FISHER BODY "THE BODYBUILDERS" GENERAL MOTORS 1970s AUTO ASSEMBLY LINE FILM 44164

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The Bodybuilders is a color documentary filmed by Fisher Body between 1970 and 1972. Fisher Body was an automobile coachbuilder founded by the Fisher brothers in 1908, in Detroit, Michigan, and was dissolved in 1984 to be blended into General Motors. This film looks at the engineering and manufacturing needed to produce car bodies and their assembly.
The film opens showing industrial metal stamping machinery, presses, and sewing machines all doing their work making automobile parts that are to be assembled into Chevrolet Monte Carlos (0:08-2:00). The Bodybuilders begin with product engineers who produce the concepts and ways of accomplishing those concepts (2:19-3:41). Computer printer (3:42-3:45). Engineers study new concepts and their cost (3:47-4:32). Stylists put those ideas on paper (4:33-5:23). A Monte Carlo by Chevrolet assembled in 6 manufacturing plants from 1970-1972 (5:24-5:51). They then focus on the comfort factor of roof, seats, seating space (5:52-6:13). When all this is done final approval of the styling concept is given (6:13-6:26). The design is then modeled in clay (6:27-6:48). Electronic system called an electronic surface recorder is used to put clay dimensions into engineering drawings (6:52-7:12). Photogrammetry is used to determine moldings and glass openings (7:13-7:23). Drawings are then transferred to a Honeywell series 200 computers which is called digitizing (7:35-7:45), puts dimensions on Punched tape (7:46-7:47), transferred to magnetic tape (7:49-7:50), and then to storage disks (7:51-7:52). The Product Engineers use the computer information (7:53-8:23). A computer main frame system (8:24-8:39). Machines are controlled by this computer information (8:44-9:27). View of engineers doing draftsman drawings (9:28-9:43). Dies are used to stamp out metal parts (10:01-10:07). Inca, a development of the General Motors manufacturing development organization, helps make the dies (10:08-10:42). Test bodies are created and tested (10:43-12:13). Road testing the prototype at the Proving Grounds (12:14-12:54). Testing integrity and design (12:55-13:23). Tools and dies for making the prototype are designed and checked (13:24-13:50). Computer storage unit with printer (13:56-14:01). Rolls of aluminum and steel alloys being run through large presses making parts (14:03-14:54). Upholstery sewing machines at work on the interior needs (15:12-16:31). Automobile hardware and parts (16:32-16:54). Presses making the hardware (16:55-17:36). Parts ready to be assembled (18:31-18:32). Car parts being assembled (18:33-19:06). Tack welding (19:07-19:13). 6 axes manipulators (19:22-19:38). Welding robotic machines (19:39-19:48). Smoothing and finishing welding (19:49-19:58). Assembling parts (19:59-20:30). Bonderite coating, a liquid chemical used to produce a protective coating on aluminum and aluminum alloys (20:31-20:45). Priming the car with robotic arms (20:48-21:00). Painting the car with robotic arms (21:01-21:19). Rear Seats being put in (21:37-21:48). Vinyl top being put on (21:49-22:00). Windshield put in place (22:01-22:06). 1970-1972 Chevrolet Monte Carlo moving through the assembly line (22:17-22:21). The water tunnel (22:22-22:36). Front seat put in (22:53-22:58). Released to the car division, the body building is complete (23:04-23:30). The body is placed on the frame and engine (23:44-24:19). The Monte Carlo rolls off the assembly line (24:41-24:45).
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k. For more information visit www.PeriscopeFilm.com

[@user-sl1th1ok1f]

Thanks!

[@PeriscopeFilm]

Thanks so much for this gift, it will help us preserve and present more rare and endangered films. Visit us on Patreon.com/PeriscopeFilm

[@eh007]

That's my grandpa at 9:09! He escaped a Serbian concentration camp (on the third try) when he was just a boy and eventually made it to the U.S. where he worked hard, met my grandmother and together they raised a beautiful family. Truly a legend. He passed away over ten years ago and we miss him every day. It's always a good reminder that everyone has a story. We are more alike than different. And it's important to learn from the past, treat one another with love and compassion. Just thought I'd share in tribute to the legend....HML - we love you (triple) always and forever, xxo.

[@Learningmane]

RIP Legend

[@bradleymadosh3596]

Had to fast forward to see him lol. Thanks for sharing that with us. Sorry to hear he passed away.

[@johnkennedy3663]

Amazing that he has been immortalized in this film! Great story - thanks for sharing.

[@gato6100]

thats what makes this country great, we all come from poor ilegal immigrants seeking a second chance and prove ourselves

[@eh007]

@@gato6100 Yes! It's so important to remember that we are all brothers and sisters. No one chooses to leave everything behind and risk their life unless facing certain misery/death. The world could use a lot more compassion. I guess that is up to each one of us individually in all of our daily interactions.

[@digidrum2003]

I remember getting into cars back in the 70's and always looking down at the door sill that had the body by fisher with the blue carriage car stamped into it.

[@josephgaviota]

I remember that too. 😀

[@tomcarpenter700]

@@josephgaviota Right there on the threshold, Aluminum strip,,, Or chrome,

[@donlove3741]

Only GM cars. Fisher was a. Coach builder GM bought back in the early days. Much like Lebaron, Fisher built bodies for anyone til GM bought them. Today Ghia and Bertone are coach builders.

