Quote:
Originally Posted by brut4s
Dr. Schiffer, Mr. Seymore and others that were there I really appreciate you all for taking the time to tell your stories about what happened during this time Things those of us that weren't in Michigan would'nt know.Was any testing or any mule cars running around in California or other states? Or was everything done in Michigan.
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Really Keith can best answer this because he works in GM engineering right know. But GM has a had a test track in AZ for years. I posted a 1974 Trans Am for Gregg a past GM engineer a few pages back. If you read about his car he tells you that he did some hot weather testing in AZ.
The 1969 Trans Am and Judge had their press release in California. Many magazines tested these cars on the east and west coast. Marty Shorr editor of "Cars" magazine would take the Royal cars not only to the strip, but go to the local drive-ins and even go street racing with them. Then he'd write about it.
I can't remember where the cold weather testing was or is. I just don't remeber. Several years ago one of my pateints, Grant Kitchen, who was a PMD engine engineer, used to do the cold weather testing every year.
For years guys who worked for Jim Wangers' company, Automotive Marketing Consultants, Inc (AMCI) would drive early production cars from Detroit to San Diego. For proper evaluation AMCI set a standard of 3,000 miles on the cars before any testing was done. In late June 1997 my wife, I and another couple took two brand new early production, not yet relesed cars out to California for Jim company to test and evaluate. A 1998 Monte Carlo with vin number 4 and a Lumina with vin number 7. We also watched AMCI do some testing of a new Mercedes with Monroe shocks on it at Carlsbad race way. Most of the evaluation and certification was to varify things that may be said or go into print in advertizing the cars. Then the mfg had testing and evaluation certificates from AMCI to back up their claims about the car.
Look closely at that very small print in a TV ad. It just might say, "As certified by AMCI".
At lunch today I passed a group of cars with black tap all over them going the opposite direction from me. I could not tell what mfg they where even by the shape. Of course all of these small cars look alike to me..LOL
Every other Thursday I take I -96 past the GM Proving Grounds as I go to an assisted living facility. On occasion I'll be paralleling some car or truck with a new name on it and I have no idea what this new model is. I will also on occasion pass Ken Lingenfelter going in the opposite direction driving one of of his many one off's.
I do have picture of some of Ken's cars. Including his different variations of Firebirds made off the current Camaro. Let me know if you want to see those too
So. Yes there are mules criss crossing globe all of the time.