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History / OriginalityGot a question about 1982-1992 Camaro or Firebird history? Have a question about original parts, options, RPO codes, when something was available, or how to document your car? Those questions, answers, and much more!
Lol Nice! I walked my 91 RS through Van Nuys in March of 90. They had an early model change that year. After the car came off the line, they took it and me out to that sign for pictures. I will post some. Anyone want to scan my build photo album? lol I have many awesome photos from Van Nuys. Unfortunatley I sold the car to my Sgt who bought it for his son, who ran it under a Uhaul truck and totalled it 1 month after buying it. I regret selling it. I sold it to get a 2000 SS and write a story of watching it be built in St Therese. I need to get those pics out onto the internet so the cars memory lives on and people can see all those 91s being built. Dang it! I’ve done some stupid things.
Paul Crain from Public Relations handing me the keys. He was so nervous every day worried the car would get some poor quality job. He wouldn't let me show up at the plant until he knew the car was perfect from wherever it stopped the when production stopped night before
1990 IROCS still returning from ASC for shipment. Like i stated, 1990 was a short year. The 91 model was suppose to be the 1990 model. I hadn't even seen the Teal until I arrived at Van Nuys, sounded like it would be cool
Hope you all enjoy these! I will get to the rest of them in the next few days. I still lost 2 rolls of film at Van Nuys due to a camera malfunction. But I was able to capture what I could only observe at Norwood when my 85 IROC was built.
Now that's what I call the new car experience! How did you get into the depths of that factory? You know someone back then? Were you the employee? Awesome! More pictures please.
Hope you all enjoy these! I will get to the rest of them in the next few days. I still lost 2 rolls of film at Van Nuys due to a camera malfunction. But I was able to capture what I could only observe at Norwood when my 85 IROC was built.
Merry Christmas to All!!!!
Here is the situation. We are blessed to have a guy who was at both plants and with knowledge and photos to boot.
I also have build sheets for the last 2 shifts of cars built at Norwood. I will post the Seq numbers in range form and if your 1987 Norwood car falls in that last 6, I should have your build sheet.
I scanned this thread a couple times but didn't see this - did you eventually post these? Thanks.
There is something about new cars that can never be replicated no matter how much effort is put into a restoration. It just isn't there. I don't know exactly what it is but when the cars are "current" they just seem to be "fresh"- the rubber seems softer, the headlights brighter, the exhaust more healthy. It's weird.
Thank you! I had no real connections until 1989. I was one of the founding chapters of the United States Camaro Club and used to submit articles for their magazine and knew the president/owner of the club/magazine. Along with me being an employee, I was able to get in to watch my 91while doing an article. i have many more pics I will get posted. Watching your car be built is an experience that is incredible, and one I have been blessed to be able to do on several occasions. The Camaro/Firebird has broght me many opportunites and better still, many great lifelong friends. I wish I was able to keep them all as time capsules and never sell them, especially when they end up being totalled out, knowing all the memories and care that was put into each one. I was a Norwood guy, but Van Nuys was a good plant too. It was really neat to see how they built “our car” lol.
Last edited by z28cop; 12-23-2017 at 01:14 PM.
Reason: date correction
Thank you! I had no real connections until 1999. I was one of the founding chapters of the United States Camaro Club and used to submit articles for their magazine and knew the president/owner of the club/magazine. Along with me being an employee, I was able to get in to watch my 91while doing an article. i have many more pics I will get posted. Watching your car be built is an experience that is incredible, and one I have been blessed to be able to do on several occasions. The Camaro/Firebird has broght me many opportunites and better still, many great lifelong friends. I wish I was able to keep them all as time capsules and never sell them, especially when they end up being totalled out, knowing all the memories and care that was put into each one. I was a Norwood guy, but Van Nuys was a good plant too. It was really neat to see how they built “our car” lol.
Dan,
You mean to say 1989 for the USCC - back when Jim Worth ran it out of Dayton Ohio right?