[@digidrum2003]

@@donlove3741 Yep....my pops was big Chevy guy back in the day....he had a Caprice,Impala,Chevelle,Nova and others...

[@jamesbehrje4279]

I remeber seeing that on my dad's 79 Pontiac Lemans. He bought the car when i was 4 and sold it around 1987 when the transmission went on it. He bought a 85 ford LTD wagon that was a fleet vehicle for the cable company he worked for. Such a small little seemingly insignificant emblem rekindles happy memories for me.

[@drummingbyhyneklettang7484]

For 30 minutes I felt like I was in America again. My father worked in Fisher Body Plant 37 in Detroit. Thank you for posting this video.

[@packingten]

Dad worked @ Chevy body in Indianapolis after he got out of Navy WW 2. Now if you say ANYTHING about America you'll offend someone😡😡🐷🐷

[@irishkeif7791]

BODY BY FISHER. Who remembers seeing this as a kid?

[@arthurmchugh5184]

Saw it allll the time!! I worked at Fischer body in flint in 73 🤣🤣🤣

[@pcno2832]

The Fleetwood and Eldorado had "BODY BY FLEETWOOD" badges on the door thresholds, even though I believe the cars were sometimes built on the same lines with body-by-Fisher Devilles and Toronados, respectively. Must have been more of a tradition than anything else; the Fleetwood coachbuilding operation dates back to Penworthham, England, before it moved to Pennsylvania and was eventually acquired by GM.

[@lovejago]

See it every weekend as i jump into my 1970 Camaro !!!!!! lol

[@TheHsan22]

lovejago - I see similar when I jump into my ‘67 Firebird ‘vert

[@jayelbee1111]

My dad worked at Electro-Motive Division for thirty years. When I was a kid, he used to bring home GM car brochures to me and my older brother often. He had a 1972 Chevrolet Caprice, and he would open the door and I remember seeing the "Body by Fisher" in the body door panel. He would open the hood and I see other labels on the parts in the engine compartment from other GM divisions like Rochester, Frigidaire, Harrison, Saginaw, AC, and Delco.

[@prn24]

My Dad worked at the Fisher Body plant in Lagrange Illinois. Tool and die and he worked 35 yrs till they closed it. He never missed a day and was a very proud UAW Member. Union benefits made his retirement years comfortable.

[@Alien_DNA_]

I never knew they used to have a plant in Lagrange. I'm 31 and worked in Brookfield as a teen. Do you remember where they were located?

[@prn24]

@@Alien_DNA_ UPS purchased the factory in the 80s or 90s? It's on LaGrange Road..not sure of the exact address.

[@darrenwozniak4364]

As an auto restoration guy, it's cool to see the same cars that I bring back to life being born. Very Cool!

I hear that, over the years i've found a few things nestled in wire harnesses like notes and so and so was here behind panels after I drill out all the spot welds!! Cool stuff indeed

[@georgemartin1436]

Seeing that peg-board with all those new interior parts on it...gosh I'd like to have those parts..

[@deankay4434]

In the 70’s our high school did not have an automotive shop class, but design/drafting. We had a field trip 60+ miles to Kansas City to an Oldsmobile assembly plant. Like this video shows, the chassis was mated to the body as we viewed from a cat-walk, high above the floor. I never knew the body was made & painted there or somewhere else, but one difference we’re seats handled by pneumatics lifters came out of no where to be installed with the correct color. It was something I never forgot as at the end of the line, a small amount of fuel and check of all systems got an “OK” and the A/C was charged last If everything passes, it went into a parking lot. Those that had problems where attack by a team of techs who changed based upon the problem. Once fixed, tested again, ran then sent to the lot. Years later, working at a dealer, a body shop tech would spray a liquid and rub the body with a clay. I asked, they said railroad cars kicked up metal dust and stuck to the paint. This removed it, made it smooth and shiny. Great memories from over 40+ years ago. Great film regardless. ASE Master Tech since 78, Retired

[@styldsteel1]

Did you find the build sheets the dealers sent to the manufacturers? if you did, did you give them back to the owners? I"m not being funny or obnoxious in any way. These types of things are one offs and just seeing the owner's reactions must be really cool.

[@deankay4434]

@styldsteel. We found the build sheets under the rear seat in used cars. Depending on what year, the custom picked what they wanted. The truck and back seat where good places to find various firearms. The build sheet on trucks was on the bottom of the seat, usually rolled up at stuck between the springs and burlap under the foam. I found my 67 C10 in the same location.

[@tommyvictorbuch6960]

50 years ago, and still impressive craftmanship.

[@melrose9252]

They were not that good. Just saying.

[@og-greenmachine8623]

Drive my 72 Chevrolet every day

[@ryanthompson2893]

@@melrose9252 and you think these new cars are better? My new crv has all kinds of rattles and squeaks. That’s the last time I buy an Asian car… my 58 imperial still runs great with no rattles or squeaks.

[@ednorton47]

@@ryanthompson2893 That is rare for a Honda to have rattles and squeaks.

[@blueblade455]

The biggest flaw we all know is that these cars and even new ones are the rust problems. Such a shame since these cars are some of the most beautiful vehicles ever made, especially comparing them to these lame look alike modern cars.

