WOW! The GM Norwood Reunion was in a word, unreal. So many workers stopped to admire "their car" and spoke proudly; almost like the parent of a child. One gentleman who worked at Norwood for 37 years pointed out many items of "his work". When I invited him to sit in the car on a seat that was 45 years old, he looked like a child on Christmas morning.
I could sense the genuine pride that went into building these autos. The same gentleman from above said the 69 Camaro was a "tough car to build as it was all steel". When a Line Forman told him to speed up the welding to the rocker panel, he choose to take an extra 7 seconds to "perfect" the job he was doing. He also pointed out how he welded in the rear taillight panel and wheel housings too.
Also, the myth "not to buy a car that was made on a Monday or a Friday" is just that, a myth.
From start to finish, a Norwood Camaro took two and one-half days to built, so really no car was built on those days. The five-mile long assembly line was churning out 54 cars an hour...OMG!
With the event a success and Phil Borris finally exhaling, all I can say is that I was honored to be invited and proud as the current "care-giver" to bring Ol Yeller back to re-unite her with her parents.
