That SS Chevelle pulling up at the end was epic. Amazing how much this country has lost over the years. Many things are better, but certainly not everything.
@@sharkinstxstil alot better, 72 was probably the last good year in terms of American car designs, they got too conservative and dull with the brougham phase
I see ‘72 Cutlasses and Chevelles going down the line, and an Olds V8 (probably a 350) and a small block Chevy in the engine drop. I toured Arlington on ‘77, when they were building Malibus, Cutlasses, and Monte Carlos, and again in 2012, when they were building Tahoes, Yukons, and Escalades.
Those were the good old days. 1973 was the year our standard of living peaked in the United States. 1973 was also the year that manufacturing peaked in the United States.
For those that look for detail, you can see the (first year) 'fasten seatbelt' light illuminated on the dash of the '72 SS Chevelle that pulls up at the end of the video. Love seeing it with no strips, and it's signature 'cowbell' dual exhaust tips.
The green one is a SS so it may have the LS5 454 in it. The blue one only had the single exhaust so it could have been anything from a 250 L6 to a 307 or 350.
Forgive me, but can clarify a bit of history for me? In doing some research on GM's production history, I ran across countless bits of conflicting information. Regarding the El Camino at Arlington - It's my understanding that El Camino assembly was moved from Kansas City to Arlington mid-way through the 1974 model year. I have two conflicting reports that suggest El Camino assembly returned to Leeds for 78, but moved back to Arlington in 1979. GMs press information confirms they were in the 1979 Arlington model mix, but I can't find anything specific for 1978. Leeds was running well below capacity and it seemed unusual to move the El Camino from there to Arlington, which I understand usually ran at or near full capacity, though I know other factors determine where a model is assembled. GM's old press bulletins that announced model year assembly plant assignments were released early in the model year and did not reflect later changes. I know that Cutlass assembly took place at Arlington in 1984, but I have conflicting information on 1983. So, in short, did Arlington make 1978 El Caminos and 1983 Cutlasses? I would greatly appreciate any information you have. Oh and my interest in this stems from doing a report in high school on VW's plant in my home state of Pennsylvania. I slid down a "GM" rabbit hole that I'm still stuck in!
@@randyfarr844 Eventually Arlington (and the other plants) lost the El Camino and GMC Caballero production as all 1985-1987 models were made in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico.
I ordered a 1972 Chevelle SS Placer Gold that was assembled at Arlington, TX just like the one at the end, wondered if it was mne, but it had duel exhaust and mine was a 350 2bbl so it was single exhaust
What we have here is a silent film presentation of cars being assembled at a factory. The brand of cars being assembled is the Oldsmobile (sometimes shortened to “Olds”) automobile. Oldsmobile is a storied name in automobiles, going back to the turn of the last century. Oldsmobile has gone out of business, however, and you can no longer buy a brand new one. Only older models, built before Olds went under, can now be purchased and serviced. Sorry about that.
I was probably making about 1/3 of that amount. I would not have wanted to work in a factory like that. My father did and didn’t make quite that amount of money, but did okay. He had the most miserable job on earth in a drop forge. He can have it. Money isn’t everything.
Regardless of all the assembly line faults, it really is amazing how these cars were built. Especially considering that the line had to be pretty much completely redone every year for the new models. I just can't begin to imagine how much work went into that for sure
This was one of several plants that asembled 1972 Chevelles. It was also made at plants in Baltimore.... Kansas City ... Oshawa, Ontario ... Los Angeles ... and Fremont, CA
Show politicians this is how cars are made. This is what the public wants. The energy crisis was a lie there's plenty of oil in America listen to Donald Trump's recent rally. The bumpers stay on these cars and don't fall off. Even the wheels are stronger and More Beautiful with pretty hubcaps
I was tearing these cars apart in the 1990s. Strange seeing them being built 20 years earlier.
That SS Chevelle pulling up at the end was epic. Amazing how much this country has lost over the years. Many things are better, but certainly not everything.
Well, but by then they were just running low-compression engines (307, 350, 400 BB, and 454 available).
@@sharkinstxstil alot better, 72 was probably the last good year in terms of American car designs, they got too conservative and dull with the brougham phase
I see ‘72 Cutlasses and Chevelles going down the line, and an Olds V8 (probably a 350) and a small block Chevy in the engine drop. I toured Arlington on ‘77, when they were building Malibus, Cutlasses, and Monte Carlos, and again in 2012, when they were building Tahoes, Yukons, and Escalades.
Loved this video! My dad retired from here. Loved to go with him when they had a open house just to see how everything worked.
❤
Those were the good old days. 1973 was the year our standard of living peaked in the United States. 1973 was also the year that manufacturing peaked in the United States.
