[1]The Chevrolet Corvette has, from the beginning of its production, attracted those looking for an American sports car to make their own. While people like Briggs Cunningham and Zora Arkus-Duntov helped propel the Corvette into the performance car icon it became in the 1960s, it wasn’t until Baldwin-Motion came around that the ‘Vette finally got a tuner who could churn out supercar-like machines.
[2]While Baldwin-Motion built most of their super-Corvettes in their own shop, there were other options as well. Up on eBay [3] is a kind-of-famous 1968 Corvette custom built with parts from Baldwin-Motion mailed to the original owner. The story of this once-famous street racing machine, as well as the sum of its parts, make it an interesting collectible indeed.
The story goes that the original owner Joe Robinson wanted a Baldwin-Motion Corvette, but ultimately couldn’t afford it. Instead he brought a stock 427-powered 1968 Corvette, modifying the motor and street racing it in Philadelphia.
Eventually, Robinson started mail-ordering parts from Baldwin-Motion to modify his Corvette around 1973, including the cowl hood, tunneled headlamps, flared fenders, shark louvers, and other pieces that transformed this Corvette into something custom and unique.
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Robinson eventually sold the Corvette, and the new owner put just 4,000 miles on it before letting it rot away for 25 years. It was bought, restored, documented, and is now for sale for $129,000, which is about the going rate for a classic Baldwin-Motion Corvette. But few cars have this kind of history, making it all the more unique. This car is cool slice of classic Corvette history.