General Motors 1966

October 17, 1966 - General Motors Lordstown, Ohio plant. WKBN interviews Daniel Forshee, Lordstown Chevy plant manager and Robert Bates, manager of the Lordstown Fisher Body plant about hiring workers for the brand new plant. There is some great footage here of the assembly line.

[@jamesmcintire3800]

In the 1960’s GM was still on top of the world and was the largest automaker in the world. They were building the best cars they’ve ever built. How times have changed?

[@tabbott429]

They outsourced everything to "cut cost" and its made them pathetic. Most of their cars contain high percentages of foreign made parts so the executives could get big bonuses for increasing profits. Theyve been doomed ever since

[@mjg263]

Beautiful ‘67 Chevys rolling off that line, even the ordinary station wagons had loads of style back then!

[@CJColvin]

Exactly mate

[@sophiaammirato7866]

My husband worked for GM for 39 years.

[@bobwilson758]

Excellent ! Pride - Thanks

[@clevejason]

God bless that patriot

[@topper1958]

My Grandfather worked for GM in Tarrytown, NY from 1939 to 1963. During the War he had to commute to Linden, NJ to work on the Avenger and Hell Cat. RIP Grandpa. 1904 - 1991. Born in Leece, Italy. Quit school age 10 in the 4th grade to support the family. He grew up in New Rochelle, NY and Norman Rockwell spotted him and painted him for the Gramps at the Plate, Saturday Evening Post in 1917.

[@FiveBlackFootedFerrets]

It was people like your grandfather that helped us win the war.

[@mdogg1604]

decent, affordable cars that a worker could afford.

[@MrTheHillfolk]

Back when a gas station attendant could support a 2 kid family.

[@DarkAttack14]

​@@MrTheHillfolkthat's kind of absurd. Gas attendants were highly overpaid at that time apparently

[@darrininverarity4297]

The height of American greatness,we have never been better.

[@58raceguy]

If this is 1966 it must be in the late part of the year when they were producing the next model years’ cars. Those wagons are 1967 models.

[@gregoryclemen1870]

the new model cars would always hit the dealerships in september, and still do to this day.

[@Jim-ej6yz]

Great video. I had a 66 Impala I bought off a used car lot in 72. Man I loved that car.

[@irocitZ]

Have you seen the prices for those now? It's crazy, even 6cyl four door versions are high let alone any small or big block SS models.

[@braised44]

I too had a 66 Impala.

[@tillivanilli6481]

nice & friendly greetings from Germany, Bavaria & me🙋🍀 i see this video was filmed at Lordstown assembly plant back in 1966 when they was in production for the '67 full-size Chevrolet models (Biscayne, Bel Air, Impala & Caprice)...right?..😋 The video is so nice for me to see because I'm still restoring a '67 Chevy Caprice 4 Door Hardtop what was assembled exactly at this plant, at this line... really really cool! I woul like that GM buids the cars like this was with their body on frame + RWD & V8 design again. because i think that was the best way of build cars and also the most beautiful in styling....

[@TheMW2informer]

Your very car could be in this video! If you can get the production date off the vin with GM VIS you could cross reference the date this was filmed. Congrats on the awesome car!

[@tomcarpenter700]

I worked at Quaker Manufacturing,,,,,, On Georgetown road,,, Salem Ohio,,, I would go up to Lord's town, Every week in 1970,, To try to get on, Where they were making the Vegas,,, They said every Vega, In the world was made there, One ever minute,, That's what they told me anyway,,,

[@stevespatola763]

Yes. My ex-wife had a 71 Vega hatchback. The only fonf memories of that car was every weekend I had repair something. My English Setter watched me and was pining for attention. He'd take a tool from me, bury it, and bring it back next weekend. A real oil burner.

[@67marlins]

Thanks for posting this great visual history......so neat to see that Chevy wagon.

[@anthonyciolli5891]

Started working there in Sept., 66, was on the line near the body drop, from Fischer Body drop, on to the frame of the 67 model Chevy, doing steering column, toe pad, and E brake assy,,,,

[@beachbum1523]

Once upon a time, in a once great nation.......

[@Jeff-sp7bg]

Yes sir. At this rate Chevy won't exist in a few years and our Country may not. Very bad boys very bad!