[@misterericsir]

Watching that 18 guage steel body being built and painted is why I own a 1966 Corvair with original paint. While the new high strength steel on my wife's 2016 Nissan Rouge is covering in dings from hail and acorns (22 guage steel!) and the clear coat on the 2003 Ford Focus I own peels away, the Corvair sits in the same driveway with a ding free Body By Fisher with beautiful glossy original paint!!!

[@Look_What_You_Did]

You are so full of shit.

[@kirksmith347]

To put things into perspective, this generation of engineers made the Saturn V rocket engine. A feat that today's engineers cant do, even with the blueprints. Tactile mechanical skill is a lost art.

[@kennethkemerer5381]

They never went to the moon but that huge middle did went so high but crashed in the ocean.

[@spannaspinna]

Operation paperclip

[@Ttdogi]

How does it feel to be more disinformed than the soviets, who saw and congratulated Americans on reaching the moon, it was also reported in the news(but was downplayed because of their own failure of their own luna 15 crash) and was even shown on television(those who had it could see it). If you think that the USSR the enemy of USA, would not jump on the propaganda campaign to ridicule and dismiss usa claims on the moon landing then you're by all accounts an ineffectual privileged effete soft pen*sed deputant moron and a Дурак. Even then if you don't believe the soviets then you could just point a laser at the place where the Americans left a reflective panel to measure the distance between earth and the moon and get back the reflection of the laser, though that would mean that you need an accurate, powerful laser and receiver and that would set you back an amount that you would not see even if you sold your 20 000 dollar shack that you live alone in

[@fistteam]

📎 Couldn’t make it past the Van Allen Belt!! 🚫👨‍🚀 🌕

[@oniondeluxe9942]

Today, the world is run by bean counters and wokeists

[@dizzle123able]

I love seeing these old films. I love old cars so this just put me in heaven for a half hour 😂💯 please upload more!!

[@PeriscopeFilm]

Two more per day on KZbin until we run out sometime in 2030!

[@dizzle123able]

Loloool that sounds fantastic!!

[@cassidybb10]

@@PeriscopeFilm outstanding! Does the PF # _ _ _ _ _ signify the number of periscope films?

[@boostismagic]

@@PeriscopeFilm Figure out some other anti-piracy measures and leave off the taxi meter, please? It really lessens the experience, in my experience, anyway.

[@doobydootoo]

No it doesn't. I think you just like to moan​@boostismagic

[@bones007able]

Hey I remember these people.... they were part of the middle class .... the ones that drove the economy .... those days are gone..

[@toshiojohnston3732]

Yes they are gone and a part of America never to return.

[@Raw_Dawgs6409]

My grandfather worked at the Clark St Plant building Cadillacs from 1955 until he retired in 1985, just before it was shuttered. I wish I knew more about he did while he worked there. As a Mechanical Designer in automotive, I'm blown away discovering the computer drafting and CMM technology at their disposal. I had no idea it was that advanced back then. Truly incredible.

[@jessihawkins9116]

i thot they mades them out of wood back then 😲

[@peterparker9286]

Think about this. Caduses the double serpent... CAD Computer Animated Drafting. The Con Putter has been here Since the start of Our Reality.

[@alanwood5857]

Early '70's Monte's are sweet! Front clip doesn't go on until nearly the end.

[@gmpullman]

- and the paint probably doesn't match the rest of the body ;-)

[@803mastiff9]

I found that very odd. Wonder how the paint and texture matched.

[@jamespn]

Body was made at a Fischer Body plant and shipped to a final assembly plant where the frame, power train and front end clip were installed. Yes, the paint would be slightly different on the hood and fenders than the rest of the body.

[@mikesonneson2824]

@@jamespn 63 Oldsmobiles.....body over the years maintained color....fenders and hood faded fast....I've had several since the late 70's all exhibit this wonderous feature.

[@mikestoolfun]

LOVE Monte Carlos up to 1988.

[@solemandd67]

I'm a classic car man. Over 40 classics since was 19. Almost 59 y/o now. Wanting a '67 Riviera as my last car. This is so exciting to watch. Thank you for posting it. ❤️🚗

[@kl0wnkiller912]

My great uncle did the job at 20:07... My Grandfather worked at Buick all his life and his father was chief Chassis Engineer and helped Buick develop their first car. He also invented the floor mounted dimmer switch pedal.

[@IntrepidJose]

Wow only old folks like me remember the highbeam switch on the floor.

[@juliogonzo2718]

@@IntrepidJose it was used in some heavy trucks into the 80s and maybe 90s. I'm pretty sure we had a 90s ford Louisville like that at work.

[@jaymes1]

What a awesome job, the dimmer switch was a great idea

[@eh007]

So cool!!

[@fluke8928]

That’s my job now! Metal team

[@MrLarryDallas45]

As a classic car guy myself, I LOVE seeing how some of the cars that I love NOW, were built back then. Awesome!

[@Kift1991]

I didn't realize that they had that kind of high tech automation in 1970, Very awesome to see the work that goes into building a car.

[@jllrue]

People like you are the problem! Totally CLUELESS!

[@thewiseguy3529]

It's ALL been around since the late 30's. Only a little has changed.

[@toshiojohnston3732]

This reminds me of all those films from school back in the 70s.

[@s_p7231]

I'd like to see the designer responsible for the 1970 Chevelle SS. A masterpiece.

