[fiedlerh]

I finally scanned an posted the GM VIN book to my website. It covers 1972-1987.
Doesn't exactly say what was built where, but it's good basic reference.

www.pontiacpower.org/gmvin.htm

Be patient. The pdf files are around 4MB and some are still hard to read due to the printing quality of the original booklet.

[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

[Aus Goat]

Can anyone tell me the exact address for the P plant in Joslyn Ave Michigan. I am trying to get the exact latitude and longtitude for a project of mine

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by Aus Goat

Can anyone tell me the exact address for the P plant in Joslyn Ave Michigan. I am trying to get the exact latitude and longtitude for a project of mine

It's bounded by Baldwin Road on the west; Joslyn Ave on the east; Montcalm to the south and Columbia to the north.

The GM Powertrain Building (formerly Pontiac Engineering Building) is officially at 823 Joslyn Ave, Pontiac Michigan 48340-2925

K


(Map courtesy of Eric White's "Made in Pontiac" series)

[Aus Goat]

Thanks for your help, it's much appeciated

['ol Pinion head]

For 1971 model, Pontiac A-bodys were built out of following asm plants:

Pontiac (P)
Fremont (Z)
Lakewood (A)
Framingham (G)
Oshawa (1)

The charts shown on Page 1 of this thread list Arlington & Baltimore as 1971 Pontiac A-body plants. 1970 models were the last model year Pontiac A-bodys were built out of both plants.

[Keith Seymore]

Eric -

Looking for confirmation: The official VIN card for 1972 trucks

http://service.gm.com/dealerworld/vi.../vincard72.pdf (page 2)

does not show Kansas City, Los Angeles (Van Nuys), St Louis or Fremont as truck producing plants.

Your charts in the original post show these plants as producing trucks.

I know I supported St Louis after I started in 1979, so it was a truck plant at some point (not sure when they started).

I also know that Fremont produced the '67-'72 style trucks (at some point) so not sure why it would not be on the VIN card.

K

PS - I suppose I should mention that is the link for the official VIN decode cards. It is fairly complete (passenger car and truck) from 1972 to present, and select versions from 1960 - '71.

We carried laminated versions of these cards in our pockets (along with our pocket protectors) as a reference in the assembly plant.

http://service.gm.com/dealerworld/vincards

['ol Pinion head]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Eric -

Looking for confirmation: The official VIN card for 1972 trucks

http://service.gm.com/dealerworld/vi.../vincard72.pdf (page 2)

does not show Kansas City, Los Angeles (Van Nuys), St Louis or Fremont as truck producing plants.

Your charts in the original post show these plants as producing trucks.

I know I supported St Louis after I started in 1979, so it was a truck plant at some point (not sure when they started).

I also know that Fremont produced the '67-'72 style trucks (at some point) so not sure why it would not be on the VIN card.

K...

Keith,
Fremont shifted capacity for '72 Pontiac A-body builds in '72. As result, not nearly as many Pontiac A-bodys were built out of Fremont in '72. This seems to have been part of a move to build more ElCaminos & GMC Sprints out of Fremont during '72 model year. Don't believe those were considered trucks. Will start noting VIN's on '67-72 C10 pickups as am yarding, still see a ton of them..

[Alvin]

Check this out http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=744652