[@FiveBlackFootedFerrets]

It's hard to believe that this WAS us at one time.

[@deanwitt7903]

Back in the day when society was simply better in many ways . Morals and values , work ethic and respect .

[@charlesherron8193]

Took a tour of the Lordstown plant shortly after it opened in 1966. Public could see cars being assembled from start to finish.

[@keithmedovich6889]

I took the tour also. Remember it well

[@tomgrzywacz6135]

My two 68 Firebirds were built there.

[@jonowens460]

Is it still in operation? Had a neighbor that worked there.

[@matthewmckee9914]

Back in the days when they made real cars.

[@irocitZ]

I miss how easy it was to maintenance and diagnose cars from that era, not to mention Chevy had such a cool lineup of cars and engines in 66/67 that was hard to beat. Chevelle, Camaro, Impala, Nova and Corvette

[@tomgrzywacz6135]

When 2 people could lay on a car hood....

[@irocitZ]

Yeah, when we were teenagers we would use our fenders like a park bench. I have pictures sitting on cars, funny..

[@jaydee4009]

@@tomgrzywacz6135 Or, in the back of the station wagon if it was raining....!

[@Henry_Jones]

This plant would later build the vega, monza, cavalier, cobalt, and then cruze. Gms small cars till closing.

[@jamesmcintire3800]

Now it’s owned by a Chinese company 😢

[@DarkAttack14]

The cruze, and equinox were some of the worst cars to ever come out of GM. Their ecotec engine line was/is an absolute mess! 1.4 turbo being much worse than the n/a 1.8 but both trash all the same! The motors were European trash though, originally designed by opel

[@jvolstad]

My first car was a 1967 Chevy Biscayne sedan. Six cylinder with a two speed automatic. What a bomb!

[@gregoryclemen1870]

I still have my first car, a 1965 chevy bel air,( I was 17 years old back then , now I am 62 years old) with the same drive train( matching numbers) as your 1967. that is the most reliable ,smooth riding car that I have( now with historical plates with over 200k miles on it. it did not matter how cold it was outside, it would always start/ run. the powerglide transmission has a rear oil pump on it, so it could be "PUSH STARTED", but I never had to do that. I would, on a long hill put the tranny in neutral and shut the engine off, and when it got down to 25 mph, I would restart the engine by putting it in low range, and then put it back in drive.

[@user-Dr.]

@@gregoryclemen1870 My first car was a 65 El Camino, 283 power glide, I eventually converted it to a 4 speed manual, Yeah, I was the kid doing burn outs in the high school parking lot, pretty cool, I wish I had kept that one.

[@gregoryclemen1870]

@@user-Dr. nothing like a little foresight that goes a long way. my dad had a 1965 chevelle with a 396/ 4 speed . I was with him when he went to the local dealership and ordered it new with the options that he wanted, and three weeks later he got the call that it was in for delivery. he traded in a 1953" rocket" oldsmobile with a flathead V-8, with a 6 volt system/ automatic trans. as I recall ,neither car gave any trouble. 10 years later my dad let the chevelle go due to his left knee giving him trouble with the stiff clutch, and could not handle the poor gas millage of the baby big block engine. I would have bought the car but was not old enough to drive yet. he sold it for 100 dollars with 100k miles on it. the guy who bought the car turned to me and asked "IS THERE ANYTHING WRONG WITH THIS CAR???". I told him "NOPE--- IT JUST NEEDS A NEW DRIVER, DUE TO HIS BAD LEFT KNEE!!!" ( known as a bad clutch knee).

[@user-Dr.]

@@gregoryclemen1870 I don't mean to keep buggin ya, but I've got a similar story, I was born in 58, the first car I remember was our 53 Buick, I think it had a straight 8, but in 66 we went shopping for our first new car, we test drove a 66, 4 speed GTO, oh man, I made all kinds of promises I couldn't keep, like taking the trash out everyday and stuff like that, if they would buy that car, we wound up with a 66 Le Mans 4 door, 326 Powerglide, I have no doubt, if we had bought that GTO I would still own it today.

