The Golden Era Unveiled: Fisher Body and the 1970s General Motors Auto Assembly Line
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 18 ม.ค. 2024
- "The Bodybuilders" is a documentary-style film produced by General Motors (GM) in 1970. It is part of a series of industrial films created by GM to showcase their manufacturing processes, and highlight the advancements in automobile production. Specifically, "The Bodybuilders" focuses on the manufacturing techniques and processes used in the Fisher Body division of General Motors. Fisher Body was responsible for the construction of automobile bodies, and played a crucial role in the assembly line production of GM vehicles.
"The Bodybuilders" film showcases the intricate processes involved in building automobile bodies, including the precision and skill required by the workers. This film provides insight into how interiors were designed, complete with “ergonomic” testing using gauges and machinery to measure people in order to ensure that it would be a comfortable ride for both drivers and passengers. The film highlights the line process, and the even more fascinating multitude of inspections. Take an inside look at the various stages of assembly including stamping, welding, sewing, painting, and final assembly of the auto bodies. One favorite scene of ours is a man inside the auto body on the line in a water tunnel, and he uses a flashlight to check for leaks. Through this documentary GM aimed to highlight the efficiency and sophistication of their manufacturing techniques, while also emphasizing the craftsmanship and dedication of the workers involved in creating these automobile bodies.
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As a mechanical engineer in his 40's I can't help but watch this and think how much we have regressed as a country. All components made in the US including the textiles, workers are all well dressed, etc.
That is a matter of opinion. Obviously depending on the field , I’m sure they have a dress code at modern day GM.
Uncle Sam is not #1 that's why
It’s part of the plan devised by the filthy politicians
This is about 1970. It's not far in time from the moon landing. America at it's Zenith.
It can all be attributed to one thing…Greed.
From back when America was great...
I agree gm had the best back then. Nowadays it's Bull shit
Yep 👍
Yes sir we are never going to see those times of great USA product. God bless the folks who preserve old classics
Yup good times they were. Never to return
It's comments like these that make the current generations swell with pride.
What a country we had.
You ain't kidding, now it's gone to the dogs.
they still make cars here you know.
Now according to your Overlords. You must hand over your Car soon.. no more freedoms sheeple.. it will be over soon
This brought a 26 minute smile to my face. I graduated college in 86 with an engineering degree. I can only imagine the amount of work these men went through to bring us these wonderful cars.
I've had a 68 Chevy Impala, a 74 Monte Carlo, an 86 Corolla, a 94 Voyager, a 2002 Focus Wagon, an 08 Focus and a 15 Ford C-max hybrid. Each car was better than the last one. I don't get this misplaced nostalgia (which even sounds like a disease).
I agree worked for GM and studies at the tech center for a year ❤
@@cheapgeek62
Ikr 😅
@@cheapgeek62Then why are you here?? Your comment is subjective, just your opinion. Best car I ever had was a 1966 Thunderbird. Tahoe Turquoise and white, swing away steering wheel very beautiful car. SUVs are ugly and all look the same, and that's not subjective. A Ford Focus LMAO 😅
I remember seeing that blue coach on the door sill as a kid.
Fisher Body - the 'Pride of Tarrytown, NY!'
I worked at Fischer Body in willow springs Illinois from '84 til layoffs in about 87, when they closed it. I was a tool and die maker at that stamping plant. We shipped approximately 60 box cars of body panels per week to Detroit. Raw steel coils came in by train, finished panels for Buicks, Oldsmobiles and Cadillacs left on the same rails. It's now a huge UPS distribution center (at least it was last time I drove by on 294). I consider myself lucky to have worked on some of the dies that stamped out those panels. Quite an experience!
I live about 10 minutes from there. Back then we used to attend the ham radio "Field Days" on the grounds of that plant. It's still a UPS distribution center.
@@user-ix1ly3hj1s yes.... between emd locomotive and Fischer body, I had just enough years to get a small pension. Fascinating career.
Thank you for sharing this story about the history. It's great to hear about your lived experience with it!
