Silva-built, Silva kit, Motion-built, Motion kit, etc?

While I've been a long, long-time fan of Corvettes in general and the Mako Shark in specific, I am still gathering my own bits and pieces of information that would help me properly identify and classify both my own Shark, and others.

Are they ANY distinctive features (other than the obvious Bohannan difference) that set one kit, or built car apart from others?

Here are some features of my own car:

-No side vents

-Full inner fenders

-GM-type hood hinges on purpose-built brackets that are welded to the
radiator support/frame extensions. The have slots for hood hinge
adjustment that are nicely finished.

-Factory cowl and wiper door

-Utilizes factory Corvette hood release and latch

-Wheel well lips are slightly wider at the rear, but the same in
general appearance (not "flares" so much as wider lips; similar to
the factory 1970 'Vette but bigger.

-Single rear tail lamps

-Gas filler door offset to the driver's side of the rear deck

These are features that I would assume would remain essentially constant if mine was a "built" car, or built from a complete kit, and someone else's was built by the same builder or bought the same kit. I know the headlamp treatments vary, so I've left that out of the equasion (although most of the Silva-built cars seem to have the Cibie-style rounded rectangular lamps).

Some other cars I've seen have a cowl molded into the hood that replaces the factory cowl grille and wiper door. Some have a vent behind the front wheels. Some cars (kits?) have the Firebird-style tail lamps... others dual C3, others tripple C2. Some of the Motion cars have the reversed gill vents.

Are there any "original" consistencies?

If I were to speculate, it seems like the Silva and Motion cars probably both came with single C3 tail lamps, and anything different would be custom? I see that the one Motion car (Mikes) has the Firebird tail lamps, so maybe the Motion cars came that way?

Most cars seem to have no inner front fenders. Mine has the same ones as featured in the Silva ads I as far as I can see.

The rear louvers seem about the same on all louvered cars.

The only "short tail" cars seem to be Silva-only (other than the speculation about "pulled" parts from Silva parts).

Mine is built on a convertible platform, so the roof is one-piece, lift-off without a T-bar. Most seem to be T-top cars. I suppose the platform, and engine/trans combos are simply a matter of chance or choice with no consistency whatsoever (seems logical).

I can't be the only one who's given the similarities or discrepencies this much thought... has anyone made a list of features that are associated with the specific built cars, complete kits, or specific components? I'm interested in hearing your thoughts.

Silva-built, Silva kit, Motion-built, Motion kit, e

I guess I should clarify that I understand Motion originally used and sold Silva parts, and later pulled their own molds from his parts. Did Motion "modify" the kit in any way to make it their own?

These are the kinds of things I'm trying to find out.

Silva-built, Silva kit, Motion-built, Motion kit, e

Ive been trying to learn what i can about these cars for 7 years, dont let it bother you , every time i think i know something it just gets turned around by another discovery. Wayne

Silva-built, Silva kit, Motion-built, Motion kit, e

Here are a couple of general things.

If you have a short tail car, its a silva.

Usually, and I mean usually, if you have single round tail lamps, its a Silva.

Most motion cars had firebird style lamps.

Its kinda on an individual car basis. earlier kits used the stock wiper tray, while later kits, silva, bohannon, etc had long hoods.
I have never seen a motion kit with side vents. That doesn't mean there never were any.

With these cars, its nearly impossible to determine exactly what has been done to the kit by previous owners.
Its a guessing game, just be glad you have one.

Silva-built, Silva kit, Motion-built, Motion kit, e

What about the shop on Long Island and another in Jacksonville that made the Mako kits ??? Wayne

Silva-built, Silva kit, Motion-built, Motion kit, e

You know there was a guy here in NC that made kits too.
Fayetteville.
He was on the forum a few years back, but disappeared.
I never did see his kits.
It would be neat to know just how many different kits are out there.

Silva-built, Silva kit, Motion-built, Motion kit, e

Only way to know for sure is to talk to the original builder of the car. Wayne

Silva-built, Silva kit, Motion-built, Motion kit, e

Good discussion. I'm hoping to pin down a few "always" and "nevers" if possible.

-Short tail, "always" a Silva kit.

-Firebird tail lamps, "never" a Silva kit (unless the owner changed them)

Any others?

-Inner fenders?

-No side vents?

-Fuel filler offset?

Silva-built, Silva kit, Motion-built, Motion kit, e

It is best NOT to count on any of the above. What you see is what you got. Wayne

Silva-built, Silva kit, Motion-built, Motion kit, e

The longer your on this site and the more cars you see from
different owners, you'll start to notice the differences.
It also helps if you have great eye sight and pays very
close attention to the little details as well.

Most of the time it is clear cut unless... an owner modifies
their Maco.

Case and point, Fathom427's Maco is a Silva body with Silva
cowls and the short hood with 68 style windshield wiper door
but, at first glance you'd think it was a Bohannon because
it has raised area's around the front lower dips near the
headlights. Either the previous owner did this or Fathem427
himself did it, regardless it is a Mod to simulate the look
of the concept vehicle. Actually, these same raises in
fathom427's hood go higher up on his hood than Bohannons
raises go, and actually enter the copping of the fenders
where as Bohannons stay off the copping, Bohannon also has
a long hood with no wiper door.

For the most part, if the vehicle is un-modified, it is an
easy spot as to the builder or origin of the body.

Like it's been said by others... if you own a Maco just be
glad of that point because it's a very rare pleasure, and
restore it and or mod it to your individual specifications.