[@gregoryclemen1870]

@@user-Dr. you are not bugging me at all, I like the conversation!!!!, we are close in age, I was born in 1961, and liked the kennedy era cars. at least you did not get the 1966 bonnevile, that car was a real land yacht!!!.at least those cars ran good with little to no trouble, and did not rust out. I grew up in CINCINNATI OHIO, and they use road salt as a form of snow removal .those poor VEGA cars would start rusting out in one winters time, and would start burning oil @ 50k miles( check the gas and fill it up with oil). I think that you are correct about the 1953 buick having an inline 8 cylinder engine, they sure ran quiet!!!!. what would really get me was on the 1950's cars was the big massive oil bath air cleaners, and plenty of room under the hood to work on the engine, you could see the ground on both sides of the engine, nothing was hidden.

[@petertopjian4095]

Was at the General Motors plant in Framingham Massachusetts 1972 !

[@scottizzo9058]

Not a big fan of modern GM cars, but I think those vehicles from the 60's & 70's were pretty cool!!

[@user-Dr.]

Not long after this video was shot my uncle became deeply involved in the engineering and design of those moon rovers for NASA, made by GM, those little dune buggies that the astronauts used to get around up there, they had to fold up small enough to be transported in the luner module, then be unfolded and work, they worked flawlessly, just like all of the GM vehicles I have ever owned.

[@acemobile9806]

Flawlessly? Uh-huh, and I've got a bridge I'd like to sell you.

[@user-Dr.]

@@acemobile9806 Already got one, but thanks anyway.

[@irocitZ]

My GM cars haven't missed a beat, on the other hand Hyundai and Kia not so much.

[@donavonmacallister3101]

Homeboy, nobody ever went to the moon. It's not possible.

[@user-Dr.]

@@donavonmacallister3101 Oh, one of those eah!

[@Galaxylord2]

Back when cars were made tough. And so were my parents. The middle class is all but decimated now. And can't afford the cars that any of the big 3 put out now. Not the kind of progress any of us saw coming. But here we are.

[@corellrichardson8592]

Love the fact they state they need skilled people off the streets❤

[@scottrayhons2537]

My cool dad bought a 1966 Chevy Impala SS with 327 4 barrel carb and bucket seats and spinner hubcaps! brand new! Now that was COOL MAN!

[@donaldcary7259]

This is when General Motors was still strong 💪

[@braised44]

Plenty of good jobs in1966!

[@tommywatterson5276]

Back when GM had 50 percent of the US market share. No one knew what a Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Hyundai, Kia, Acura, Lexus, Infinity, not to mention the globalization of the German cars to the US. I don't know GM's US market share now, but I'd say 14 - maybe 20 percent ?

[@irocitZ]

Too bad that had to happen, I'm not a fan of it. Unfortunately, a combination of things caused it.

[@davestewart2067]

There should have been stiff tariffs-starting in the late forties to protect American jobs and industry. It was slowly pissed away.

[@irocitZ]

@@davestewart2067 I was born the year that this was filmed, growing up in the 70s and 80s and talking to older people who always seemed angry or pissed off about something. I think I understand why they were like that, besides getting screwed one way or another their whole lives plus witnessing stuff like this, slowly watching everything go to shit. If I'm not careful I might end up the same way. Best if I try not to think about it

[@rayjc1539]

Now pretty much the big 3 a disaster, unfortunately

[@gregoryclemen1870]

that is what happens when they start building "THROW-A- WAY CARS" just to maximize profits. the "VEGA" was a perfect example of this, those cars would start rusting after 6 months of ownership. the best color to order was brown so you could not see the rust coming through, also that car was to have a rotary engine in it but GM pulled the plug on it and installed an engine that was not tested at all, and gave it a 50k mile warranty. those cars if shipped by rail were loaded vertically just to cram as much as they could per load. those cars came from the lordstown plant also.

[@zorak1704]

My dad was there. 1966-06

[@denisiwaszczuk1176]

job for life . Back in the day

[@gregoryclemen1870]

that is the problem these days, companies do not want life long employees any more. they work you 5 years and out the door you go!!!. look at this plant now, just a memory. we had a "G.M." assembly plant in NORWOOD OHIO, that building is long gone, so is the stamping plant in HAMILTON OHIO!!!!!.

[@robertrichardsonjr.6705]

I owned a one owner 4 door Impala 327ci. My grandmother gave it to me. Garage keep since it was new. It ran, but needed alot of work. Trans was slipping and engine had af leaks. Big exhaust leak and gas leak. exhaust leak. Only keep it a year and sold it. At the time I didn't have money to fix it. Sold for only $1700. Very hard to sell due to 4door. Twenty eight years later, wish I had it now.