I worked at the Fleetwood plant in Detroit.B.O.C same yrs as you. Worked in the cushion room building seats. Got my 36 in and retired 2 yrs ago
@@sammyweed4771 Thats really cool! Did you ever do that very intricate button tufting that the D'Elegance Interiors and Eldorado Biarritz had? I always wondered WHO did this upholstery work and was it hand done or by machines of some sort? I'd love to know as its always intrigued me. Im a 1966 Model myself so I was of age when 70s 80s cars were new
Born & raised in Saginaw, Michigan. Sad when the music died in the 80's here. I built machines for Fisher as a machinist.
I was born in Saginaw as well, have since moved away, it’s sad to go back and see the carnage of globalization.
They say modern computer technology & show what looks like a fax machine, 🤣 funny.
@@JAKPMnice to see old cars up close when they were new & in perfect shape
what a mammoth undertaking to build an automobile and we did it with flying colors every year back when the people of America were great.
We’ve come a long way.
We are still great.
@@28704joe
We are a failed nation under God’s judgment.
That was a promo film made to look sharp and progressive. You would think we would have had airbags a lot sooner. How long did it take for seat belts to become standard in the US after Preston Tucker made it obvious to execs?
We are great...er than most. Why do you think we have so many people coming here from other countries?
WE ARE STILL I SAY AGAIN STILL GREAT. YES THAT'S RIGHT. USA 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸
GM was amazing at that time. Thanks to King Rose Archives for posting this film.
Fisher by general motors is classic I think he was a influence in body design
No car manufacturer was amazing at that time. It was the Malaise Era.
@@user-mg3nc6iu8t your wrong
Gm is crap now because they have a woman in charge..smh so sad
@@user-mg3nc6iu8tmalaise era starts from 73-74
It is amazing to me the quality of the parts, metal grills, chrome bumpers, idefcation badging,and trim, multipal color interior colors, quantity fabrics and door panels, unlike today with plastic used everywhere. Thoes dsys are long gone.
Cars were pieces of shit back then.
Yah and let’s just ignore the terrible amount of fuel mileage you’d get from all that. Perfect for a decade that saw 2 oil crisis 🤷♂️
@@JamesK7911Yep let's ignore the oil crisis. I worked for hess oil back then as a merchant marine. We weren't allowed to dock until they got the ok to push up the price from 60 cents to a dollar and then blame the middle east. Once they got the ok we were allowed to deliver the oil
@@JamesK7911You troll often to old school vids or just bored?
Could return at any time. It all could be done again, just cost more now, higher wages etc.
This was a fascinating presentation. Parts of this video were shot at the Arlington, Texas GM assembly plant. My school took us there when these very Monte Carlos and Chevelle Malibu's were being assembled in the early 1970's. They also built the Oldsmobile Cutlass here, as well as mid-sized Pontiacs. It was a field trip I will never forget. Getting to watch those gorgeous Monte Carlos & Cutlasses join with their chassis and sometimes seeing a big block 454 or Rocket 455 being installed. Hard to believe that this was more than 50 years ago. Much more automation and massive technological advances have taken place since way back then. Seeing those ancient computers was a gas. Great memories of being 11 years old.
Thanks for posting. My favorite aunt retired from Fisher Body. She passed away several years back, and I keep hoping I might see her in one of these videos.
GM was the absolute king of the big 3 back 1965-1975, best designs, materials, interior, fit and finish, power trains, performance, suspensions, reliability, braking and ride, did I miss anything? Sill own and drive a stock, numbers matching 1972 SS Chevelle big block.
Breaking??
OOPS **braking** happens to the best of us.@@dadgarage7966
Talk about the wrong word to misspell, haha!@@dadgarage7966
Absolutely the best! I'm a GM guy. CHEVY runs deep in my blood
@@BullshitdetectorA1BullDe-xo3pr I was referring to factory stock personal/family daily driver cars, not race heritage.
good old days - pride in industry
The best days.
I never get tired of watching this.😊
Classic
Wow!!I the quality, the computers, the workforce, the era. These same cars hold there value today as the day they were shipped out!
Worth a lot more
5:21 First year for the 454 CID. Nearly 400 HP in a 70 Implala/Caprice grocery getter. Nice.
Love the Caprice and 1970 71 and I think 72 they had the wide body. Like olds
I didn't see anything 454 at that time stamp.