[@mattmccain8492]

Interesting to actually see some of the guys that designed and built what I have restored decades afterward . Looking at this I can't help but think on how well educated these people were back then compared to people today of the same age..

[@j-rod3718]

Designed yes but built? More educated? With all due respect, robots do many of these jobs now and the actual building is a brain numbing single step movement all day

[@mattmccain8492]

@@j-rod3718 educated in the fact these guys designed and built these cars without a computer, much less a pocket calculator. Just long hand math , geometry and slide rules. All done with their minds and hands. Designing things that were never built before..totally original based on nothing but an original idea..People today can't do those things anymore. Too dependent on computers to think for them. The artistic creativity has been dulled out and not nurtured in young generations now. Designs of beauty like these are not seen or allowed ..even the use of color is practically gone in a sea of cold corporate cookie cutter vehicles all painted in neutrals of black, white and grey. Totally devoid of the human touch and soul. The overpriced junk churned out today has no appeal nor does it inspire. Pontiac once had a slogan :" we build excitement." Not anymore.

[@vladtheimpala5532]

@@mattmccain8492 Wouldn’t you really rather have a Buick? I’d like to have a 66 or 67 Riviera or a 59 Invicta or a 50 Roadmaster. See the USA in your Chevrolet. I’d love to have one of those 70 Monte Carlos they showed. I miss my 64 Impala convertible. I loved that car. She’s so fine my 409. My four speed, dual quad, posi traction 409. Today’s cars are safer, they last longer and get better gas mileage but they’re boring. Nobody’s singing about their four cylinder Kia.

[@mattmccain8492]

@@vladtheimpala5532 nahh , I'm not a Buick guy. I got too many Chevy parts in my stash..not to say those aren't neat cars ..just not hardly any left around in my area. But yeah one of the most fun cars I ever drive was a 64 Impala SS 327 4bbl 4 speed.

[@bobolulu7615]

@@mattmccain8492 the computer is only an extension of the user. Computers don't give ideas or solve problems. There are plenty of excellent designers and engineers around the world today, just as there was 50 years ago.

[@DK640OBrianYT]

I'm just SO in love with the miracle of American manufactoring from the late 1800's and 100+ years on.

[@arthurmchugh5184]

This brings me back to Flint!! My dad worked at Ternsted hardware plant on the north side and I worked on Buicks at the Fischer plant on south Saginaw st in 1973 .🍺🍺🍺🤣🤣

[@dennisclark2925]

I worked @ Fisher 1 for 15 yrs.72-87.

[@cnnw3929]

@@dennisclark2925 I might have seen you, if you were installing dashboards on Buick Grand Nationals and Oldsmobile Cutlasses in the late evenings. I would peak through any gaps in that green glass, just to see the progress while the plant was running on its last days in December of 1987. The Buick Grand National was a $40,000.00 car back then. More than double the cost of the Toyota Corolla I drive today! At the very end, I can remember those "matr'l shortage" tags on the final bodies, along with the computer monitors that recorded their progress. Those final days were sad for me, and for many others who worked at that plant.

[@oldmarine312]

My father worked at The Fisher Body plant in Hamilton, OH for 33 yrs. I have been on a bunch of tours. This brings me back....

[@arthurmchugh5184]

@@dennisclark2925 south or north unit ?? I was in the south unit building 73 regals

[@WorldFamousDJFish]

My grandfather and father worked at Turnstedt on Coldwater

[@juancarlosmora9922]

Back when America was great

[@matrox]

MAGA!

[@theeoddments960]

Ehh the best thing about fisher body is that it gave people jobs. They were often slapped together. If you tear off a ac unit in a chevelle or nova there’s gonna be runs everywhere behind it because nobody was gonna see it. Quality Stuff like that is all over fisher’s bodies.

[@matrox]

@@theeoddments960 It was driver quality as expected. Not show quality.

[@theeoddments960]

@@matrox that one was a light example. More often then not they just wouldn’t paint anything behind the seat like the dash under the rear windshield which would cause it to rust easily especially because most of the time the rear windshields would leak. Chevelles especially those are a nightmare to fix. Plus all dashboards rusted after 15 years and left a big brown spot in the corner of the front windshield. All of these things weren’t uncommon for car manufacturers back then especially compared to what Ford was doing, but still. We have much better build quality today in just plain economy cars compared to back then.

[@matrox]

@@theeoddments960 Yeh, thats true with anything as technology and build methods change. That was 50 years ago. Its like comparing a 1920 model car with a 1970 model car. Like night and day. 1920 cars were good because of the technology, build techniques , dollar per value costs etc. Same thing for 1970, same thing for today. What can you build for the best quality and sell at the price you want and stay in business? It all goes into the business model.

[@joekurtz8303]

When you opened the GM car door and see the Body by Fisher rocker on floorboard, they always had good fit & finish.

[@rickenbacker315]

My 71 El Camino definitely has it..

[@christinevangilder6245]

Body by Fisher on the kick plate was something I always looked for on old cars!

[@sh393]

My grandfather developed many of the dies 1947-1963.

[@Mynamesalexa]

He was an engineer ?

[@Minong_Manitou_Mishepeshu]

He work in Flint too?

[@dennismartin4659]

The beating heart of a modern Nation! All those amazing materials. Too bad these days we need part from Asia we can't even get to finish building our cars today.