[@ericg4042]

The speeding up of the line during the time of the Vega was at the root of a lot of strife in that plant. I have also read GM "hooked" unskilled workers with wages they couldn't get anywhere else, and once they got used to that wage and a lifestyle, hung that over their heads if a worker complained.

[@Jeff-sp7bg]

I heard about the workers sabotaging cars back then. Intentionally not putting glue in certain parts, etc.

[@gregoryclemen1870]

@@Jeff-sp7bg , that practice was also done at the norwood ohio plant where the camaro was built. that plant is long gone, as is the stamping plant in hamilton ohio. I remember back in the early 80's all the spot welding was done by automation/ robotics. even then, GM started thinning the work force by automation.

[@thehighllama8101]

There's a documentary, from the early 1970s, about worker issues on the assembly lines. I think it was called Nuts and Bolts. One thing I remember is how speeding up the assembly line took its toll on workers and the quality of the cars. GM and Ford (and I'm sure AMC and Chrysler as well) basically thought it was more cost effective to just speed up the line and make more cars, workers' health and car quality be damned, and then hire more 'quality inspectors' to look for all the defects afterwards. Then they were supposed to fix the defects which, of course, they oftentimes did not. As my professor in college told my class, American car dealers back in the 70s expected there to be manufacturing defects, maybe missing trim pieces, etc., on cars they received from the factory, which they would have to check for and hopefully fix before they sold you the car.

[@MrTheHillfolk]

​@@Jeff-sp7bg I used to live in Akron ,and the local talk radio station would have callers tell tales about the assembly lines, of car related. A guy bought a new car during the 68 strike , in the winter. Come spring ,the car had an awful smell. Long story short, the dealer removed a door panel and found a complete brown bag lunch, complete with a green baloney sandwich 😂 Actually GM put out a service bulletin during the strike that stated: missing parts cause no service issues.

[@tabbott429]

Union workers mentality right there. Look at them now. standing around doing nothing whining about getting paid. Pathetic..@@thehighllama8101

[@telcobilly]

When GM made desirable vehicles at competitive prices. Hence the need to keep hiring employees to keep up with the demand. I was solid GM in the 80s, 90s and early 2000s. Can't say that now.

[@insulman100]

My mothers family worked either for Pontiac or Fisher body my uncle that worked for fisher said they gave instructions on where not to put seam sealer to promote rust in primarily in the torque box and shackle area of the rear suspension of the firebirds he said they were told it was job security don't believe me ask anyone that restores gen 1 and 2 Camaro/Firebirds where they find the most rust damage

[@jamesborden4805]

All the audio was muted in the final personnel scenes.

[@michaelriebandt6754]

My Father in-law worked at G.M. for 40 years.

[@lonnyjaw]

If I'm not mistaken, my uncle worked for maybe this particular Chevy plant for many years in Ohio because he lived in Lakewood, Ohio.

[@petemclinc]

Lakewood is about 1.75 hours from Lordstown...

[@sherryjohnson1206]

If it wasn’t for Japanese cars American cars would not be as good as they are today

[@chriswright2250]

Pops bought a 66 Belair brand new. Family sedan .had that car 18 years.

[@pennywise8182]

My dad bought a brand new "68 Caprice 2 dr hardtop that was built at Lordstown....Lordstown was a plant that UAW presidents Ron Gettelfinger,Bob King,Dennis Williams,Gary Jones,Rory Gamble and Ray Curry sacrificed to GM and wouldn't fight to keep open.....It was closed during the UAW corruption years....If Shawn Fain was in office he would've struck GM and fought tooth and nail for this plant.

[@Floridaredwing25]

Anyone notice that that wagon is a 1967?…….Anyone?

[@zekeonstormpeak4186]

The model year production for 1967 likely started in the summer or fall of ‘66.

[@irocitZ]

I agree, I have a 84 Z/28 that was definitely on the road in 83.

[@davestewart2067]

Normally there was “downtime” in summer preparing for next year’s models. So yes late August/ early September they were up and running building the following years models.

