when the older cars were made at the factory...
January 26th, 2009, 03:59 AM
#1
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when the older cars were made at the factory...
I was wondering if anyone knew the answer to this...
In the 50s, 60s, and 70s, were there Oldsmobile only factories, Buick only factories, and Pontiac only factories, etc.?
I know by the 80s, GM would produce one car line at a factory, then put the appropriate front and rear on, then the appropriate trim and badges for a particular make.
But I was thinking that until at least 1977, each division had its own engines, and so many other things on the cars were particular to a division. So, it occurred to me that at one point, they produced F-85s in one plant, Pontiac Tempests in another, and Buick Specials on yet another- even though they are so similar to one another, yet with their own differences.
For example it is interesting to me how the 61-63 Special and F-85 in fact shared the engine block made by Buick, but then Oldsmobile put their own cylinder heads on it, just to be different from Buick.
So is this in fact how it was before the mid 70s, with factories dedicated to certain brands? And if so, around what year did GM change over to making entire carlines in one factory, and just put the badges and trim on at the end?
It would seem complicated to me if, before the mid 70s, they produced a carline in a factory, but then went and got an Oldsmobile engine and put it in an Olds, and the next car was a Pontiac so they went and got a Pontiac engine, etc.
In the 50s, 60s, and 70s, were there Oldsmobile only factories, Buick only factories, and Pontiac only factories, etc.?
I know by the 80s, GM would produce one car line at a factory, then put the appropriate front and rear on, then the appropriate trim and badges for a particular make.
But I was thinking that until at least 1977, each division had its own engines, and so many other things on the cars were particular to a division. So, it occurred to me that at one point, they produced F-85s in one plant, Pontiac Tempests in another, and Buick Specials on yet another- even though they are so similar to one another, yet with their own differences.
For example it is interesting to me how the 61-63 Special and F-85 in fact shared the engine block made by Buick, but then Oldsmobile put their own cylinder heads on it, just to be different from Buick.
So is this in fact how it was before the mid 70s, with factories dedicated to certain brands? And if so, around what year did GM change over to making entire carlines in one factory, and just put the badges and trim on at the end?
It would seem complicated to me if, before the mid 70s, they produced a carline in a factory, but then went and got an Oldsmobile engine and put it in an Olds, and the next car was a Pontiac so they went and got a Pontiac engine, etc.
January 26th, 2009, 04:30 AM
#2
Old(s) Fart
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 47,311
I was wondering if anyone knew the answer to this...
In the 50s, 60s, and 70s, were there Oldsmobile only factories, Buick only factories, and Pontiac only factories, etc.?
I know by the 80s, GM would produce one car line at a factory, then put the appropriate front and rear on, then the appropriate trim and badges for a particular make.
But I was thinking that until at least 1977, each division had its own engines, and so many other things on the cars were particular to a division. So, it occurred to me that at one point, they produced F-85s in one plant, Pontiac Tempests in another, and Buick Specials on yet another- even though they are so similar to one another, yet with their own differences.
For example it is interesting to me how the 61-63 Special and F-85 in fact shared the engine block made by Buick, but then Oldsmobile put their own cylinder heads on it, just to be different from Buick.
So is this in fact how it was before the mid 70s, with factories dedicated to certain brands? And if so, around what year did GM change over to making entire carlines in one factory, and just put the badges and trim on at the end?
It would seem complicated to me if, before the mid 70s, they produced a carline in a factory, but then went and got an Oldsmobile engine and put it in an Olds, and the next car was a Pontiac so they went and got a Pontiac engine, etc.
In the 50s, 60s, and 70s, were there Oldsmobile only factories, Buick only factories, and Pontiac only factories, etc.?
I know by the 80s, GM would produce one car line at a factory, then put the appropriate front and rear on, then the appropriate trim and badges for a particular make.
But I was thinking that until at least 1977, each division had its own engines, and so many other things on the cars were particular to a division. So, it occurred to me that at one point, they produced F-85s in one plant, Pontiac Tempests in another, and Buick Specials on yet another- even though they are so similar to one another, yet with their own differences.
For example it is interesting to me how the 61-63 Special and F-85 in fact shared the engine block made by Buick, but then Oldsmobile put their own cylinder heads on it, just to be different from Buick.
So is this in fact how it was before the mid 70s, with factories dedicated to certain brands? And if so, around what year did GM change over to making entire carlines in one factory, and just put the badges and trim on at the end?
It would seem complicated to me if, before the mid 70s, they produced a carline in a factory, but then went and got an Oldsmobile engine and put it in an Olds, and the next car was a Pontiac so they went and got a Pontiac engine, etc.
