Intro from an old Assembly Plant guy

[mosesburb]

That is cool as hell.

It was real sad to see DPG shut down. So much of cool stuff from that place left in roll-off dumpsters. We had a contract with one of the salvage companies and we hauled bunches of trailers of shop equipment, office stuff, etc out of there. Those guys got the best stuff. Some of the "artwork" was the coolest stuff to be had out of there. All gone now. Signs at the entrance gone. High fences gone. Hell, they even cleared out the oleanders. The basic silhouette of the facility still remains as they never really finished the destruction of it.

I'm glad I got to see some of it in action before it went away. It was cool pulling out of there and seeing these vehicles pulling in with one front seat and a bank of instruments where the passenger seat would normally be. Or seeing over the fence at the vehicles with the crazy paint that try to camouflage the shape of the bodies. Real cool stuff.

[Keith Seymore]

My mother-in-law still lives in Mesa, so we get out there a couple times a year yet.

I always make a drive down Ellsworth to see how things are going. It's sad to see it all gone.

We knew even back then that we would remember those days as "the good ole' days".

K

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Back in late 1968 (calendar year), when the 1969 models were introduced, there was a big event out on "Black Lake" (the Vehicle Dynamics pad). The motoring press was invited in for this auspicious event and, on the pad, were some special vehicles. Namely - two ZL1 all aluminum 427 powered Corvettes, plus a smattering of ZL1 powered Camaros. In addition, there was one engine placed on a stand, both for display purposes and as a backup motor in case something happened to one of the engines in the car.

I was not permitted to share until recently but here is a little project I helped with:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/17/au...=top-news&_r=0

K

[McMurray76]

WOW!! Cool!

[old cool]

I've always had Corvettes in my blood. I've owned a handful of C 2's and 3s. I am now trucker and I think it's a better fit for me (personality wise). I actually get more thumbs up in my truck then I ever did in my vettes.
BTW, my 66G GMC was built in Pontiac. Can you tell me where exactly a 66 was built. It seems there was a plant on Woodward and Square Lake; also a plant on Opdyke and Square Lake.
While Im thinking of it, I would like to get my hands on a set of small white letters that I can stick on my rear window. I would them to read "Built in Pontiac Michigan" Any leads?
also wondering if you made it to the Woodward cruise this year. I saw 1958 Pontiac Bonneville. It was a
black 4 door. Nothing like yours. I also saw a red and white 58 Bonneville convertible sell on Mecum 130,000. The seller was hoping to get 70k. Amazing to see the interest.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by old cool

I've always had Corvettes in my blood. I've owned a handful of C 2's and 3s. I am now trucker and I think it's a better fit for me (personality wise). I actually get more thumbs up in my truck then I ever did in my vettes.
BTW, my 66G GMC was built in Pontiac. Can you tell me where exactly a 66 was built. It seems there was a plant on Woodward and Square Lake; also a plant on Opdyke and Square Lake.
While Im thinking of it, I would like to get my hands on a set of small white letters that I can stick on my rear window. I would them to read "Built in Pontiac Michigan" Any leads?
also wondering if you made it to the Woodward cruise this year. I saw 1958 Pontiac Bonneville. It was a
black 4 door. Nothing like yours. I also saw a red and white 58 Bonneville convertible sell on Mecum 130,000. The seller was hoping to get 70k. Amazing to see the interest.

Opdyke and Square Lake was for Light duty trucks. Medium duty trucks were built on South Blvd. Passenger cars were built at the facility between Baldwin and Joslyn (with Montcalm forming the southernmost border).

There wasn't anything at Woodward and Square Lake. We did have our Validation Center (for preproduction builds) at Woodward and South Blvd; that has since been torn down and is slated to be the new "M-1 Concours".

Yep - I was out on Wooward each evening (Mon - Fri) and then made a couple passes on Saturday. Mostly in the Grand Prix, but made a few loops in the pickup as I was on my way home from work.

I had an idea for some "Made in Pontiac" stickers this weekend as well. I'll talk to one of my more artistic buddies and see if he can whip something up.

K

[old cool]

I meant to say Wide Track ( woodward starts after W.T.) and South Boulevard; not Square lake rd. Lol. Im retired now - please overlook my error. Anyway, looks like my truck was built on Opdyke. Mine is a light duty.
I did not make a career of it though I worked assembly at both Fisher and PMD in the late 60's. I assembled heads at PMD, and hung doors at F.B. - now that was a tough job.

