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60sstuff · 10-17-2009, 03:41 PM

As promised - About 20 yrs. ago I was given two large commemorative folders from the chief of all security at the Fremont plant. These were souvenirs from the Grand opening in March 1964. Because I was into the GTO's 24/7 back in those days Mr. Gonsalves thought I would like to have them, and he was right. COOL History! Although there aren't any pics of GTO's, it still shows some OEM in color. Enjoy, Chris.

bigpop · 10-17-2009, 03:58 PM

Thanks,Chris. Mr. Gonsalves gave you a nice little gift there.Everything looks in mint condition! Larry B.

1971GTO · 10-17-2009, 04:52 PM

Awesome........my 71 was made there! Neet to see that.

valkyrie9901 · 10-17-2009, 05:15 PM

Looks like the next car to drop down is a LeMans in the last pic.............JB.

johnta1 · 10-17-2009, 07:02 PM

Cool pics, Chris!

I've always wanted to see how they carried the engine.
That 4th pic is great.

saltman 1965 · 10-17-2009, 08:34 PM

Thanks for sharing Chris my Lemans was built in Fremont

Keith Seymore · 10-17-2009, 08:49 PM

Interesting. That last pic looks like it might be a slightly different view of the same car, in this previously published photo:

442dude · 10-17-2009, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 60sstuff

As promised - About 20 yrs. ago I was given two large commemorative folders from the chief of all security at the Fremont plant. These were souvenirs from the Grand opening in March 1964. Because I was into the GTO's 24/7 back in those days Mr. Gonsalves thought I would like to have them, and he was right. COOL History! Although there aren't any pics of GTO's, it still shows some OEM in color. Enjoy, Chris.

PM sent.

442dude · 08:59 PM

It appears that the A arms in the third pic are bare metal. The forth shows them black, along with the brake line. Must have went thru the blackout process.

And the oil filter is painted blue like the engine.

Ken K · 10-17-2009, 09:08 PM

As you can see by the picture, they all rolled down the same assembly line. In my opinion Fremont made the best A Body cars. That plant must have been state of the art in it's day.

6 Grrrs · 10-17-2009, 09:28 PM

That last picture is cool, seeing an Olds, Buick, & then a Pontiac on the same line.

Thanks for posting.

442dude · 10-17-2009, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6 Grrrs

That last picture is cool, seeing an Olds, Buick, & then a Pontiac on the same line.

Thanks for posting.

The engine drop line has the Pontiac installed, the Buick ready, and the Olds coming to the line.

saltman 1965 · 10-17-2009, 10:03 PM

Keith I like the guy in the pit on your pic it looks like he he has some kind of alignment tool for when they drop the body. Can anyone make out what # is on the trans? 30 or 130?

60sstuff · 10-17-2009, 10:29 PM

More color from Fremont. I sure wish there was a GTO pic.

johnta1 · 10-17-2009, 10:41 PM

Still cool pics.

We can imagine a GTO on the lifts.

442dude · 10-17-2009, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 60sstuff

More color from Fremont. I sure wish there was a GTO pic.

MORE!!! This is great stuff.

Keith Seymore · 10-18-2009, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saltman 1965

Keith I like the guy in the pit on your pic it looks like he he has some kind of alignment tool for when they drop the body. Can anyone make out what # is on the trans? 30 or 130?

It's a "drift pin", a long steel rod. He sticks it up through the mount or a separate alignment hole to guide the body into position. There should be a guy up front in the pit doing the same thing; plus the man topside on the RH side and the topside guy on the left is guiding the steering shaft down over the rag joint on the steering gear.

It looks like a "30" to me; it might be the build sequence number or the last two of the VIN. My '87 pickup was number "87"!

K

Jeff Hamlin · 10-18-2009, 08:50 AM

Great Stuff, Thanks Guys.
The bare control arm/drum pic is interesting. I didn't think they would have been painted after the engine was set? I did note the Oil filter as that has been a pc of assy' debate for years. What also caught me was the lack of any overspray on the trans/bell.
That is another pc that is always debated.
Anyhow Great stuff. Keep em' coming.

442dude · 10-18-2009, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Hamlin

Great Stuff, Thanks Guys.
The bare control arm/drum pic is interesting. I didn't think they would have been painted after the engine was set? I did note the Oil filter as that has been a pc of assy' debate for years. What also caught me was the lack of any overspray on the trans/bell.
That is another pc that is always debated.
Anyhow Great stuff. Keep em' coming.

Here is the "blackout" process at GMs Lansing MI plant. Here everything is set and the painter is blacking out the front suspension. Fremont must have done the same because in the one pic everything is bare and the next its black.

442dude · 10-18-2009, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Hamlin

Great Stuff, Thanks Guys.
The bare control arm/drum pic is interesting. I didn't think they would have been painted after the engine was set? I did note the Oil filter as that has been a pc of assy' debate for years. What also caught me was the lack of any overspray on the trans/bell.
That is another pc that is always debated.
Anyhow Great stuff. Keep em' coming.

Remember that Fremont did not have any engine assembly, all the engines came from the home plants by train/truck/air. So they were painted without transmissions then shipped to Fremont for assembly.

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