There were some exceptions, notably the "home" factory.
January 26th, 2009, 11:04 AM
#4
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Interesting.
We had an 81 Buick Century that was built in Framingham, Mass.
I guess they had to be careful then to keep all the interior trim choices separate. They would have had to have had Buick and Olds interior choices all over the place and had to pick the right stuff for the right car.
It seems surprising to me that they were able to keep as many of the brand differences as they did for so long if they were made at the same place.
We had an 81 Buick Century that was built in Framingham, Mass.
I guess they had to be careful then to keep all the interior trim choices separate. They would have had to have had Buick and Olds interior choices all over the place and had to pick the right stuff for the right car.
It seems surprising to me that they were able to keep as many of the brand differences as they did for so long if they were made at the same place.
January 26th, 2009, 12:24 PM
#5
Old(s) Fart
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 47,311
Interesting.
We had an 81 Buick Century that was built in Framingham, Mass.
I guess they had to be careful then to keep all the interior trim choices separate. They would have had to have had Buick and Olds interior choices all over the place and had to pick the right stuff for the right car.
It seems surprising to me that they were able to keep as many of the brand differences as they did for so long if they were made at the same place.
We had an 81 Buick Century that was built in Framingham, Mass.
I guess they had to be careful then to keep all the interior trim choices separate. They would have had to have had Buick and Olds interior choices all over the place and had to pick the right stuff for the right car.
It seems surprising to me that they were able to keep as many of the brand differences as they did for so long if they were made at the same place.
August 29th, 2010, 06:59 PM
#6
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Unless I misunderstood the question Oldsmobiles would have to be built in separate factory's at some point.Because they were separate company's before GM was formed.I'm sure they wouldn't close factorys the min. GM was formed.Some time ago Muscle Machines Magazine(I think)had a story about the forming of GM.I'll try to find out just witch one when I get a chance.
August 29th, 2010, 07:06 PM
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Unless I misunderstood the question Oldsmobiles would have to be built in separate factory's at some point.Because they were separate company's before GM was formed.I'm sure they wouldn't close factorys the min. GM was formed.Some time ago Muscle Machines Magazine(I think)had a story about the forming of GM.I'll try to find out just witch one when I get a chance.
Here is the early history of G.M.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History...#Early_history
August 29th, 2010, 07:16 PM
#9
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August 29th, 2010, 07:41 PM
#10
Oldsdruid
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That Fremont tour is one of the most interesting and fascinating things I've seen.
The "home" plants usually built only one carline; i.e. Olds at Lansing, Buick at Flint, Chevrolet at Flint, Pontiac at (where else?) Pontiac. I'm pretty sure all Cadillac were built in Detroit until the 70s "divestiture", then a few were built in other plants.
The "satellite" plants such as Framingham and Doraville were usually set up for multiple carlines.
Can you imagine trying to keep all those cars straight and get the right pieces on each one? The F-body plants didn't do such a good job by the 80s- I ordered a new 84 TransAM that came in with a Camaro right fender. Wouldn't accept it.
The "home" plants usually built only one carline; i.e. Olds at Lansing, Buick at Flint, Chevrolet at Flint, Pontiac at (where else?) Pontiac. I'm pretty sure all Cadillac were built in Detroit until the 70s "divestiture", then a few were built in other plants.
The "satellite" plants such as Framingham and Doraville were usually set up for multiple carlines.
Can you imagine trying to keep all those cars straight and get the right pieces on each one? The F-body plants didn't do such a good job by the 80s- I ordered a new 84 TransAM that came in with a Camaro right fender. Wouldn't accept it.
August 29th, 2010, 08:25 PM
#12
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Location: Mansfield, Ma
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Being in Mass I love seeing those made in Framingham stickers. Someday I'd like to own a car that was made in my home state. Odds are slim though since cars made in that plant didn't last long in this area (rust)
August 29th, 2010, 08:38 PM
#13
Oldsdruid
Join Date: Dec 2007
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Heh- the pic didn't fully load the first time- check it out, all four Divisions in the picture! and looks like a flat-top wagon waiting for the dyno behind the Skylark and Chevelle.
I bet those guys had the best job in the plant!
I bet those guys had the best job in the plant!
August 31st, 2010, 02:14 PM
#16
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If I read My442's post correctly, while one assembly line at the Framingham plant built many GM makes, they were only A-body cars. Is that correct? That would make a lot more sense than trying to build ALL makes AND models.
For what it's worth, around 1970 the Lansing plant was cranking out ~98 cars per hour, and their quality was the highest of any GM plant.
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