454= huge gas hog! 5 mpg
@@foxtrot312
WRONGO! 7-10 MPG. 😄
12 mpg in my 5600 pound 1975 Cadillac limo, 500 CI. @t312
I worked in Flint Michigan fisher body on south Saginaw st building Buick Regals !!! In 1973 Now the south unit is not even standing 😮😮😮my dad worked at Turnsted division making hardware for GM models 😊😊😊😊
Do yo know What models were built at fisher body plant in Detroit by the Ford Paquette plant
You probably sent them to Buick city. My uncle was a tool and die maker for Buick.
It's all a cesspool over there now sad ! Nothing's left.
Yes !!! They had large trucks and the bodies , firewall back would head out to final assembly chassis and engine, then to lots for truck or rail delivery 😀😀😀🚘🚘🚘🚘🚘🚘🚘🚘🚘🚘🍺🍺🍺
When I worked at GM 20 years ago, some of those huge tables at 9:20 were still around. I used to roll out harness prints on them to review and mark up.
I miss the days when you could tell one brand of car from another without having to read the name on it.
Hard to even find name now, like their ashamed to even show it
@@rogerdodrill4733 And some of them should be
The people that developed and built the machines and computers for the engineers and designers to work with are the real hero's.
My Dad always had Cadillacs growing up all my life every 4 years he would get himself a new one Eldarado, Seville, Or a Fleetwood , I would always see that Fisher name badge on the door frame of all his vehicles , So I grew up knowing Fisher meant something to Cadillac / GM cars ..👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾❤️❤️❤️💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾✌🏾✌🏾✌🏾
The 72 Monte Caro is still a GREAT car.
Hard work. In terms of morale, quality etc., be sure to read "Rivethead," by former GM autoworker Ben Hamper.
good stuff... this seems to be around 70-71' overall quality was still very high for most GM medium to high priced vehicles.. especially Buick and Cadillac.
That's a 1970 Monte Carlo
Yes sir those are considered boats. Big body even Pontiac product
@@chuckprahl170 I own a custom monte 84
@@stravis3269Compared to what? I've been by big SUVs almost as big as a small bus and I can't see anything! Dangerous big blind spot even sitting in parking lots pulling out! BOOM!!! Gas guzzlers too not what the sticker says! The other SUVs all look the same and are very bland. People today don't buy cars of looks evidently like in these days in the videos. After the late 80s the cars were most all same egg shaped plastic rubbish. The 90s most were all chicken eggs except for some foreign car's
I have a 71 cutlass supreme a 71 chevelle and a 72 camaro
😂😂😂😂😂🧢
@@printissgraham4930
Narrated by the best in the business, Peter Thomas!
all the comments and here's the best part,
Brand new, these cars were +- $4000.00
now a new pickup to work out of is north of $100,000.00
and we had to bail GM out a few years ago, I guess plastic and electronic non necessaties are rediculously expensive or did Greed come riding in and the car buying public is just getting boned.
restore something or buy restored, to hell with new, no style plastic junk. America needs an overhaul, these videos are a testament to what our nation can do.Past time to bring it back home.
I completely agree!! Fkn SUVs are look the same big chicken eggs! It's extraordinary these people today pay 40k+ for these ugly things! People evidently don't buy vehicles off looks anymore. I want another old car turn key but they start around 25k, I'd like a mid 60s Thunderbird or a old 60s Ford or Chevy wagon
I worked at Metal Crafters that built concept cars for major manufacturers one of them was Mercedes and that’s when I learned how much detail actually goes into the design of any new car it’s truly amazing how detailed everything is! From how far the door opens to the reach a person has to do to reach the actual door to the position of the driver’s Seat! In many Mercedes cars the driver’s seat is actually pointed ever so slightly to the center of the car so your eyesight is focused to a point somewhere well in front of the car while it’s driving at speed!
Idk
Back in the day ya, Mercedes was beautiful before they turned them into eggs 🤮
Those old monties were some of best demo derby/ bomber class races ever!!!!❤❤
When i was 20 in 1980 I traveled to all 49 states and all of Canada in a ford courier and cab height shell and went to Buick's plant in flint and fisher body it was fantastic with the roll test at the end wanted to see ford rough river plant but you had to have family connections. Never broke down and stayed at holiday inn parking lots and cooked my own food on the tail gate and went to koa to use shower and had a great time and went to every cat house in Nevada. Also went to Ford casting plant in Cleveland.
