[relmers]

I came upon a photo of a '66 GTO coming off the assembly line http://www.highperformancepontiac.co.../photo_03.html and the description says it was at Plant 16, Line 55. Does anyone know what plant # 16 would have been or is this picture mislabeled?


I'm heading out to the 2010 Woodward Dream Cruise on Tuesday, driving my '66 GTO there.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by relmers

I came upon a photo of a '66 GTO coming off the assembly line http://www.highperformancepontiac.co.../photo_03.html and the description says it was at Plant 16, Line 55. Does anyone know what plant # 16 would have been or is this picture mislabeled?


I'm heading out to the 2010 Woodward Dream Cruise on Tuesday, driving my '66 GTO there.

The caption is correct, as plant 16 was the Final Finish plant (I believe pinstriping was done there, for example); vehicles were shipped there after Plant 8 (the final assembly location). You might already know there were roughly 10 or 15 separate buildings, all co-located on the same property, each having a specific plant designation (this is fairly typical among the manufacturers here in Michigan).

However, I believe they misintrepted the number "55" - that was not "Line 55", but the build manifest sequence number for that specific car on the line. It was "Car number 55" on that build manifest, a (sort of) random start point but the numbers increasing sequentially after that point. The manifest sequence number tied the VIN, Body number, carrier number, order number, etc all together in one place, but was of no use after the vehicle left the assembly plant (that is, not like the VIN which would be forever affixed to that unique vehicle).

Perhaps Eric White (gtoric) can confirm or negate my thoughts.

I'll be out there probably Tuesday through Friday (but not Saturday) - if you would like, we could ride up to the complex and drive around, and I'll point out some of the various buildings and locations.

K

[relmers]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

----> The caption is correct, as plant 16 was the Final Finish plant (I believe pinstriping was done there, for example); vehicles were shipped there after Plant 8 (the final assembly location). You might already know there were roughly 10 or 15 separate buildings, all co-located on the same property, each having a specific plant designation (this is fairly typical among the manufacturers here in Michigan).


However, I believe they misintrepted the number "55" - that was not "Line 55", but the build manifest sequence number for that specific car on the line. It was "Car number 55" on that build manifest, a (sort of) random start point but the numbers increasing sequentially after that point. The manifest sequence number tied the VIN, Body number, carrier number, order number, etc all together in one place, but was of no use after the vehicle left the assembly plant (that is, not like the VIN which would be forever affixed to that unique vehicle).

Perhaps Eric White (gtoric) can confirm or negate my thoughts.

------> I'll be out there probably Tuesday through Friday (but not Saturday) - if you would like, we could ride up to the complex and drive around, and I'll point out some of the various buildings and locations.


K

Interesting information, and I was unaware of the numerous different building on a lot, I'm glad that you mentioned it. I remember going to the Ford plant on a grade school field trip, even though I was very young, I was impressed by what I saw, but unfortunately I don't recall a lot of it.

----> So I take it that every GM plant would probably have a "plant 16" on their grounds and that this number does not related to the Assembly Plant itself, such as Fremont, CA or Pontiac, MI as being plant 16. I would then assume that with the information provided in the picture there is no way to determine which "ASSEMBLY PLANT" this picture was taken in, correct?

------> I would love to meet and visit this week. My wife and I will be arriving (hopefully) Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. Being I grew up in Ferndale, I'm planning on making some personal visits over the few days we are there and then attending the event on Saturday with the WOODWARD GTO TIGERS; my car will have Minnesota plates on it. I will send you a PM with my personal email, maybe trade numbers and if we can find a time that will work, I'll take you up on your offer.

[Keith Seymore]

Yes - every GM plant would have a shipping location, but not all (if any others) would be designated "Plant 16". The plant numbering system is specific to each facility and springs up based on the sequence that the buildings were built or placed in service. My dad worked at Chevrolet Pressed Metal, in downtown Flint. Some of the plants I remember him referring to were Plant 38, Plant 10, Plant 2, Plant 2A, etc. Flint Assembly, where I started some 31 years ago, had a separate shipping building but if it had a number associated with it I don't recall what it was.

As such, we can definitively state that the photo you linked was taken in Pontiac (as opposed to Fremont or any other assembly plant).


K