[@asd36f]

Along with the design and production of the bodies, a fascinating glimpse of early 70’s computer technology.

[@jessihawkins9116]

this documentary is about the design and manufacturing of body by fisher not about computer technology of the 1970s

[@1940limited]

Yes, I noticed that, too.

[@1940limited]

@@jessihawkins9116 But there's still plenty of it in the video.

[@jessihawkins9116]

@@1940limited yeah but the documentary is about the design and manufacturing of body by fisher not about computer technology of the 1970s

[@1940limited]

@@jessihawkins9116 Yes, I know that but you can see all the 70s vintage computer equipment in the film and make note of it.

[@rockfangd]

I wish This company was still in business. Absolutely incredible

[@blueblade455]

Also wished they would've solved their major rust problems.

[@canusakommando9692]

My 1970 Monte Carlo being built. Loved that car! 😭

[@backho12]

I had a green one with the vinyl top. Served me well until my dogs destroyed the interior.

[@Loonytunes1961]

Klown Killer: im gonna say a majority of non-baby boomers have no idea or have never even seen a floor mounted dimmer switch(to turn the headlights from brights to regular) operated by ones left foot & for those familiar with- it was as automatic as the reaction to using the horn in the center of the steering wheel

[@mr.mckinnon5680]

Almost every single member of my family once worked for Fisher body in Grand Rapids. And then they closed up shop. Because the great mistake Corporation has a history of making, great mistakes. And one of those great mistakes, was moving manufacturing to Mexico.

[@CJColvin]

I hear you brother, what year did Fisher body closed production.

[@Ricken2022]

I know all about it , my wife worked for Emerson Electric, they made small motors , for washer , dryers , and close up and moved to Mexico many years ago around 1993.

[@danpettis1675]

they didn't make a mistake they knew exactly what they were doing. that same car can be produced for a fraction of the cost. that's gm for you. screw the American worker. to line their pockets

[@bobbyblenio4571]

@@danpettis1675 ….and Look where we are Now…Bye Bye America !…Greed has Flushed America Down the Drain !….infact has Flushed the Whole World Down the Drain 😡

[@fraomedinaii2095]

Hey don't complain if you've ever bought a foreign car and I don't mind as long as it keeps costlow GM is still my favorite car maker out of GM and Ford GM always had the cooler products and they always beat Ford with the Corvette the Mustang doesn't even compare and now with the new Corvette with the engine in the rear GM is hitting Supercar status with the Corvette and the price is unbeatable it's a lot of car for the money like I said before Ford doesn't even compare

[@cinemabunny]

Inspiring to see the 1970s expertise that led to the automotive masterpieces of the 1980s

[@thomasjeanjr.2966]

I have a 1964 Oldsmobile Dynamic with 56,000 original miles on it, built at the Lansing, Michigan plant. I love this era of cars. So well built. Great video, thanks.

[@danbenson7587]

1970 As a high school student went thru GM assembly plant. At the end of the line, the hood was closed. If it did not, a husky guy slammed the hinges just so with a mallet. Probably the most skilled man in the plant. Body fit in those days stank. Cheers

[@NathansHVAC]

This same guy? kzbin.info/www/bejne/pIuteXSnpJKWebs

[@timgerard262]

That explains a lot about all those GM cars I had in the 70s and 80s.

[@juliogonzo2718]

@@NathansHVAC hahaha I just watched it!

[@kensmith4948]

Do remember which assembly plant you went through?? My Father ent to work for GM Norwood Ohio Plant in 1963, When graduated in 1973 I started working there. Saw a lot of changes over those years. GM closed the plant in 1987. Sad day for all workers and the city of Norwood.

[@danbenson7587]

@@kensmith4948 Ken, the plant was in Kansas City. They assembled Chevelles and El Caminos. Before computers, cars were the guy thing. So it really impressed me, Here was heaven on earth. Particularly warehouse full of engines stacked to the roof. I went on to engineering school and worked awhile in Detroit area around 2000. Automation is what’s impressive these days. Cheers D

[@rickintexas1584]

What a fantastic look into the pst. It is truly remarkable how these old cars were produced. It is a tribute to the men and women who made these wonderful cars, and the machines that helped produce them.

[@PeriscopeFilm]

Love our channel? Help us save and post more orphaned films! Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/PeriscopeFilm Even a really tiny contribution can make a difference.

[@MGarrison]

6:39 split bumper Camaro. So damned cool! One of my all time favorite muscle cars.

[@K-Effect]

I wish GM could build all of these 1970 models again, the cars and trucks would be so cool to buy in 2022

[@mutakasata6752]

wow! 100% American made and assembled!!!! What a difference is with then and now. Such craftmanship for real.

[@victorfoster7305]

This is the good days of automobile manufacturing. When cars were built with real quality.

[@scottross617]

5:33....454 badge....nice!!

[@rce2198]

My grandfather worked at the Atlanta Ga plant. He said he was the 6th one hired, employee # 006. Went to work there after working at the Bell Bomber Plant in Marietta after the war. I remember touring the plant in the mid/late 60s. Really neat to watch.

[@tjlovesrachel]

Love them first gen Monte Carlo

[@ronniecardy]

Shame they didn't use them anymore 😕

[@mikes9939]

Very cool seeing them build the Monte Carlo. This was a neat car and good ones are sought after today.