I get annoyed when a 35 year old tells me that the factory "didn't care" about door gaps in the decades past. Young people rarely know what they're talking about.
Omg this was gold too watch I wonder where those poor cars are now or what barn or junkyard they are sitting in 🥲
Crushed.
They mostly crush em. Their just eyesores haven't u heard
CUBA
Absolutely awesome.
Thank you! Cheers!
I can't even find a bathroom scale made in USA in 2024.
They sure had that back seat testing (11:35) accurately dialed in.
…the major standouts:
1….the dominance of mid-century business wear; white shirts with black ties and slacks…a haven for plastic “pocket protectors”…
2. …with two notable exceptions, the domain of white males in the engineering and design studios…
3. …the nascent use of computer assisted design…
…an illuminating look at the industry some 55 years ago..
So those are the white dudes who designed the Vega and Chevette,Citation pos 😂
Ah, the good ol' straight White Man. The engine of all real progress. When we ran the show, things worked out well and despite occasional errors (blown up and exaggerated by dual citizen media). Now that we've been deposed and replaced by Diversity Inclusion Equity and Woke, everything has gone to shttt. But, nobody is allowed to point that out in any meaningful detail.
I celebrated when that deplorable dual citizen OceanGate CEO went down with his Diversity-inspired submarine project. He OPENLY dissed and punked the old straight White Men who warned him of the errors in his design. Said that he didn't want to hire White guys because we weren't inspirational.
Karma put him in his place. [applause]
Today's major standout is YT's comment suppression system and its direct focus on suppressing any comment that comes to the defense of White men and a world that was better to live in because of us. We've been gaslighted, defamed, and marginalized and the West is in free fall as a result.
Wow GM was amazing at that time)))))
Thank you for making North America great!
Those days are long over look at the ugly SUVs everywhere uhhh terrible
Video stupendo...love from Italy 💙🇮🇹💙
Let’s hope history repeats itself on this one
Yes, But Will never happened !!!!
In a time machine, you'll never see a car with chrome on it with curves, it has to be a plastic round SUV or nothing
1:21 the worker slapped that trim onto its mounting clips, which probably broke paint on the body underneath it. Not his fault, he's doing his job as designed. No time is allowed for extra care, no applications of protective coatings under the trim are added to the process. Now that trim that people thought would protect that lower rear area of the car's body will actually serve to accumulate and trap water and corrosives into continuous contact with the metal underneath it where the paint has been broken since the day it was assembled. Unless that car went to a desert climate and stayed there, it has long since rusted away.
Ok make sense
@@printissgraham4930 I did.
Ya out west (away from the coast) there's lots of old clean cars waiting to be restored or already done, just Google and shop! 💰
@ 8:00 - all contained within a laptop computer today
I toured the GM assembly plant in 1989, in Van Nuys, CA when they were building F body Camaro and Firebirds with a friend who had worked there for over 30 years. Sadly, the plant closed soon after that.
Well good because the last nice bodystyle Camaro/Firebird was 1981. The aero style is ugly. My favourite is the 77-78 TAs
Such amazing technology. And this was half a century ago!
The only GM car my dad ever owned was a 1974 Chevrolet Impala wagon. with the small-block 400 cid engine. It was a VERY high quality car. The clam-shell tailgate leaked into the car, the dashboard cracked down the center, the glue-on trim fell off, they even welded up the upper control arm shaft bushing nuts so to replace them you had to buy the whole shaft. To top it all off we had to replace the engine; you know, the one with those "low-compression" deep dish pistons. Of course, that 400 small-block was externally balanced. One of the worst pieces of crap ever. GREAT VIDEO!
That was mid 70s. My 1966 Ford County Sedan with the little 289 was a great wagon, no leaks, vinyl seats had no tears, motor ran quiet as a mouse. It died from road salt, had to get rid of it. I'd like to buy a rust free one out west but I don't have 25k to drop at the moment
“Talented men”. Love that line. And I agree. Women have no business in the automotive industry. Especially running some of these companies.
Mary Barra.
Like the one ruining GM.
Back when you actually felt like you could afford a new car. I just saw an article for a $107.000 Ford pickup. Two-wheel drive. But loaded. It's hard to believe that they used to change body styles every year. And most of them really looked different than last years. Now it's all Mexico and it shows.