[@gcfifthgear]

Considering the film was dated October 17, 1966, the 1967 models had been in production at least two months at the time it was shot

[@58raceguy]

@Floridaredwing25 in those days most cars being built around August to September were the next model years’ cars.

[@reddrw1]

My grandfather was a painter for General Motors....

[@jimskarks7249]

❤ Grandfather 40+ yes GM,❤ Fisher Body. Frembies Drives Drayton Plains MI. ❤

[@mitchelljohnson9548]

Ya one of my friends moved to a new location after applying at GM , Vietnam

[@user-Dr.]

Could have been my brother.

[@nycstarport8542]

'We have the jobs now.' GM, what happened?

[@BlackPill-pu4vi]

The jobs are in Mexico and China. We can thank that demon, Milton Friedman, and his creation, Reaganomics, for the wholesale deindustralization of America. It used to be, "What's good for GM is good for the country." Now it's, "What's good for the shareholders is good for the shareholders."

[@kc4cvh]

The Arab oil embargo of 1973 was the beginning of the end for Detroit.

[@52CA]

They didn’t have a job for me in the early 80s. And my Dad was working as an engineer at the time.

[@rodgerollins]

Those are 1967 models on the line

[@joshb124]

Does the ornate corporate offices in the beginning of the video still exist?

[@cdnpont]

Basically saying they'll hire anyone that comes through the door. Good times.

[@glennhelm9525]

Back then I was around 9. I knew of people that would order their car from a dealer & go to the plant to pick it up. My future MIL went to the Dodge plant in Michigan where she got her station wagon, first year of the push button transmission. We had 3 or 4 plants in L.A., now their are none. I knew so many manufacturing companies that left Calif. Very hostile business environment by the 70's. Now its impossible.

[@laurensiemens1436]

this was when gm wasn't as greedy

[@malcolmshvac6692]

Wondering if my 67 ss nova was built here

[@bradkidd8877]

No

[@formula112967]

I just saw a very nice Corvette blue 1966 327 Impala fastback yesterday for sale.

[@jerrywatt6813]

Oho jeezz don't get me started the wife would kill me ha ha !!

[@rckc.1719]

the way we were....................

[@danb6838]

Ha....I read a book on GM in highschool. The engineers at GM in the 60's had a saying.... "GM can solve ANY problem we have by throwing enough money at it. And if we don't have enough money, we'll get some more" 😆. I just love that arrogant confidence. Too bad America has completely lost it forever.

[@hardlife8122]

. I asked my Wife, (i'm 62), if she wanted to see my Mothers 1967, Chevy Station Wagon get built, that she drove in 1970 - 1973 . gb* hard life (MULDEW) .

[@philchigges2955]

by the way those are 67 chevys not 66!!!

[@jagchuk]

As usual everyone is smoking LOL. Grew up in Pontiac Dad and Grandpa worked for truck & coach/bus

[@robertsklenka5823]

Dont know about 1966 but those taillights are 1967

[@JCT442]

Within ten years the whole thing collapsed... recession era '70s

[@MustangMach1696.0]

That's win kars we're sweet 😋 and beautiful❤

[@solmeg8090]

Cuando no se contaba con robots

[@davidcampbell1899]

2023 and GM is making junk! Workers on Strike and prices through the roof!

[@gregoryclemen1870]

yup!!!!, and the top brass makes huge wages, and stock options.

[@user-Dr.]

Yup, when everything else is junk, you have to build junk to compete,

[@user-Dr.]

@@gregoryclemen1870 Oh, hey you again, same where I worked, Dow Chemical, kept cutting our wages, top dogs that do nothing but waste money, get more and more, and more and more of them and less and less of us for less and less, wonder why they can't hire anybody now, I quit and went to a contractor.

[@nojunkwork5735]

Make mine the SS 427 Impala with a 4 SP.

[@KennethDoroh-sb9pu]

Nice old memories but those are 1969 not 66

[@nojunkwork5735]

Those are 67s.

[@samusvi2693]

lol not the story of the employees by any means. like night and day

[@stevespatola763]

These 60s classics are the target of the Green Gangsters forcing us to eventually walk because there will not be enough electricity for these fire trapping cars.

[@delmascriss7299]

That was yesterday...today thely don't have the real repair man...lol😢

[@oldz70]

and now GM sucks!