Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Ferrari factory tour (2009 vs 2016)

[Doug & Terri (dnt]

Peter says ". . . I can't come to grips with the modern era of car
construction."

Picture this - 1968 and I convince the personal team at General Motors,
South Gate, CA, plant to hire me for the new 1969 vehicle assembly run
starting in July. Buick, Olds, Pontiac, & Chevy.  A new car rolled off the
line every 30 seconds.  No seats - the lot boys drove the car sitting on the
floor while keeping the door open and sighted thru the opening between the
door and the body.  

All colors, all types, no particular model groups or color came down the
line.  On the "final line" the entire correct make and colored front end
would come out of the ceiling and get mated up to the frame and body.  Never
saw a mistake come out of the ceiling.  Pre-computer.  

One of the last steps on the "final line" was to hook up the "octopus" - a
gizmo with all the fluids - oil, water, gas, etc. Then the car was started
for the first time belching exhaust and oil smoke like crazy.   I worked in
a little cul-de-sac for the front end grill work.  The work trays suspended
on an overhead chain drive just swinging away.  Interesting if not nauseous
work - OSHA?  What's that?  Diesel switchers running thru the building, cars
starting, and by the late hot afternoon the smoke and fumes descended on us
like London fog.  I felt like a coal miner.  

Interesting work nevertheless.  At that time it was the most money I had
ever earned per hour - about $6/hr.  About $40/hr today. Even with such
riches in my hand - I knew THIS was not my lot.  It was then that I REALLY
applied myself to my college studies.

And that, Peter, was how it sorta was in 1968 at the South Gate CA GM plant.

DOUG
(I asked one of the senior geezers there "why do you work here?"  his reply
- "I get to see the new cars before anyone else!"  Ahhhhh, sez I.)