I sort of inherited the interest in Pontiacs and the hobby through my father and several family members that migrated from the coalfield area of Virginia in the middle to late '40's to Michigan to work in the Auto Plants rather than mine coal, cut timber or drive a truck.
Dad went to work at PMD in 1950, and retired after 36 years. Most of that in Car Assembly (Plant 8) and Reliability (Inspection).
We always had Pontiacs to drive and there was a tremendous loyalty to the Company back then with the employee's to purchase and promote the product they produced.
Friends that came over to the house seemed to come from Plant personnel, so most of our off time and weekends were spent with GM employee's, conversations always seemed to wind up relating to Plant experiences and problems.
I was in High School '69 to '71, and with Dad driving "overnight" evaluation vehicles home every day...guess what I learned to drive in??? Spent alot of time on Telegraph and Woodward in the evenings and weekends in a car that was only a day or so old and had Manufacturing Plates on it. If I would have ever been caught, Dad would have probably lost his job.
Into the Army after High School, a Lemans and a couple Firebirds later I got out in '75. Had a new car waiting for me at the Administration Building at PMD that I had ordered through Dad, Silver '75 T/A with a 455, still have that one. It was a courtesy car (3 months or 3000 miles). Met the wife in it in '76 and shortly after we parked it. The Daughter says that its her favorite of the Ponitacs that we have, and she has been promised it when she gets her Masters.
Then...I started to work at PMD in August of '76. Began in Plant 14 (Sheet Metal Operations), and after a couple of years transferred to the Engine Plant (#9), where I spent out the rest of my time with GM in different Plants in the Powertrain Division.
Left GM in '95, alot of memories and life experiences from being involved in Plant life, its really depressing to see the industry in the current state that it is in.
Just bought a new HD 2500 Crew Cab with a Duramax, and seen yesterday that sales are down over 50% from this period last year...have a brother that is a Tool and Die maker at GM in Michigan, he has over 30 years and is really sweating.
Hope things start to turn around soon.
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