Looks like around the time I got married! The child safety car seat was just like the one my mother - in - law got us. That was G M s design. She worked at Delco In Oak Creek Wisconsin we still get the GM Employee discount. I’ve bought 20 new cars with that discount.starting in 72 till my new 2024 Cadillac XT6. Loved every single one.
The last beautiful bodystyle Cadillac car ( now the early Escalade was nice up to about 2012) was the 1992.5 Cadillac Brougham, then in 93 they went plastic aerodynamic crap
If you worked for the big 3 throughout the 70s to the 90s you made an absolute killing and could retire with a lot.
Weld those door hinges on that Nova. We'll never need to change them later.😆
Oh come on! When those door hinges wear and the door won't close you can roll the window down and push up on the window frame while closing. Of course, you can't do that if the window is frameless.
@@lvsqcsl I grew up when these Novas were new, used and bent. You and your Chevy buddy are in the junkyard looking for a door when it dawns on you they're welded on. I can't tell you how many Novas I saw going down the road looking like they were permanently turning left, or right forever more, after the mildest of front end impacts. Several buddies had the very front of their frame rails rot out, completely liberating the steering box from that very frame. One had just spent a fortune getting his Nova resprayed only to find out his steering was done permanently. I saw several attempts of pounding wood inside the frame rails and trying to secure that steering box. And who doesn't remember a pushrod coming through the 307s valve cover because of "push in" rocker studs......on a moving parts engine! Push in studs! The fact you couldn't fit anything wider than an E70 series tire in the wheelwells ensured you couldn't get traction, even if it had a suspension that could plant the tires. I remember when back halfing and tubbing hit the streets in the mid 70s, Novas were the FIRST to get this done to them, to correct the terrible GM engineering in these cars. Never owned a GM, never will.
@@malcolmhamilton5200. Every GM had its defects.
That was so awesome
I miss my late 80's Buick Skylark. Body by Fisher.
Buy one, Google
Dad had a 1964 Buick Skylark that he kept as a beater for us kids to use as training wheels. Got my license in 1982, the last of the three kids to drive it, it was beat to hell by the time it finally reached me. Front left quarter panel was replaced with a junkyard panel, not even the same color. Driver side door was caved in. Paint worn through, upholstery in ribbons.
And I loved that car dearly. If I could go back in time, I'd time capsule that car so I could restore it at a later date, which happens to be now.
My favorite worked at the GM Doraville plant for 24 years in the paint department. I remember a family tour there in about this same time period. I believe they were building full size cars. It was a great experience for a 11 year old. I really wanted to see the truck plant at Lakewood. I'm not sure when the Doraville plant closed, but Lakewood closed in 91 I think. Their last model was the box body Caprice and the last few were for the GA State Patrol. I remember seeing them at the delivery lot when the plant had closed. We bought some plant surplus from time to time. Today in WA state I still have a set of long forks we bought at the Lakewood GA plant in the 80s. I still use them daily in my shop.
I love the diversity of the people in this video. I saw Poles, Italians, Germans, Irish, I saw blue eyes, Brown eyes, blonde hair, black hair, I saw detached earlobes, round heads, oval heads, pointy heads. Not once did I see a African, Indian, Asian or Mexican, but it was diverse.
I smell a racist
You can get all nostalgic all you want but the truth of the matter is the 1970s is when the reputation of the American carmaker took a shit.
Back in the day when you really needed to wear sunglasses on the production line handling all that chrome real bling, no plastic bullshit crap
Beautiful, I really enjoyed watching this....
1970 Monte Carlo. Could be 71-72 as well. Personal Luxury as they would name it.
1970 in the description
70, front parking lights in the bumper are rounded. 71 are rectangular and the 72 are in the grill.
Back when quality actually ment something 👊
Somebody has rose colored glasses on.
Wauw! I had a 1978 2 door Malibu with a fisher body back in 2000, and I always wondered how a car was developed, designed , and put together😊 and now I know. Amazing documentary 😊
Buy another one
STIL LOVE FOR THIS PERFECTION IM 43 YERS MECANIC : OLD MAN FOR OLD THINGS ??