[@justsittinhere72]

I used to see the tags on the driver's side running boards "Body by Fisher". It's really cool to see how it's done.

[@bret9741]

I grew up and drove cars and pickups from this era. Truly, from my families perspective fisher made a better body than the competition. We had a large cattle and sheep ranch out west. We drove these vehicles long hard miles and yet we took care of them. Our Ford’s bodies were not as luxurious, not as smooth and refined. Mechanically, my Dad believed the Fords were better. That meant they made it to 150,000 miles before overhaul where our chevys made it to 140,000... lol. I always preferred the GM product until the junk years of the 1980’s and 90’s. Then I moved to Nissan, Toyota and Honda. Today, I’ve driven almost 1,300,000 miles. Ive owned a lot of vehicles. It’s not unusual for work trucks to last 300,000 miles before the engine needs to be replaced. Vehicles are safer, more reliable and capable than ever before.... but I do miss the cars from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s..

[@rodneyhopper22]

Amen to that note I still have a few muscle cars that are from the 60's and the 70,s

[@jasonrackawack9369]

I bet one nice thing about punch cards running the automatic sewing machine and robot welders is you didnt need to worry about a friggin windows update screwing something up once you had it working properly!

[@robertromero8692]

@D.T. Baker Hmmm, I've been using Windows at work for over 20 years, and I've lost a document I was working on maybe twice in all that time. It doesn't crash.

[@jjojo2004]

@@robertromero8692It’s STILL A COMPUTER, and computers do crash. 🤔

[@robertromero8692]

@@jjojo2004 What part of "crashes are very, very rare in my experience" didn't you understand? And where did you get the idea that NON-computer based machines never fail?

[@jjojo2004]

@@robertromero8692 So are you saying computers have 0% chance of crashing. Anything other than that means it WILL crash. A crash is a crash, even if it’s one in a million years. You’re a POOR KEYBOARD WARRIOR. 😆😆😆😆

[@robertromero8692]

@@jjojo2004 Pathetic attempt at a strawman argument on your part. I never said "computers have 0% chance of crashing". What part of "I lost perhaps two documents in 20 years" are you unable to comprehend? I'll help you: Mathematically, two is not zero. Saying that computers fail more than mechanical devices has no empirical justification. A modern Toyota is more reliable than a 70s GM car. That is fact.

[@fordxbgtfalcon]

My grandfather built Cadillac’s from 1959 to 68, he said they were all hand fitted back then and they used little feeler gauges that they carried around with them to get the legendary fit and finish Cadillacs were know for. Now it’s all robots and lasers.

[@66rgra]

The quantity of pocket protectors is overwhelming!!

[@robinluck2922]

And the "white shirt /skinny tie" uniform....

[@mrutan6055]

Ink pens had a very liquid ink that you bought refill for when they leaked it made a big spot

[@michaelcap9550]

Don't forget slide rulers.

[@PaddleDogC5]

They work

[@TenOrbital]

I checked. You can still get packets of 6 at Walmart.

[@nadronnocojr]

These videos are the best I can watch all Sunday long , best kind of programming. Yes sir I’ll take another

[@PaulBlacksmith-xr4sy]

What a Spectacular Country we were just 50 short years ago! I forged GM heavy truck steering components for many years working as a Union Blacksmith, the first plant I worked at was shuttered and closed in 2002, when the work was sent to Pakistan. I recognized the CMM and tracer equipment Fisher was using, as our die makers used the same type of machinery. Terrific video about Classic GM! I'll take a New early 70s Monte Carlo please! Thanks for the upload, Periscope!

[@jjkakdb]

I worked at the Lansing Car Assembly (post Fisher Body) plant in IT 1989-1994; this is cool to see

[@briankeithnull194]

I grew up in Kansas City Missouri in the 60's. A lot of the kids I went to school with had parents that worked at Fisher Body. I still remember the logo of a coach on the name plate that says Body by Fisher.

[@seand2711]

Back when America built great cars.

[@TheBandit7613]

They rode so smooth and they didn't all look the same. Crossovers are SO BORING> I still have my 73' Mach One, 79' Trans Am and my vintage Jeep. All in showroom condition.

[@alexandrec9372]

I did not know they already have this kind of technology at that time, Very interesting! Thank you Very Much for upload! I would like to wish you a Great New year! Congratts from Brazil!

[@jllrue]

Clueless people, so many now days!

[@franklinmills1756]

So nice to see the early 2nd generation Firebirds, and Camaros.

[@ChrisL-ni9tb]

What a truly Herculean engineering and labor management task at work. Impressive!!

[@nighthiker8872]

There was a Fisher Body building in Redford Michigan, on Plymouth Rd. Amazing!

[@scottsmith491]

All these films are extremely interesting and informative. There also part of a history lesson for everyone to see.

[@pcno2832]

23:10 I remember in the early 1980s, when GM converted the Framingham, MA plant from production of RWD body-on-frame A/G-body cars to FWD unitized A-bodies and, according to the story in the paper, they had to expand the building, probably because they could no longer build the body and frame/chassis on parallel lines. It's hard to imagine all the planning it must take to setup a line like this.

[@kesslerrb]

That old plant is now an auto auction. I forget how many *acres* of buildings they dismantled…it’s still a massive structure.

[@bencarling3]

I love these videos. The good old days are long gone- now we are ruled by insanity

[@UhOK327]

What a great legacy to be a part of the construction of an automobile! Amazing!

