Strange Motion 65 Chevelle
Long Strange Trip
Most of us all have that “one that got away” story. Over the years, some managed to get their second chance, or third chance. Just ask my father some time about his yellow 69 Chevelle that he’s owned 3 times! Or sometimes you just happen across your second chance while scrolling Craigslist and your first Harley is for sale. Many times, we have to settle for a clone or something close to what it was back in the day, or you’re just plain lucky and you find it again.
Tim Strange of Strange Motion is no exception to this dilemma. His story is similar to a lot ours when it comes to that hot rod of days past. Back in his teens, he had a 64 Chevelle SS. As an up-and-coming builder and performance shop, Tim used the Chevelle to hone his skills in the trade. Eventually landing a runner up for The Best GM at the Street Machine Nationals. Then, life happens as it has with most all of us. Strange Motion started taking shape, the Chevelle got put on the back burner, the engine got donated to another build and eventually the roller got sold.
20 years later, Tim’s father Dan wanted to do a father and son build. During the conversation, Dan made it clear that he wanted them to build a Chevelle and wanted to track down Tim’s original car. The hunt was on but the trail went cold somewhere in Indiana. While looking for a suitable donor car, Tim reached out to a buddy of his from back in their high school days who built a 65 Chevelle as Tim was building his original 64. Living its life in a corn crib, up on jack stands and surviving a tornado, Tim and Dan found what they needed about 12 miles from home, his buddy Matt still had his 65 Chevelle. The engine and front clip were long gone, but it was what they needed and there was a sentimental connection with this car.
Dan kinda steered this build somewhat, he’s not a fan of fancy electronics and fuel injection, nor does he like 20 inch wheels so this car is somewhat of an old school theme. A 505 cubic inch behemoth powers the 16” rear wheels and it’s topped off with a carburetor, which Dan colorfully specified as well. Keeping with the old school theme inside, there is a Dakota Digital RTX gauge system in the bezel. Providing all the vitals to the driver and maintaining a period correct stock appearance. Complete with machined and spun aluminum accent discs, the RTX gives Strange Motion reliability and originality.
Besides building hot rods, Tim spends a lot of time behind the microphone at numerous Good-Guys Auto Cross competitions, announcing the drag races at the Tri Five Nationals and is also a staple at SEMA in Las Vegas each year, emceeing a variety of banquets, parties and awards shows. Odds are you’ve heard his voice on the loud speaker at some point. This father and son project was proudly on display in the Royal Purple Booth at SEMA 2021. Tim plans to do a few more things to the Chevelle, enjoy it for a little bit and then his father gets the keys. Which means smokey burnouts and dad giving son the car back to clean it and tune it on a regular basis!