RESPECT FOR GREAT CARS !!
old is gold car for the history
I'm a mechanical engineer rocket scientist. I worked at the Fisher assembly plant in San Francisco from 1969 till 2 years ago. I designed every single GM product since then. Corvettes, Camaro, Chevelle, you name it and it's my creation. I had some good help and that's why I'm so successful. I retired and now I'm a philanthropist. A philanthropist is a person with lots of money and helps. others.😊
Good for you
I seemed to have missed the part where they installed the rust accelerator.
03:35 Someone must have made a fortune selling these guys "pocket protectors". 🤣
04:06 And "guys" they were. "Every man is encouraged to submit ideas". There were no female or non-white designers, apparently.
During Archie Bunker year's.
Back in the day when Chevy, Cadillac, Buick and Pontiac and Oldsmobile had more chrome than you could shake a stick at
Bodies by fisher. They used poke fun at it and call it coffins by fisher back in the 80s.
love that pontiac in clay,
Would like to know what a full size clay mock up weighed?
At 19:57 The sudden asinine substitution of glaringly loud music for the original narration is unforgivable. 👎👎👎👎25
And watermark
It was great growing up and driving in the 70’s. Big GM cars and cheap gas. Much less traffic too!
There were some interiors that were pretty ridiculous, but there weren’t very many cars that looked all the same
great stuff!
RIP Fisher Body
Even showed the prototypes of the airbag from 2:36-2:53. Those came out in 1973-74.
so cool
The good old days before DEI.
Body by Fisher! The Kansas City Mo plant was a behive of activity in the 60s and 70s.
We need to bring those machines back
I wonder what happens to all the body stamping dies,, do any get bought or preserved?
were can I get the background soundtrack for cruising in my 78. 8track would be perfect.
Love seeing those clay models of the second generation Pontiac Firebirds. And that formula undergoing testing. This is back when American car manufacturing was so great. Before robotic automation replaced people
Don't think robots ever replaced people, just helped them work faster& easier
The "King Rose" watermark is annoying.
It looks like these companies and employees took much more pride in their products back then, than they do today. These days, it's recall after recall. I will never buy a new American vehicle, again. Toyota all the way.
Cool 😊
Enjoyed the video. Is the "King Rose Archives" water mark necessary?
See the airbags? 1974 some cars had them and they worked perfectly, also ABS aka Automatic Skid Control
What they aren’t showing is upper management and the bean counters hamstringing engineering, sacrificing quality and customer satisfaction to make as much money as possible in the short term- that’s the American management style I’ve worked under for over 40 years
…..all (most) destined for a scrapyard…
That’s the crazy part.… All this production and effort to something that’s going to get thrown away
Think of all the development for ice engines they want to obsolete w ev.
That’s pretty cool scanner @ 6:40, an old school version of a modern day 3D scanner…photogrammetry
Love to have that yellow firebird!
The good old days of Made in USA. Bring it back!
Sad to think that between 1970-1980, prices of new cars went up 3-4 times, design, looks and the quality crashed that much.
Inflation was insane back then
Correct me if I am wrong, so Fisher Body Divison was responsible for the quarter panel, glass, doors, trunk, glass, rear bumper, and interior trim while the GM car divisions were responsible for the hood, fenders, grille, and front bumper?
Wow
Had no idea computers 🖥️ played such a role in the design back then wow😮
That music, I'm waiting for Steve McQueen to come crash the party in a green Mustang.
Remember when we gave tours to the Chinese and then gave them tool and die equipment? Beginning of the New World Order
"Only acceptable components are approved for assembly..." Noting acceptance and approval are nearly interchangeable in meaning, it interesting to note that corporate speak has always been around. But personally, what made the golden era of 60's/70' automotive world a special time was the engineers that could still build damn near anything with a slide rule. The pocket calculator ended the era? Probably not - cafe standards, and Nixon bricking over the gold window combined as a force for... Japan.
25:05 that's one way to end up bending the hood, I accidentally bended the hood on mi '77 Oldsmobile closing it from one side like he did. That sucked...
Bent. hinges were probably dry, if lubed properly, should close easily
@@rogerdodrill4733 I always lubed the thing with WD40 opened and closed like a new 2000s car's hood; but started forgetting about doing that so there goes mi bented hood...