Future.

Thank You Verne Frantz,for all you've done,& continue to do.
Rick Peters
P.S...Pennsylvania has got to be one of THE most Beautiful Scenic States I have ever driven through!

[Charley Lillard]

Some people bring their cars to a show, Rick brings his sign.

[JChlupsa]

Do like the Blues Brothers did with the speakers, Mount that baby to the top of your car and drive to SCR8. Make sure it is wired so it will light up on the trip down and back!!!

[JoeG]

Really piece------------

[Steven J]

How did you make it fit in your car ?

[DarrenX33]

I understand he opened both the drivers and passenger side windows. Slid it thru and drove with his hazard lights on all the way.

[Verne_Frantz]

No,
We packed it a little more carefully than that.

Glad you made it home safe and sound Rick. I know exactly what that tingling feeling is like that you're having now.

It was a pleasure meeting you. Hope I didn't bore you with all that '62 crap I have lying around.

Verne