[quicksilver97ta]

Originally Posted by johnta1

Mike, what do you think the worker is doing in the 71 TA pic?
Adjusting the bumper?

Yeah, I wondered the same thing! Kinda looks like he's working on a shifter? Maybe that's a Monday or Friday car, LOL.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by MikeNoun

1970 Monte Carlo assembly, you can see a Malibu behind it, and some Chevy Trucks off to the side.

I'm guessing that because of the combination of A bodies and Chevy trucks that this plant would be Chevrolet Flint Assembly (...my alma mater...). I started there in June of 1979.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by quicksilver97ta

Yeah, I wondered the same thing! Kinda looks like he's working on a shifter? Maybe that's a Monday or Friday car, LOL.

The shifter is part of his tooling. (Looks like some kind of fixture). My guess, too, is that he is adjusting the bumper/front end fit.

K

[The Boss]

Here are scans of some 8x10's I've got - they are marked 70 Firebird on the backs.

[MikeNoun]

John, I'm not sure what the guy is adjusting on the 71 T/A. Maybe tightening down the driver's side fender reinforcement bar?

Here's a few more:

1961 Pontiac assembly line
1964 Pontiacs awaiting final trim
1966 GTO's coming down the line
1970 Trans Am, with a hood scoop that hasn't been straightened yet

[turbo69bird]

I am glad you guys liked it. I couldnt believe it when I saw it on the AOL home page that morning.

I had to rub my eyes and see if I was really seeing what I thought.LOL


I am a HUGE 69 bird guy so That was a great find for me.

Totally by luck too.

Could help answer some resto questions if we can blow it up and keep it clear.

[turbo69bird]

IS it me or do the frame rails (rear) look like they are red?

[70Steve]

Yeah I thought the same, plenty of red on the rails. This is a fantastic photo! I love how stuff like this just "pops up". Those redlines look so wide, no paint on the backing plates, some black paint on the exhaust. So many details to check, I've stared at it for 20 minutes so far. If you look at the next chassis behind it does it have something written on the frame? Thanks for sharing this turbo69bird.

[einstein]

Funny to see that 69 Caprice in front of the Firebird.

[Kurt S]

Originally Posted by Cammer-6

Kurt what key words did you use to pull up those Cheby pics?
I tried Pontiac lordstown and nothing showed up.

If you click on the Google link, it will show all the search words.

They cataloged all the pictures that Time took over the years. Be happy that they even went into one GM assembly plant.
The interesting thing is that you can follow JohnZ's article and it will still match the 1959 assembly pictures (and the Pontiac pictures too).

The 69 Firebird was at LOS - the CA plants built multiple carlines (due to state regs which I don't recall).
Yes, the rear frame rails are body color and undercoat covered some of it.
The next frame does have something on it, could be a date code or the part #.

The 61 chassis line pic is interesting. The control arms aren't painted?

Could help answer some resto questions if we can blow it up and keep it clear.

Remember that the Camaro and Firebird used the same assembly process. The engine details are different, but the chassis and body are the same. And the Camaro guys have chased these details for years.

[Kurt S]

I'll add that I'm not the guy that knows the resto details.
But I can help direct questions to people that would know some of those details.

[turbo69bird]

I know what you guys mean I stared at this picture FOREVER when I first got it. They say a picture says a 1000 words and this one is thill talking to me.

I even made it my wallpaper on my phone.LOL

I cant stop looking for details in the pitcture.

I am no resto guy more of a racer but I really am interested now.

[turbo69bird]

Looks like a lot of red overspray on the floor pans too even in the middle of the rear end assemble area of the pans on either side of the trans tunnel.

My RAIV car has ALOT of yellow on the floor pans in that same area. It had been painted gloss black over it but the black is flaking off exposing yellow. I always thought it was incorrect.

[Cammer-6]

When I can get my code K 68 back on the lift Ill take some pics for ya.
Was Ziebarted when new and all the overspray is intact.Plating is still on the fuel,brake lines as well as all the fasteners.
http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...2&postcount=11

[Transamric]

In that Red '69 FB pic, do we have a clue which of the three plants that is? I see the car right in front of it is a '69 BelAir or Impala. Does that eliminate Lordstown from the possibilities?

[Sport69]

What a freaking great thread. Love all of those pics. My hat's off to all of you that posted these. Did i mention, GREAT THREAD!

[turbo69bird]

cammer thats very much like what my car shows too.

Its a 15,000 mile car but it was raced and the dealer that raced it tricked it out with lace and lettering.
Looks like the belly was prayed with black gloss or semi gloss and its falking in spots revealing exactly what your car has for paint but maybe even a little more body color.

My car was repainted when sold to the public but the underneath was left as is from the dealer all these years.

Interestingly enough the under side of the cowl vent has alot of yellow overspray on it as well..

It had to be that way from the factory because the car was never down yellow again with the factory cowl vent, It had holes for the gauges so I used a different one when I redid the car golden yellow and saved the original so I would have the dealer installed gauge placement still if I ever put it back to as raced condition.

It was a C stock eliminator car so its very true to what it was factory never any cages or cut up. Mostly suspension mods of the day, different shifter etc.

I really enjoy seeing original survivor cars and old pics like these. that show just how things were really done. Dont think Id everwant to do the car show competition thing though.
If I ever restore her it will be to as raced condition.

[Firedup6975]

Very very cool Thread!!! Would love to see more!!

[turbo69bird]

thers got to be more pics like this out there.
Nice clear color pics.

I cant believe GM didnt have all kinds of photos from the assembly line for reference.

Question is how do we go about getting our hands on them. Lets face it the people who did this AOL/yahoo story got there hands on the pic!

Guys like Herb adams and tom Nell must know who the right people are I would think.

I want to get in touch with Tom nell about the stephens cars and I havent even been successful at that.LOL

[x-bird2]

Originally Posted by quicksilver97ta

Yeah, I wondered the same thing! Kinda looks like he's working on a shifter? Maybe that's a Monday or Friday car, LOL.

i think that's a headlight adjusting rig. precursor to the suction cup/center of bulb mount style with the mirrors and levels. (i've used that style a ton of times, can't remember the name --mighty something??)