Cool Assembly Line Photos

[Mr. Chevy]

I recently picked up an old Chevrolet book and it had pictures in it of the assembly lines and workers back in 1969. These photos show a 69 Impala being put together.. The first photograph is a neat dealership showroom photo from a dealership called "City Chevrolet" If you look close you can see the old accessory racks.

Maybe some of you have seen these, I just thought I would share them. It is interesting to see just how much "hands on" building there was of these cars and not all the automated assembly like today...

If anyone has any other old dealer showroom or assembly line photos to post please feel free to do so..

Rich http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

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[Rixls6]

Cool pics.
Can you enlarge the one pic of the raw bodies at Fischer Body?

[Postsedan]

I owned a Dusk Blue, White V-Top 1969 327 Impala. Great pics!

Dan.

[Mr. Chevy]

[ QUOTE ]
Cool pics.
Can you enlarge the one pic of the raw bodies at Fischer Body?

[/ QUOTE ]

Here ya go....

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj37/RICHRUTT/Picture2536.jpg

[Keith Tedford]

I picked up one of those books about five years ago. There are also some neat aerial shots of the different GM plants. There is a nice, short history from 1911 to 1969, which just happens to be the year of our Chevelle. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Salvatore]

Whats the name of the book? Great pictures! Thanks, Sam

[Mr. Chevy]

Sam, the book is titled "The Chevrolet Story" 1911-1969 it has a picture of a blue 69 Impala on the cover with a woman leaning on the left front fender.. Really neat book about the history of Chevrolet, the plants, CEOs etc.... It's an old book, not something you could pick up at the store. They pop up on e-bay from time to time.. It's small, maybe about the size of an owner's booklet/manual for a car..

Rich

[mockingbird812]

I've got one of those too. Cool other stuff as I recall. Some cool aerial shots of the various plants.

[Mr70]

Those were put out every year for the stockholders.
The newer ones reflected what all the previous years did,
but added the new year sales pics and text on the assembly process as well.
1965-66-67-68-69-70-71-72 etc.
They're great reads..
I have that Football themed SuperSport raffle display shown near the 1/4 panel on that camaro.

[Salvatore]

Just bought one on Ebay 1911-1970. $5.00 Thanks for the tip Rich.http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[Postsedan]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Cool pics.
Can you enlarge the one pic of the raw bodies at Fischer Body?

[/ QUOTE ]

Here ya go....

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj37/RICHRUTT/Picture2536.jpg

[/ QUOTE ]

Rick,

Just as you and I suspected, A Post Sedan. Perhaps it was slated to be an L72 Post Sedan. Nice! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

Dan.

[BJCHEV396]

GREAT PICS!THANKS!

[bkhpah]

Man I love that action Mr. Chevy...When you and BIG comin' on down...BKH http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[hvychev]

I wonder if that was City Chevrolet on Michigan Ave. in Chicago. It looks like there is plate frames and inserts on the cars. What do they say?

[John Brown]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Cool pics.
Can you enlarge the one pic of the raw bodies at Fischer Body?

[/ QUOTE ]

Here ya go....

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj37/RICHRUTT/Picture2536.jpg

[/ QUOTE ]

Rick,

Just as you and I suspected, A Post Sedan. Perhaps it was slated to be an L72 Post Sedan. Nice! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

Dan.

[/ QUOTE ]

Nah.... probably destined to be the yellow 255 horsepower 350 car that Dave Boertman raced. http://bestsmileys.com/lol/4.gif

[427TJ]

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[/ QUOTE ]

Love that "Popeye Doyle" hat.

[Mr. Chevy]

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Man I love that action Mr. Chevy...When you and BIG comin' on down...BKH http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Brian, don't know Big and I have not talked about it yet, hopefully soon.. He might be sore at me because I am routing for the Steelers Sunday!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif

Rich

[COPO 70 RS/Z28]

Heres some from the 67 book...........

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Looks like maybe the same guy working on the blocks!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

Spray guy with no mask
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[Keith Tedford]

They even have a little section on Chevy's first V8 engine from about 1918.

[Mr70]

Buy all these sequential year books guys.
I highly recommend them,and they almost turn into picture flip books towards the end.

[Keith Tedford]

See the guy grinding the roof lead joint. I did that job for six months in 1971 while on lay off from tooling. It sure made me appreciate my job. You no sooner had one done and the next one was coming into the tunnel.

[m22mike]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Man I love that action Mr. Chevy...When you and BIG comin' on down...BKH http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Brian, don't know Big and I have not talked about it yet, hopefully soon.. He might be sore at me because I am routing for the Steelers Sunday!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif

Rich

[/ QUOTE ]

No kidding he should be P..O'ed at you...But I won't hold it against you Rich http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
By the way...where the heck is BIG http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

Go Stiller's..Yuk..can't believe I said that http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif
Mike http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[bergy]

Thanks for the post Rich. I co-opt (GMI) out of the St. Louis Assy plant back then. As students, we had to work nearly every job on the lines on the Chevrolet side of the plant (also Corvette). If one of you guys has a Corvette with cross threaded body bolts - it was probably me - sorry!

[Allen]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks for the post Rich. I co-opt (GMI) out of the St. Louis Assy plant back then. As students, we had to work nearly every job on the lines on the Chevrolet side of the plant (also Corvette). If one of you guys has a Corvette with cross threaded body bolts - it was probably me - sorry!

[/ QUOTE ]

Cool! I graduated from GMI in '93. BSME.

[427TJ]

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[/ QUOTE ]

Great photo. I guess I'll have to get my NOS PO1 covers out and put them on my '67.

[Donutblue]

I noticed that grinding on the lead roof joint right away. Today OSHA would have a field day -- That airborne lead has to be just as bad as asbestos. Look at the guy spraying the clear coat also, no mask -- wow. Makes you wonder how their health is today. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

[Keith Tedford]

In the lead booth, air was fed to the helmet but lead dust still got in around the arm openings and you could see it on your skin by the end of the day. You wouldn't go home without showering first. The paint booths were down draft so most of the over spray was sucked away. The painters weren't covered with paint as we were with lead. They still had to be breathing a lot of bad stuff. It was common knowledge/myth that the average retiree lived 2 1/2 years. So much for the big pensions if this were actually true. The guys in the bodyshop probably breathed more dirt than anyone. The sparks form the spot weld guns turn to dust when cooled and create a haze in the air.

[bergy]

How about the poor final repair guys! Leading in minor body bumps all day in the repair area with no ventillation. The plant was clean enough - we just weren't aware of the dangers back then.

[The Dude]

Lansing Mi Olds Plant circa 64-65

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Fremont Ca plant

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[Keith Tedford]

When I started my apprenticeship in Oshawa, I walked into a stamping plant of presses like the Danly shown above. There were Brown & Boggs, Verson and others. Pretty intimidating to a kid right off the farm. A hood draw die weighed 30-34 tons. After a while you get used to the cranes moving them around and don't think twice about the size of the stuff that you are working with. I guess ships and skyscrapers make this stuff look pretty small, but it was pretty big at the time for this kid. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif Most of the methods seen in these pictures were used into the '80s when AGVs and robots really started to take over and change the way cars were being built. When I left the truck plant robots were even installing valve stems in the rims. Neat pictures.