I may have missed a great car show today but..

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

I may have missed a great car show today but..

CDN2PLS2 · Uber Guru

That's good ****!

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

VEY GOOD INDEED ask him about the crossed flags on the 396 strato chiefs..lol

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

Those two cars truly were "still in the crate"! Amazing. I would think cost would be a big factor too, but I can sure see durability being an issue.

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

He also told me about the exorbitant costs Flint would charge Oshawa for "special tools". He remembers one special tool cost $3500 (a LOT of money in the 60's). When it arrived it was just a pair of vice grips with a dimpling piece welded to the jaws! He said they did this to get GM Canada money back to the U.S! He said he could never understand why GM would radically change their designs every two-three years back in the 50's and early 60's. He said they'd just get the bugs out of the design and all that special tooling would be tossed to scrap and they'd have to start all over again. He said they finally started to carry over key components a few years before he retired. I really enjoyed talking to this fella tonight. He's 84 and remembers past events like they were yesterday.

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

My in-laws 60th is in a couple of weeks. If only I can be so fortunate to have a day like you've had...

Astro Jet · Poncho Master!

69Laurentian wrote:

He also told me about the exorbitant costs Flint would charge Oshawa for "special tools". He remembers one special tool cost $3500 (a LOT of money in the 60's). When it arrived it was just a pair of vice grips with a dimpling piece welded to the jaws! He said they did this to get GM Canada money back to the U.S! He said he could never understand why GM would radically change their designs every two-three years back in the 50's and early 60's. He said they'd just get the bugs out of the design and all that special tooling would be tossed to scrap and they'd have to start all over again. He said they finally started to carry over key components a few years before he retired. I really enjoyed talking to this fella tonight. He's 84 and remembers past events like they were yesterday.

This may be pushing things a little but do you think he might be interested in being a speaker if we were to have a club get-together? "Speaker" may sound too formal but I was thinking if we could put together an informal function where we could just talk to this fellow, that would be just great! Something to consider anyway. smile

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

I could run it by him the next time I talk to him. I tried to get some information on Beaumont and Acadians but most of his knowledge was based on the actual tooling of the line. I'm sure with some help (photos etc) it would refresh his memory when it comes to specific models. He assured me he was going to check to see what memorabilia he had at home. I was trying hard not to be too pushy . I have his email address. I'll see if I can get him to come onto the board. It would be great to have him on here.
Todd

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

When I think about how we treat our seniors some times, I'm ashamed. Guys like him are so important to our hobby.

I have attended a couple of POCI conventions where Jim Wangers spoke. That man is 80 now and the stuff he has to share is fascinating.

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

Speaking of Wangers, his book "Glory Days" is a MUST READ

68 327 4spd · Poncho Master!

VERY COOL!!

Astro Jet · Poncho Master!

Carl Stevenson wrote:

I have attended a couple of POCI conventions where Jim Wangers spoke. That man is 80 now and the stuff he has to share is fascinating.

John Sawruck is great too, especially with his stories of how they used to do durability testing. wink

I have a tape of the one time John DeLorean attended a POCI convention and spoke, that is really something. This guy was a maverick, a brilliant engineer and a marketing guru as well. His ideas that transformed Pontiac were legendary including of course the grrrrreatest one, where they created the GTO and he came up with the idea of offering the package as an "option" to get around the GM mandated restriction of not having models that had less than 10 pounds per horsepower to pull around. The Banshee he created would have killed the Corvette, that is why the corporation forced him to kill it so the mighty Chevrolet division wouldn't be embarassed. He was also way ahead of his time coming up with the OHC six and marketing it big time while every one else was pushing only V8's.

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

I was scheduled to go to that convention (I think it was Denver, 97 right?) and we had a major flood here that lasted about 5 weeks. That kind of took care of me going. My wife said to buy a plane ticket and fly out. I knew it was likely my one shot at meeting John Delorean and was very sad that I just couldn't do it. One of those regrets I will carry with me for a long time.

I have a plaque hanging on the wall for "Most Interesting Post War Pontiac" from Greensboro in 1986. John Sawruk presented it to me from PMD. I almost fell out of my chair when he called my name! I don't think I stopped grinning for about a month!!!

His presentations at various conventions I've attended have always been a highlight. He is a TRUE Pontiac enthusiast.

I got to see a real Banshee a couple of years ago at POCI in Minnesota. Agreed, it would have killed the Vette. Can you imagine the engine transplants that would have taken place in those cars when the general public got ahold of them???

455gto · Poncho Master!

Carl Stevenson wrote:

I have attended a couple of POCI conventions where Jim Wangers spoke. That man is 80 now and the stuff he has to share is fascinating.

I was just at a car show in Oregon.I got to speak with him for about 15min.It was the highlight of the show for me.
I've seen him at previous shows were he is walking around.This time he sat in a chair selling his books for the whole show.I guess father time is catching up with him
We talked about the Oshawa plant.He remembered how the first big Pontiac's were all Chevy underneath and then got into the future with the new Camaro.The same car from the Transformer movie.Asking if the rumor I heard about that.Would this be Pontiac's new GTO?He just smiled and said anything is possible, the grills are interchangeable.