You mean to say 1989 for the USCC - back when Jim Worth ran it out of Dayton Ohio right?[/QUOTE
Yes thank you! editied:
Jim Wirth was the main catalyst along with me being a former Norwood employee that allowed GM to let me fly to Van Nuys for the story.
I was seeking out clubs when I had my 82 Z28 built. There was a Camaro Club that was National out of Pennsylvania and another one, I have their publications somewhere. Jim went national with his club I think in early 84 with a full color magazine, which was major at that time. I hooked up with him and started a local chapter named the Tri-State Camaro Club. One of our members of Tri-State used to autocross and with some GM Engineers out of GM Tech Ctr. He moved north and got on as an engineer in the early to mid ninties and thats when my inside connections began.
Prior to that I was a trailblazer...lol I remember calling GM numbers in Michigan and getting to the Marketing Dept. and making up a name like Mid West Trans Am / Camaro Club and asked for any promotional posters for the “club”. Posters started flooding in, so the next year I’d do it again. I still have so many posters in GM Labeled Poster tubes. If it was Firebird Items, I called Pontiac marketing and make a name up and posters or merchandise was on its way. No internet, just trial and error at finding numbers through the operator (yes you pressed “0” on a wired phone and a person would come on and help you, an Actual person”.). and when you found number to try, putting on your best adult voice on the phone. GM was very generous.
At the same time, my father and I had a janitorial business on the side, one of the contracts we had was a local northern Cincinnati Pontiac dealership. I received many items through there, and also hooked up with the Rusty Jones rustproofing company who operated out of the Pontiac dealership. I took a part time job with them prior to getting on at Norwood. So while I was rustproofing all these new Trans Am and Firebirds, (sorry to those of you who had this crap put on your car and years later tried to remove it. I know the pain.) I was gathering build sheets and sub assembly build sheets and left over trim screws etc left in the cars when shipped. Things that would get cleaned out at dealer prep. Especially when a Van Nuys car would arrive. I was deep deep deep into these cars by this time. I was driving a walked through 82 Z28, with my dad working at Norwood, cleaning a Pontiac dealership, working for Rusty Jones getting to be up close and personal with all these Firebirds, ordering a new IROC and starting a Camaro Club, and then getting on at Norwood. My life was pretty much complete..lol
Last edited by z28cop; 12-23-2017 at 01:21 PM.
Reason: corrections
One of the first Regular Production IROCs. This was in November of 1984. Dad brought it home on a 75 mile test from the factory. Very strange they put the chin spoiler on it.
Flew to San Diego to see my brother in college. Stopped by City Chevrolet and drove this 85 yellow. We of course stopped painting yellow til base coat clear coat. Van Nuys built them because of water based paints. But, they were very pale yellow compared to ours.
Side note. the little old couple in the background just bought their new Citation. It took her 10 minutes to back up and 30 to get off the lot. I will never forget that. haha
Also worked on race teams at Queen City Speedway back in the day. ASA American Speed Association started and ended their season here. Z's were always pacing back then.
Not third, but had to throw in my first which lead to getting a new Third gen. Paid $500 for her. My dad and I raffled the car off at Norwood to get my 82.
What Became Of Those Cars,How Were They Sold,Did The Dealer Have To State That They Were Test Cars Used On Public Roads.
They were shipped as any normal F car. They stuck a sticker on it that said This car was chosen to be tested for 75 miles. for quality. They were all supposed to be chosen from Dealer Stock Units, not Sold orders.
Hi I was wondering if you have any pictures of Norwood in June of 87. I have an 87 red Iroc that was built then. Supposedly my car was one of many that were picked to go to Watkins Glen that year. Thanks
Hi I was wondering if you have any pictures of Norwood in June of 87. I have an 87 red Iroc that was built then. Supposedly my car was one of many that were picked to go to Watkins Glen that year. Thanks
03-23-2017, 10:07 AM
