1969 Phase 3 GT Corvette

**Dave Rifkin** · #1 08-31-2001, 12:23 AM

In 1970 my parents went to Motion Performance to look into buying a Phase III Camaro. We saw a brown Z28 that was being turned into a Phase III car but what really caught our eyes was the pearl yellow 1969 Phase III GT Corvette that was in the showroom. That had to be the most beautiful Corvette that I had ever seen. I know that there were very few of these cars made so I was wondering if anyone here has any idea where that car might be? I'd love to learn about the history and the whereabouts of that car.
We also saw a candy apple red VW beetle in the showroom that had been modified by the Motion crew. They even had an Iso Grifo in the side lot when we first arrived. I'll never forget that day and those cars.

MadMike · #2 08-31-2001, 03:35 AM

I know one 1970 GT 454 vette lasted a couple days. Left NY, went to TX and that was the end of it.

Hopefully the car you're inquiring about didn't meet a similar fate.

GMH454 · #3 08-31-2001, 03:43 AM

Joel Rosen actually bought and restored what looked like a Yelow Phase 111 in the early 90's(?)
Could have been this one. Will try to look it up and put up a post of picture (????)
It was featured in Vette. Hopefully someone can beat me to it.
Sounds like it was a real day to remember.

MadMike · #4 08-31-2001, 05:24 AM

Could be this car. Sorry for the poor photo. The cars in a bad spot. There was a 1995? issue of Vette in the car with this thing on the cover (as well as little lady wearing next to nothing standing next to it).

I have a couple other semi-fair photos of this car - it's a 1970 though. When I was BS'ing about this car Joel said he built a couple (several actually) and then mentioned the one that didn't last too long.

MadMike · #5 08-31-2001, 05:28 AM

Here's a better (if you can call it that) view of the car. Vrroom Vroom.

**Dave Rifkin** · #6 08-31-2001, 11:36 AM

That looks like it could be the car if it is pearl yellow and not just Daytona Yellow. Also I don't recall the tail lights being that large. I thought that the slotted lights were thinner. I was only eight so my memory could be a little off. Either way, that car was really hot.
I think what prompted my parents to go there was the fact that we had just been to the NY Auto Show where we saw the Motion cars. I believe there was a Phase III Camaro and a Maco Shark there.
In the end my parents wound up buying a 1969 Shelby GT500 fastback with the 428 SCJ. Not a Phase III car but still pretty awesome in it's own right.

**Charley Lillard** · #7 08-31-2001, 02:00 PM

Oh Man I'm a Sucker for Yellow...Cool Car...If I could sneak that car into my Barn I know exactly where it would sit.

bullitt · #8 09-01-2001, 02:35 PM

Going through my magazines, I came upon the November 1996 issue of Car Craft. Mr.Miles Cook did an article on Joel Rosen's '70 Phase III Corvette. It was pictured next to a B-17 WWII bomber. My scanner is dead, so I don't have a way to post the pics. By the way, who makes a good reproduction of those Lemans gas caps? See ya.--Bullitt

Pantera · #9 12-23-2005, 02:19 AM

You should have seen the look on Joels face the night at SCR-6 that I told him the '70 454 GT vette that went to Texas was still in one piece. It is a good thing that we were inside the hotel. Otherwise he would have swallowed a fly.

he told me that the 18 yr old owner had called him up years ago and told him he had wrecked it when it only had about 6k mi on it. All this time Joel had thought it didnt' exist anymore and was totaled. (It has been damaged on the L front but was repaired when I got it).

I bought that car way back in early 1974 in Dallas. It was at SCR7 in unrestored condition after a few wanted to see it before I took it apart.

Of course you should have see the look on my face when Joel told me that since it had a alum head LS-7 put in it and that it was the most expensive GT he had build out of the 10 cars. I thought it was a LS-6 originally with alum heads. I had gone to the repair shop that put the new cast iron LS-6 crate motor in for the car dealer and tried to buy the old motor that came out but they wanted just too much for it and it was blown up at that time. I didn't know the difference back then. $700 on top of buying the car for a grand over what a 70 vette was going for at that time had tapped me out. Wish now that I had not passed on the motor.

Pantera

Motion Camaro · #10 12-23-2005, 09:02 AM

<font color="blue">Back in 1977 in Westchester, NY
there was a Orange/Black Phase III Corvette that cruised our area.
All I remember was the kids name was John & you could here that car coming from miles away.
Open sidepipes, 454 Phase III, 4spd w/ Hone OD ...
.... and that sound .... phew .... unforgetable, to this day! </font>

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