[Howell1988]

You're thread I haven't read completely but what pages and stories I've read so far have been truly inspiring sir! Thank you and God bless your family!

[Keith Seymore]

Today is my truck's 28th birthday.

Built September 29th, 1986 (an early 1987 model year build).

Interestingly enough, Sept 29 of 1986 was also a Monday (as is today).

I noticed the invoice does not exactly match my memory, as the truck was build (mostly) during second shift on the 29th, but I actually drove it to the shipping building and left the plant at 1:30 am Tuesday (which would be the 30th). Must have something to do with where the "paypoint" was at the end of the final line, rather than the shipping building itself.

Happy birthday, Red!

K

[aotte1]

Keith,

Looking really good for 28 years, it must have an owner who cares for it!
Have lots of fun with it during the next 28 years.

Les

[J Knight]

No doubt one of the most interesting truck out there with a very unique back story. Happy Birthday Red.

[D13]

Lot prettier than my diesel. LOL. happy birthday Red!

[benner]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

I was not permitted to share until recently but here is a little project I helped with:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/17/au...=top-news&_r=0

K

Keith... thanks for the welcome, your post intro was the best backstory so far! Your link to that Corvette w/all-aluminum 427 was amazing! Keep 'em comin...

[old cool]

Hey Keith. I stopped at the sign shop in Rochester last week. I inquired about making a window sticker that read "Made in Pontiac". I was given a quick estimate of $65. Wow, that seems a bit much. I asked about making multiples and they said it would be less but that's as far as I got. obviously, they can make it in any font and size.

[Keith Seymore]

Well - I share the little victories here, I guess I should share the "foibles" too...

Had a little bump over the weekend. I was backing the trailer with the door open and hooked it on my buddy's car. Bent the door around backwards so that it wouldn't close. Bent the structure and I had to bend it up a bit more to get it off. Damage is contained in the door, other than a few scratches at the rear edge of the fender.

Anyway - now I need a door.



K

[57NAPCO]

Keith, trust me, your not alone in the truck customizing department. I've done more than a few blunders myself. It will fix.
Thanks for your stories, they are epic!

[Greenlee]

Yikes! That's a bummer. It probably won't be too bad to fix with a replacement door.

I did something similar one time. I was backing up a trailer on a construction site in rutted dirt. The truck wasn't moving so I gave it some more gas thinking I was in a rut. It turned out it wasn't moving because I was turning into a stake that was in the ground. As soon as i gave it throttle i heard the door cave in.

By the way, the technology GM has now to prevent dumb ass mistakes is amazing. I just got a 14' Cadillac CTS and it alerts me with a seat vibration every time I get close to anything.

[Willowrun]

Are they power or manual doors?

[jpnh]

Poor ol'red

[Rich84]

Self inflicted wounds are the worst..

[tucsonjwt]

I call that lucky. Doors are not very expensive, and good the rest is OK. Still a few rust free OEM doors in junkyards out here that are very nice, but shipping cost is extreme. Aftermarket aren't really cheap either, though.

[Keith Seymore]

Thanks for the encouragement, guys. I managed to keep a stiff upper lip over the weekend and have started looking in earnest for doors this morning.

There seem to be quite a few here locally to choose from.

Truth be told: this isn't the first time I've done this I did the same thing when the truck was "new", hooking the door on the side of the garage. The damage was pretty minimal, in comparison, although the truck still bore the scars until this weekend.

K

[pontgta]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Well - I share the little victories here, I guess I should share the "foibles" too...

Had a little bump over the weekend. I was backing the trailer with the door open and hooked it on my buddy's car. Bent the door around backwards so that it wouldn't close. Bent the structure and I had to bend it up a bit more to get it off. Damage is contained in the door, other than a few scratches at the rear edge of the fender.

Anyway - now I need a door.



K

Noooooooo😥. It was painful to see but at least it was not any worse...

Hope little red gets well soon

Thanks gor the stories Keith

[MalibuSSwagon]

Now I don't feel so bad about screwing up my straight tailgate with a trailer incident.

[Greenlee]

Originally Posted by MalibuSSwagon

Now I don't feel so bad about screwing up my straight tailgate with a trailer incident.

When I was a kid, my dad destroyed a couple of tailgates with a gooseneck trailer. He would unhook the trailer and take off, forgetting to open the tailgate.