[@Subgunman]

I remember a business visit to Delfi / Fischer Guide in Columbus Ohio back about 20 years ago. Found out that division built the window regulators, both power and manual. Most of the electric switches for windows and power seats as well back in the 60's Thru the 80's. On my visit there the company was geared up for Saturn parts for doors as well as body parts. Today in its place stands a casino. How times have changed but remain the same. Car designs were a gamble back then, they were either winners or losers.

[@1938thunder]

Brings lots of memories, luv the 🎶music

[@caribman10]

Unlike everybody else here, I actually worked the line - GMAD Tarrytown. A note: the "managers" and "executives" never let us build the car we could have. For them it was just "how many did you build in an hour?". We were contracted to build 59 cars an hour. We NEVER built less than 62, and believe me it makes a difference. Us workers went to "management" and said "We could build you a Mercedes if you'd just slow the line to 55 cars an hour." Their response was "Get back to work."

[@robertbittles6944]

Liked and subscribed. My grandfather retired from Fisher Body of St.Louis in 1964 and his job there was to lead body seams. My dad worked at Fisher Body of St.Louis briefly and his job was upholstering seat frames but he left the job to pursue a career in sheetmetal which turned out to be interesting work.

[@arthurmchugh5184]

In 73 I worked on Buicks and I ran a big air powered wire wheel to clean the joint before the lead was put on!!! Only a shield for my eyes!!! 🍺🍺🍺

[@ednorton47]

That was a job (applying and smoothing the hot lead) that took skill.

[@peterparker9286]

​@@ednorton47Not every One can paddle Lead. It is a quickly dying Art

[@rickprusak9326]

Living near the Fisher Fleetwood Plant in the Delray neighborhood of SW Detroit, I would look into the Fort Street level window's of the Plant, and watch the men & women build the Cadillac bodies, and watch the specially designed trucks transport the bodies to the Clark Street assembly Plant. To this day when I see a classic Cadillac on the road, or at a classic car show - I proudly say that car body was not built by Fisher Body, but built in Delray.

[@scofab]

The good old days... very neat to watch, thank you.

[@ryanschram7266]

The Schram family was one of the biggest families to work for GM in its history, even I worked at one of the plants when I was younger. It’s amazing to see these videos.

[@blakeapex3214]

My Dad Worked at Fisher Body South on Saginaw St in Flint Mi 1963-1986. His Father worked for GM in Flint From 1923-1959- Lost an eye in the line of duty. My Mothers Father Worked For Buick in Flint 1945-1969 Other Aunts Uncles Etc.. worked for AC , Complete Transit, Chevy Truck all from 1950's -1970's No jobs for me when I turned 18 in 1981. Spun Pizzas. Off to Los Angeles I went.

[@Joe-uo9wv]

I remember that emblem in my 68 Chevelle and never really thought about it. Great video

[@Steverinomeister]

A Great time in American history.

[@brianwinston8627]

The engineers leaning over the drafting tables made my back hurt even worse! Wow! loved this video!

[@devildawg1065]

Awesome video. The narrator sounds like the same guy that does forensic files.

[@oldsmobileman1403]

God, I'd love to have any of those pristine 1970 F-Body shells used on the bench tests.....I could finally build my dream car using my existing rusted car and transfer everything over to it.

[@dereksalas8195]

Makes me proud of owning my ‘71 Monte as a teenager

[@TheBandit7613]

I still have my teen car. 73' Mach One. Showroom condition. Glad I held on to it all these years.

[@THRASHMETALFUNRIFFS]

Right! I had a 71 Primered grey for $400 then a 70 SS Gree/Green for $750 swapped motors in auto shop at highschool. I got 2 vids about 1st gen Monte history here.

[@rmp608]

Remember when they used to say "whats good for GM is good for America"!!!

[@NathansHVAC]

Now, what is good for google is good for america.

[@really2345]

@rmp608: Yeah, they forced crap onto the consumer until Japan came in with low cost well built cars that the consumer wanted.

[@rmp608]

@@really2345 Main reason for the demise was first and foremost the OPEC oil embargo which caused gas prices to triple and shortages to occur...almost overnight. It caught American car companies completely unprepared. Japan stepped in because they already were making small fuel efficient cars. Prior to that American cars were kept a few years..then new model came and you bought it. Growing up in the 60's my family had a new car every 3-4 years.

[@jamesjamison9880]

Now its whats good for the commies is good for america

[@jameswood231]

@@rmp608 You're right on that one. 1970-72 Gas was 32 cents a gallon, then the Oil Embargo 1973-74 jumped to 50 cents and gas shortages, in 1976 it was 75 cents and then it hit a dollar. That was tough on working class folks and the American Auto industry at tge time. The OPEC EMBARGO should have never happened. Period.

[@jaymes1]

I wish people still talked like this, went away with cursive writing, what a great film, would have loved to be a engineer fo gm.

[@THRASHMETALFUNRIFFS]

I think I just seen my Monte Carlo on the line!! That dark green one. I got an old salesmen promo vid and Muscle Car TV profile of the Monte SS

[@mikewhite9717]

makes one wonder what happened to all this precision equipment? these people were the best back then.

