Is This South African Auction Barn Find Corvette One of the Rarest in the World?

Experts probing the provenance of a custom design 1963 Corvette C2 going on auction this month in Johannesburg, South Africa, say tantalizing teasers point towards their barn find being an undiscovered American muscle collector “unicorn”.

“Despite an exhaustive investigation, this car remains a bit of a head-scratcher,” says Kevin Derrick, CEO of Creative Rides Classic & Collectibles Auctions in Johannesburg. “It’s the only mystery we haven’t been able to conclusively solve in the hundreds of cars we’ve appraised over the years.

“That said, specialist opinion of the design modifications leans towards this ‘Vette being a Baldwin Motion custom build, which would make it one of the rarest and most collectable Chevys in the world.”

Nearly 50 years after it shut, the original Baldwin-Motion Performance Group from Long Island, New York, is still called the most insane builder of true street muscle cars ever.

Baldwin-Motion cars were on a whole different level with their made-to-order custom builds of Camaros, Novas, Chevelles, Corvettes and Biscayne Street Racer Specials.

A 2017 Hagerty feature on Baldwin Motion’s supercars noted that automobiles the company produced “came complete with dyno-proven engine, suspension, and drivetrain upgrades that worked on the street, drag strip, and even a road course.

“Professionally-applied special paint and body modifications, along with custom wheels, set these cars apart visually from anything else on the street.

“Crucially, Baldwin Motion cars were all totally custom and built-to-order, so each example was unique.”

It’s that final point, says Derrick, that lies at the heart of the South African auction Corvette’s provenance puzzle.

“Since Baldwin Motion cars were custom, there are no uniform model specifications to reference now, that will confirm provenance.

“The shop didn’t mass produce either, so one can’t compare thousands of features to precisely match design signatures.

“That said, classic car specialists spend years studying automotive characteristics and their professional opinions hold value. Experts who have examined the Corvette in Creative Rides’ Johannesburg showroom say the modifications are not inconsistent with other examples of Baldwin Motion design.”

Derrick says the design differences between conventional 1963 Corvette C2s and the mystery auction model are evident from front to back and include:

• Wide-set single round headlights instead of dual pop-up lights;
• A 1967 Stingray 427-styled hood; and
• A spoiler-topped flat rear design replacing the classic tapered trunk. This shape is reminiscent of the Baldwin Motion Maco Shark Corvette.

Derrick says what is known with certainty about the car is that it was exported to South Africa from New York in 2015.

“When it arrived in the country it was an almost luminous green colour, with a contrasting black stripe. The current owner resprayed the car metallic grey, and replaced the manual gearbox with a four-speed automatic transmission. It has disc brakes and a Holley carburettor.

“The 2015 online ad for this car specifically mentioned Baldwin Motion.

“Since the car was posted in Creative Rides’ web catalogue for this month’s auction, we’ve been inundated with requests from clients in America for information about whether it is indeed a Baldwin Motion custom build. We’ve gone above and beyond to get answers, pulling in several experts to examine the car and conducting an exhaustive investigation, but we still don’t have that definitive piece of the puzzle.

“We’re now hoping a Hail Mary appeal to the custom car community that was active on the US East Coast in the 1970s and 80s in Joel Rosen’s era, can solve the mystery for us. If anyone has information on the origins of this car, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Creative Rides in South Africa on (+27)76 099 9051.”

Derrick says the 1963 Corvette is a highlight of Creative Rides’ bumper 200-lot, two-day hybrid live and digital auction set for the weekend of September 23rd at Montecasino in Johannesburg.

The event will showcase more than 100 years of automotive design in the shape of Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, BMW, Mercedes, Alfa, Jaguar, Jeep, VW, Nissan, Chevrolet, Ford, Pontiac, Cadillac and Rolls Royce, among others.

The auction e-catalogue is available at E-Catalogue – Creative Rides (creativeridesauctions.com) as well as on the Creative Rides app, which is free on Android and iOS. International collectors who can’t be at the auction, can bid remotely in real time via the app.

“The two-day auction will also be live-streamed on the Creative Rides website, as well as our social media channels. To preview the sale, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRD7561PNtI.  

“Online auction registrations are pouring in from across the world,” says Derrick.