This 1972 Chevrolet Corvette coupe was modified when new by Motion Performance of Baldwin, New York, with revised bodywork, bespoke upholstery, and upgrades to the 454ci LS5 V8. The car is said to be the result of a styling exercise that incorporated design elements from both the Maco Shark and its successor, the Manta Ray, such as a front clamshell with concealed headlights, a fastback roofline with T-top roof panels, and an integrated rear spoiler. In 2005, the car was purchased by Dan Hayes, who solicited input from Motion founder Joel Rosen and initiated a refurbishment at Pennington Auto Body of Missouri that involved repainting the body in yellow with black stripes, adding a custom-fabricated grille and hood vents, installing turbine-style wheels, and refreshing the drivetrain. Dubbed the “Moray GT” by Rosen after work was completed, the car later graced the pages of Motor Trend and Corvette Fever. Equipment includes a Muncie four-speed manual transmission, a Holley carburetor, Hooker headers, side exhaust pipes, finned valve covers, and a retro-style digital media receiver. This custom C3 Corvette was acquired by the seller in 2024 and is now offered with records, historical correspondence, literature, and Maine registration.
A 2006-dated letter from Rosen lists the VIN and states that the car was built by Motion Performance Inc.
Founded in 1966, Motion Performance offered custom bodywork and performance upgrades for a variety of Chevrolet models. This Corvette coupe left the St. Louis, Missouri, assembly plant equipped with a 454ci LS5 V8 and was sent to Motion’s facility to be outfitted with fiberglass bodywork featuring a forward-tilting front clamshell with concealed headlights as well as a tapered fastback roofline, a rear spoiler, and removable T-top roof panels.
The car was refinished in DuPont Hot Hues Lemon Yellow with gold pearl during the aforementioned refurbishment. Black stripes run along the sides and flow into the tail panel. Functional hood vents were added along with a custom-fabricated grille, a Le Mans-style fuel filler, and body-color side mirrors. The polished side exhaust pipes and split rear bumper were retained.
Turbine-style 15” wheels are wrapped in 225/70 Goodyear Eagle GT II white-letter tires. Braking is handled by four-wheel discs.
The cabin features bucket seats trimmed in tufted black vinyl that extends to the center console, door panels, and rear cargo area. A retro-style digital media receiver has been installed, and additional appointments include a cue-ball shifter knob, power windows, and Stingray-branded floor mats. The seller notes that the key is stuck in the ignition.
The split-spoke steering wheel is mounted to a tilting column and frames a 160-mph speedometer and a tachometer, while auxiliary gauges are mounted in the center stack. The five-digit odometer shows 61k miles.
The 454ci V8 is equipped with a Holley four-barrel carburetor, a “Fly Eye” air cleaner, Motion-branded finned valve covers, and Hooker exhaust headers. An oil change was performed in February 2024.
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a Muncie four-speed manual transmission and a rear end with 3.70:1 gearing.
Photos showing Joel Rosen and Corvette chief engineer Dave McLellan signing the roof panels will accompany the car along with correspondence, literature, and three binders of records that can be viewed in the gallery.
The vehicle is being sold on its Maine registration, which serves as an ownership document in Maine.
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