It has been all downhill since then. True there have been high points but I miss the pre Arab oil embargo days.
GM UAW guys made 12.82 a hour in the 70s, which works out to almost $60 today
For those that look for detail, you can see the (first year) 'fasten seatbelt' light illuminated on the dash of the '72 SS Chevelle that pulls up at the end of the video. Love seeing it with no strips, and it's signature 'cowbell' dual exhaust tips.
I worked two summers ('68 and '69) in Plant 8 assembly plant in Pontiac.while in college. A good experience but mind numbing after just 3-1/2 months.
I had a '72 Cutlass S in college and grew up riding around in a '70 Vista Cruiser. I currently own a '68 GS400 convertible.
1972 Cutlass and Chevelle. Two of my favorite GM models. I wish that I could get a new one today.
The green one is a SS so it may have the LS5 454 in it. The blue one only had the single exhaust so it could have been anything from a 250 L6 to a 307 or 350.
My fave Cutlass Supreme 70’s.
I love 1970's cars.
This is absolutely Gold
All of those shiny models rusted very quickly in the Rust Belt states.
I hired into this plant in 1977 and retired from there in 2008.
Forgive me, but can clarify a bit of history for me? In doing some research on GM's production history, I ran across countless bits of conflicting information. Regarding the El Camino at Arlington - It's my understanding that El Camino assembly was moved from Kansas City to Arlington mid-way through the 1974 model year. I have two conflicting reports that suggest El Camino assembly returned to Leeds for 78, but moved back to Arlington in 1979. GMs press information confirms they were in the 1979 Arlington model mix, but I can't find anything specific for 1978. Leeds was running well below capacity and it seemed unusual to move the El Camino from there to Arlington, which I understand usually ran at or near full capacity, though I know other factors determine where a model is assembled. GM's old press bulletins that announced model year assembly plant assignments were released early in the model year and did not reflect later changes. I know that Cutlass assembly took place at Arlington in 1984, but I have conflicting information on 1983.
So, in short, did Arlington make 1978 El Caminos and 1983 Cutlasses? I would greatly appreciate any information you have.
Oh and my interest in this stems from doing a report in high school on VW's plant in my home state of Pennsylvania. I slid down a "GM" rabbit hole that I'm still stuck in!
@@yossarian6799 DONT quote me on this because it was long long ago but I wanna say the Arlington plant snatched the El Camino production from Mexico
Congratulations thats a he'll of a career.Thank you
Thank you for producing such fine machines from the Jestson age. They’ll never make them like that ever again..
@@randyfarr844 Eventually Arlington (and the other plants) lost the El Camino and GMC Caballero production as all 1985-1987 models were made in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico.
Chevelle SS 's 442 Oldsmobiles what could go wrong!
This is where my 1970 SS396 Chevelle was built. Arlington, Texas.
The last year of good looking decent running GM's. '72 MalibuSS
I ordered a 1972 Chevelle SS Placer Gold that was assembled at Arlington, TX just like the one at the end, wondered if it was mne, but it had duel exhaust and mine was a 350 2bbl so it was single exhaust
Seems strange to see the railcars loaded with car frames.
A bygone era.
What we have here is a silent film presentation of cars being assembled at a factory. The brand of cars being assembled is the Oldsmobile (sometimes shortened to “Olds”) automobile. Oldsmobile is a storied name in automobiles, going back to the turn of the last century. Oldsmobile has gone out of business, however, and you can no longer buy a brand new one. Only older models, built before Olds went under, can now be purchased and serviced. Sorry about that.
I was probably making about 1/3 of that amount. I would not have wanted to work in a factory like that. My father did and didn’t make quite that amount of money, but did okay. He had the most miserable job on earth in a drop forge. He can have it. Money isn’t everything.
Regardless of all the assembly line faults, it really is amazing how these cars were built. Especially considering that the line had to be pretty much completely redone every year for the new models. I just can't begin to imagine how much work went into that for sure
Think about all those carburetor adjustments!
I still want a 72 Olds
71 chevelle built in Arlington
I'm driving a 95 Caprice of manufactured there.
No hard hats?
wow chevelle city
This was one of several plants that asembled 1972 Chevelles. It was also made at plants in Baltimore.... Kansas City ... Oshawa, Ontario ... Los Angeles ... and Fremont, CA
Stallions
Show politicians this is how cars are made. This is what the public wants. The energy crisis was a lie there's plenty of oil in America listen to Donald Trump's recent rally. The bumpers stay on these cars and don't fall off. Even the wheels are stronger and More Beautiful with pretty hubcaps