[Wareagle]

Originally Posted by MikeNoun

DeLorean was the first GM divisional president (or for that matter, any automobile manufacturing president) to be a celebrity. Lee Iacocca was famous for the Mustang, but Iacocca, like others, were the "suit and tie" generation. DeLorean was not part of the cookie cutter GM executive look. He was only 40 years old when he was appointed head of Pontiac in 1965, the youngest ever to hold such a high position at GM. As long as he kept Pontiac rolling and 3rd in sales (behind only Chevrolet and Ford), the top brass tended to look the other way. DeLorean's "long" hair, his candid interviews, his ego, and his desire to be part of elite social circles really ticked off the "old guard" at GM.

Never before had a GM executive or divisional president received so much press. Unfortunately, GM top brass didn't want GM's image to be associated with a "groovy" sort of lifestyle. It was ok to advertise and sell the image to the youth market, but not an appropriate image for president.

When DeLorean was appointed head of Chevrolet in 1969, he was supposed to be next in line for GM president. That was the path typically followed by GM presidents. You were VP of a division, then president of a division, moved over to become president of "big dog" Chevrolet, then finally president of GM.

In 1971, when DeLorean realized that GM was grooming Oldsmobile's John Beltz to be the next GM president, DeLorean was told that because of his lifestyle and his image, he would never become president of GM. When John Beltz died unexpectedly in 1972, DeLorean was stunned that he was not promoted to president of GM, so he began make other plans.

Photos like this are what drove the GM top brass crazy. Today, this attitude and image would be celebrated as unique and independent, but back in the early 1970's, GM did not want to associate the "hippy" lifestyle with top level GM management.

Sad day For Pontiac when he went over to Chevy > No factory RA V'S or the 455 RA IV for 1970 - he would have got them into production

[U47]

Originally Posted by Wareagle

Sad day For Pontiac when he went over to Chevy > No factory RA V'S or the 455 RA IV for 1970 - he would have got them into production

And how would he get all that past EPA certification? It's not him, it's the sign of the times or the reality of the new era.

[Wareagle]

Originally Posted by U47

And how would he get all that past EPA certification? It's not him, it's the sign of the times or the reality of the new era.

If they can get Hemi's - LS6's etc. past the EPA - No problem - heres a couple of cool pics - 1 off RAV 70 T/A done for nostalgia > could have been + The Blackbird which had a Test PMD 455 RA IV at the time beating up on Hemi's - BBC's etc. in Street Wars

[U47]

Originally Posted by Wareagle

If they can get Hemi's - LS6's etc. past the EPA - No problem - heres a couple of cool pics - 1 off RAV 70 T/A done for nostalgia > could have been + The Blackbird which had a Test PMD 455 RA IV at the time beating up on Hemi's - BBC's etc. in Street Wars

If you read some history on Pontiac thinking they had realized that in just a few short years that it would deem all this stuff a waste of time for a whole lot of effort to get there. I worked in emissions at that time for a major auto manufacturer. Were we relieved by the time catalytic converters finally showed up so we could get some driveability back into the cars. Those years (1971-74) were the worst for driveability.

[MikeNoun]

Here's a cool tow truck from yesteryear....

[MikeNoun]

1966 Coronet Hemi convertible getting some air during a Hot Rod road test. It's funny how many magazines would do this same thing to their test cars back in the day.

[U47]

Originally Posted by MikeNoun

1966 Coronet Hemi convertible getting some air during a Hot Rod road test. It's funny how many magazines would do this same thing to their test cars back in the day.

And today as well. They ruined many of our press pool cars.!

[U47]

Originally Posted by MikeNoun

Here's a cool tow truck from yesteryear....

Know that dealership well.

[Wareagle]

Originally Posted by OVERULD

Is that RAV TA the one that former PY member, Greg, built?

BJ

Think so

Originally Posted by U47

If you read some history on Pontiac thinking they had realized that in just a few short years that it would deem all this stuff a waste of time for a whole lot of effort to get there. I worked in emissions at that time for a major auto manufacturer. Were we relieved by the time catalytic converters finally showed up so we could get some driveability back into the cars. Those years (1971-74) were the worst for driveability.

Catalytic converters 71/72 455HO - 73/74 SD455 great engine's great cars

[OVERULD]

Originally Posted by Wareagle

If they can get Hemi's - LS6's etc. past the EPA - No problem - heres a couple of cool pics - 1 off RAV 70 T/A done for nostalgia > could have been + The Blackbird which had a Test PMD 455 RA IV at the time beating up on Hemi's - BBC's etc. in Street Wars

Is that RAV TA the one that former PY member, Greg, built?

BJ

[Frank R]

Santa drives a 68 GTO. That's how he delivers everything in one night.

[CraigGT37]

Talking with my dad about my granddad and my dads racing, he brought out some pictures he has. These are from the early 60's. The girl and boy in the one picture (dated 61) are my aunt and uncle.The car was sponsered by Ray Faro Pontiac. In the color photo, my granddad is standing at rear of car, my dad is standing at steering wheel, and in front by engine is their driver. The cars are all Pontiac powered.

[CraigGT37]

A couple more from my dad. These are dated sept 1st 1959. This car had a 288 c.i chevy.