McBrain

rockcrusher67 wrote: Silva-built, Silva kit, Motion-built, Motion kit, e

It is best NOT to count on any of the above. What you see is what you got. Wayne

Silva-built, Silva kit, Motion-built, Motion kit, e

-Short tail, "always" a Silva kit.

-Firebird tail lamps, "never" a Silva kit (unless the owner changed them)

"Never say never !"

Mine is a short-tail Silva car with original Firebird lights ! Most of the makos I've seen that have firebird lights just have the slats cut out for the lights to show through. This one has the 3 dimensional rear that had to have been molded from a firebird itself........... definitely not flat with holes cut !!!

This car also has the front fender louvers that stick out -- like some of the Baldwin-Motion Vettes. Just 4 of them.

Keep up the good work on your mako !!! Rick

ShawkRider wrote: Silva-built, Silva kit, Motion-built, Motion kit, e

The longer your on this site and the more cars you see from different owners, you'll start to notice the differences. It also helps if you have great eye sight and pays very close attention to the little details as well.

Most of the tim …

Silva-built, Silva kit, Motion-built, Motion kit, e

Heh heh! Of course right when I think I'm onto a trend, I'd get my feet knocked out from under me!

Thank you for the insight, Rick. Prior to joining this board, I honestly thought it would have been "easy" to know who originally made a particular body kit... now I'm realizing that it's not so cut-and-dried.

BTW, I just love the way your tail lamps, and your side gills look. I've been giving strong consideration to adding the reversed side gills to mine, or just '69-style vents with the aluminum inserts, to play off the stainless side exhaust and chrome bumper. Might look pretty special!

Thanks for the encouragement on my project, too... every little bit helps. ~Tim

454CanAm wrote: Silva-built, Silva kit, Motion-built, Motion kit, e

"Never say never !"

Mine is a short-tail Silva car with original Firebird lights ! Most of the makos I've seen that have firebird lights just have the slats cut out for the lights to show through. This one has the 3 dimensional rear that h …

Silva-built, Silva kit, Motion-built, Motion kit, e

I have probably seen 5 or 6 macos in my life.
I have never seen a motion kit with single round tail lamps.
Ricks car is a Silva and it has firebird lamps, BUT like he said they are molded into the body. The firebird lamps I am talking about were just cut into a flat rear panel.
Early motion kits had two indented grooves that went almost all the way across the rear panel.
Some motion cars had the dips in the hood, some did not. bohannon cars have raised areas there.
A bunch of people would lengthen the hood scoop on the cars.
The list goes on......

Firefingers wrote: Silva-built, Silva kit, Motion-built, Motion kit, e

Heh heh! Of course right when I think I'm onto a trend, I'd get my feet knocked out from under me!

Thank you for the insight, Rick. Prior to joining this board, I honestly thought it would have been "easy" to know who originally made a part …

Silva-built, Silva kit, Motion-built, Motion kit, e

Early MOTION cars had two indented grooves that spane across the rear panel like this.

McBrain

2Sharks wrote: Silva-built, Silva kit, Motion-built, Motion kit, e

I have probably seen 5 or 6 macos in my life. I have never seen a motion kit with single round tail lamps. Ricks car is a Silva and it has firebird lamps, BUT like he said they are molded into the body. The firebird lamps I am talking abo …

Silva-built, Silva kit, Motion-built, Motion kit, e

Where did this come from? the tail lights sure dont fit this situation. Wayne

ShawkRider wrote: Silva-built, Silva kit, Motion-built, Motion kit, e

Early MOTION cars had two indented grooves that spane across the rear panel like this.

McBrain

Silva-built, Silva kit, Motion-built, Motion kit, e

This is my Maco, still needs to be worked on in areas.
Can't seem to figure out whether I want to change the
rear or leave it like it is just fix it a little but,
this is the original rear treatment.

McBrain

rockcrusher67 wrote: Silva-built, Silva kit, Motion-built, Motion kit, e

Where did this come from? the tail lights sure dont fit this situation. Wayne

Silva-built, Silva kit, Motion-built, Motion kit, e

Why would you think MOTION did this? Wayne

ShawkRider wrote: Silva-built, Silva kit, Motion-built, Motion kit, e

This is my Maco, still needs to be worked on in areas. Can't seem to figure out whether I want to change the rear or leave it like it is just fix it a little but, this is the original rear treatment.

McBrain

Silva-built, Silva kit, Motion-built, Motion kit, e

In the owner's page section, Randy's (2-sharks) white car has the two indentations that run the width of the rear, and Firebird tail lamps, like the red example above.

There's another (Mako 71) with the same fiberglass treatment, but single round tail lamps.

Both are referenced as Motion kits.

rockcrusher67 wrote: Silva-built, Silva kit, Motion-built, Motion kit, e

Why would you think MOTION did this? Wayne

Silva-built, Silva kit, Motion-built, Motion kit, e

Since MOTION did NOT actually make any fiberglass parts themselves i guess this would depend on wich supplier they bought it from. From what i understand they used at least 3 different suppliers for kits and parts.

Firefingers wrote: Silva-built, Silva kit, Motion-built, Motion kit, e

In the owner's page section, Randy's (2-sharks) white car has the two indentations that run the width of the rear, and Firebird tail lamps, like the red example above.

There's another (Mako 71) with the same fiberglass treatment, but single …

Silva-built, Silva kit, Motion-built, Motion kit, e

Since MOTION did NOT actually make any fiberglass parts themselves i guess this would depend on wich supplier they bought it from. From what i understand they used at least 3 different suppliers for kits and parts.

I thought it was a given that Motion did indeed make parts from molds they pulled (or had pulled) from Silva's kits? I'm sure I read that on this site?