[@richardcoram1562]

This is a cool video. I hauled Chevrolet's from the St Louis plant in '79. On a 9 car hydraulic banana. Parts would sometimes fall off the completed cars/trucks as they were being staged on the huge lot. A testament to the greatest people building cars for me, is first to the designers who came up with the 1937 Ford Vicky. Then secondly - my hat is off to the tool and die people. They created each and every mold for every part, and the tool needed in the manufacture and later maintenance of the vehicle. The third amazing thing is this fabulous Ford was created just about 37 years after the Horse and buggy had to begin sharing the roads. Today's '37 Vicky retro-rodded machines have it all. Including Beauty and aerodynamics. This car is a testament to the old timers and their ability to transition from horse and buggy to self propelled. Much the same as now with self driving/autonomous vehicles and switching from gas or diesel to electric .

[@marcushaynes843]

An assembly line of '70-'72 Monte Carlos. Old is GOLD.

[@stevenlaubach7222]

This video is truly amazing for that time period.

[@videosuperhighway7655]

Interesting point. Back then only 1 salary working in a factory was needed to buy a home and raise a family. No college debt nonsense or having to spend 4 years post highschool just to get a college degree (work permit)

[@davestewart2067]

Most “college” today is worthless. Learn a trade, become a cop / fire fighter join the military etc. So many other pathways available.

[@philboylan580]

Awesome film, thanks for sharing! I own a 1970 Firebird Formula very similar to the prototypes shown in the video.

[@TheHorsebox2]

Lucky you. Lovely cars in that video.

[@JackF99]

Yeah, that 1970 'bird is one of the most beautiful cars of that era. Or any era.

[@memorylane7068]

Yeah, it was neat to see a 400 emblem on the rear deck of a prototype '70 Firebird. It didn't look bad.

[@PlayingwithPawz]

Man if only they still took pride in there cars like they did back then.

[@renecintronjr.2262]

What an awesome film. Being a Machinist, I can really appreciate this. Thanks.

[@juliogonzo2718]

Back when an average car cost around 34% of a families annual income. Now it's like 60%. But hey, you get a fancy touch screen, WiFi, and push button shifter on the never never plan.

[@20alphabet]

Had a few cars of theirs. No complaints.

[@Badge1122]

I loved this video, my first new car was a 72 Monte Carlo. I wish I had one today, it was great.

[@rickintexas1584]

72 Monte Carlo was a great car. My first car was a 72 Buick Skylark. I would have gladly raced you back then. Mine was heavily modified 😀. Big carb, headers, big cam, and nitrous oxide. That thing was fast!

[@ACF6180T]

I still own 2 automobiles with body by Fisher ! A 1965 Chevrolet Corvair Corsa Turbo with one repaint , & a 1967 Chevrolet Corvair Monza Convertible with 3 resprays . & have owned other body by Fisher GM products that still had the original paint on them , Pontiac's & Chevrolet's from the 60's & very early 70's , & original interiors , & all were used vehicles IMHO Fisher was the best coach builders then.

[@Golfing422]

I got screwed being born into this America. I wish I lived in that America.

[@ralphabreu5022]

America should learn from these videos in today's modern car's Mary Barra, please watch this we need to go back to this in building car's again.

[@MarkAnderson-vg5vq]

Great video , I wish I was there to buy a few of those 1970 Chevelle SS LS6 .

[@TS-ef2gv]

The description says this was filmed between 1970 and '72, but 1970 was the first year for the second generation F body Firebird and the G body Monte Carlo that this film shows in development. It looks like they're doing preliminary design work on what will be those new '70 models and were at the stage of transferring paper designs to 3D models for testing, which happens around two years before production. The new G body Monte Carlo entered full production in mid 1969 and were in showrooms in September. I'd guess that at least some of this was filmed no later than '68. Those new generation 1970 F bodies (Camaro and Firebird) gave GM fits in development and production and ended up making their debut six months late. Producing those rear quarter panels within specs and without waves and wrinkles was especially challenging. In fact, all new tooling and dies had to be made, which was one of the big factors in pushing the new F body debut back from September of '69 to February of '70, while the '69's stayed in production an extra half a model year. GM might have bitten off more than they could chew in '68 - '70 with the parallel development and debut of new F and G bodies and the June '70 start of production for the problem-plagued T body Vega.

[@Radionut]

I grew up in Hamilton Ohio where a fisher body plant was located a lot of people work there and I definitely remember that

[@terrymeadows1827]

Hard to believe this was a half century ago. These guys went home and their sons watched Maureen McCormick (Marsha on the Brady Bunch) and Dad checked out Elizabeth Montgomery on "Bewitched".n Mom watched Chad Everett on "Medical Center".

[@edword7195]

yes but they were low productivity sick days strikes , lack of computers and sat about smoking . The modern day uber drives has no sick days strikes or smoke breaks

[@alanriley9754]

Very educational video. My father (dec.) worked for General Motors Holden (Australia) for many years in engine testing and on and off road testing.

[@pcno2832]

13:45 We saw the 1970.5 Camaro and now the 1971 Fleetwood, so this must be right in the spring and summer of 1970. If I had all that music playing in the background, I'd probably work faster.

[@cnnw3929]

One must admit, the music is absolutely lovely in this video, and it seems to synchronize perfectly. I come back to this video time and time again, just for relaxation. Could this be in my DNA, even though I never had the opportunity to work at a GM assembly plant?