There’s no denying that the new Camaro SS is one hot little number. With its retro styling and impressive 426hp LS3, it has all of the ingredients of a modern day pony car. But what if you want something really exclusive and a car with a little more flair?
Well the mad scientists over at MOTION Performance have you covered. That’s right, those speed junkies from a long ago but memorable era have worked their magic on the 21st century Camaro. But before you go foolishly thinking this is just another Camaro SS with some cheesy cosmetic package and maybe a cold-air kit, and an upgraded exhaust –think again!
MOTION Performance is usually spoken in the same sentence as Nickey, Yenko, and Dana when it comes to automotive folklore of the ‘60s and ‘70s, and while the others have moved on, MOTION Performance is back with not one, but -count ‘em, FIVE different levels of performance for your 2011 Camaro.
For all of you youngsters out there who haven’t heard of MOTION, let us give you a quick history lesson;
Joel Rosen, an experienced racer of all types, and the original founder of MOTION, teamed up with Baldwin Chevrolet in 1967 to not only help perform modified engine swaps on brand new Camaros, Chevelles and Corvettes, but to completely overhaul them into something truly great. Labeling their efforts “Baldwin-Motion,” the team put out some of the baddest big-block Chevrolets ever, with their “Phase-III” 427 and 454 packages. But once the downfalls of the ‘70s had crept in (OPEC, CAFE, and the first fuel crisis), Baldwin-Motion were forced to pull the plug in 1974.
But now they’re back- and Rosen’s successor, Howard Tanner, (another experienced car builder/racer) is out to prove he can pull off the same stunt. But instead of using old school big blocks, Tanner is replacing the original “tame” LS3 found in the new Camaro with big-cubed LS small blocks, displacing either 427 or 454 cubic inches- whatever you fancy! Howard Tanner’s MOTION is making the “Fantastic Five” available to you in five levels of performance, ranging from 550 to a staggering 800hp -depending on your sanity level.
Although this time around, it won’t be Baldwin Chevrolet sourcing the cars -it will be DeNooyer Chevrolet, which happens to be the highest-volume selling Chevrolet dealer in upstate New York! Jim DeNooyer has a long history of racing himself, so he’s just as much as a gearhead as Tanner. But to prove to the consumers this isn’t just a bunch of false hype, Tanner and DeNooyer will provide full documentation with every car, including a dynosheet, a serial numbered plaque, and even an autograph from Mr. MOTION (Rosen) himself on the car’s dash!