I'm just curious, when the folks at the GM plant were building the GN's, did they really care about the quality of craftsmanship. 99% of the time you see a GN with a bad paint job, the hood and trunk don't really line up that well with the fenders, the stickers that were applied to the car are off center, sideways or upside down. These are just a couple of things, but I've heard of many others. I love my GN but really what was going on over there?
Did They Care?
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I believe they cared - but...
I do believe the workers took pride in their work and how they assembled the cars. The people back then - if anything - were even more work ethic oriented than many of today's working force.
I place the blame squarely at the feet of GM and Buick Corporate. THEY are the ones who set the quality tolerances, built the equipment the workers had to work with, made the decisions about what paint to buy, what hinges, etc to buy and THEY are the ones who had ultimate decisions in how the cars were built. THEY were the driving force in marketing and setting standards for dealers. GM Corporate Execs are truly who 'made' our cars what they ultimately were when the UAW workers fired up the engines and rolled them off the assembly line.
Yes, I'm sure there were some people (just like today) who perhaps saw assembling/painting our cars as a "job". But I want to believe that the overwhelming majority of Americans in the '80's were just as conscientious about their work as we are of ours today. They just didn't have the technology, paint, and 20 more years of developing the product to make the cars as good as they are today. Nor did they work for a company that realy cared if the car was (or even could be) just 'that much' better - all in the name of the almighty dollar.
America Corporate was fat and lazy back then and they had a LOT to learn from the Germans and the Japanese when it came tp designing, engineering and building cars. And they still have a long way to go in some respects.
But a LOT of today's American Built cars are among the finest in the world when it comes to mass produced vehicles. That says a lot.
Yes, I think the average American Auto Worker truly cared about what he built when it came right down to it.
Absolutely.
I do believe the workers took pride in their work and how they assembled the cars. The people back then - if anything - were even more work ethic oriented than many of today's working force.
I place the blame squarely at the feet of GM and Buick Corporate. THEY are the ones who set the quality tolerances, built the equipment the workers had to work with, made the decisions about what paint to buy, what hinges, etc to buy and THEY are the ones who had ultimate decisions in how the cars were built. THEY were the driving force in marketing and setting standards for dealers. GM Corporate Execs are truly who 'made' our cars what they ultimately were when the UAW workers fired up the engines and rolled them off the assembly line.
Yes, I'm sure there were some people (just like today) who perhaps saw assembling/painting our cars as a "job". But I want to believe that the overwhelming majority of Americans in the '80's were just as conscientious about their work as we are of ours today. They just didn't have the technology, paint, and 20 more years of developing the product to make the cars as good as they are today. Nor did they work for a company that realy cared if the car was (or even could be) just 'that much' better - all in the name of the almighty dollar.
America Corporate was fat and lazy back then and they had a LOT to learn from the Germans and the Japanese when it came tp designing, engineering and building cars. And they still have a long way to go in some respects.
But a LOT of today's American Built cars are among the finest in the world when it comes to mass produced vehicles. That says a lot.
Yes, I think the average American Auto Worker truly cared about what he built when it came right down to it.
Absolutely.
Very well put Raven. Thanks for typing all of that for me so I wouldn't have to. 
There are days I get real pissed with some things about the GN. Trust me... it can be a PITA. But I just have to remind myself that I'm dealing with a 20 year old car that has been through more than it's share. Built back in a time when American car quality just wasn't up to par. I'm sure you'll find people on this board that are still ready to bash the quality of American cars. I'm not gonna jump on that band wagon.
So, did they care... yes, I don't doubt it. There's no need to get unhappy with the factory workers when you're getting frustrated at a 20 year old car.
I have a friend that works in a body shop that always jokes that they're ALL junk. Every car I see him work on, he's cursing and calling a piece of junk. But then again, I hear him turn around and say the same care is nice or well built. I think what he's joking and referring too is the fact that all cars are machines. They all have faults, and all have their shining points. It's more the frustration of working on them sometimes that is what leads you to think their all junk.
When I drive my Volkswagen here I joke left and right about "fine German engineering" because the damn thing is always breaking down or doing something stupid. But by the same token it does get me from A to B. (just takes a lot longer then the GN)
There are days I get real pissed with some things about the GN. Trust me... it can be a PITA. But I just have to remind myself that I'm dealing with a 20 year old car that has been through more than it's share. Built back in a time when American car quality just wasn't up to par. I'm sure you'll find people on this board that are still ready to bash the quality of American cars. I'm not gonna jump on that band wagon.
So, did they care... yes, I don't doubt it. There's no need to get unhappy with the factory workers when you're getting frustrated at a 20 year old car.
I have a friend that works in a body shop that always jokes that they're ALL junk. Every car I see him work on, he's cursing and calling a piece of junk. But then again, I hear him turn around and say the same care is nice or well built. I think what he's joking and referring too is the fact that all cars are machines. They all have faults, and all have their shining points. It's more the frustration of working on them sometimes that is what leads you to think their all junk.
When I drive my Volkswagen here I joke left and right about "fine German engineering" because the damn thing is always breaking down or doing something stupid. But by the same token it does get me from A to B. (just takes a lot longer then the GN
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- May 26, 2001
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- 9,208
Re: I believe they cared - but...
EXACTALLY!
A quote from a car mag journalist made back in the late '70's after he had visited many Japanese auto factories, "quality is a management decision".
Applies to every business, not just building cars.
[And to this board I should add.]
EXACTALLY!
A quote from a car mag journalist made back in the late '70's after he had visited many Japanese auto factories, "quality is a management decision".
Applies to every business, not just building cars.
[And to this board I should add.]
strikeeagle
New Member
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2001
- Messages
- 3,326
The horse is pretty much out of the barn when it comes time to screw things together. How many times have you worked on something, your TR, a lawn mower, a patio grill, whatever, and said to yourself, "What in the hell was the guy thinking when he designed this"? Or, "Why is this thing so cheaply made"?
So far as quality of labor goes, it's like anything else in life. There are guys who are skilled and take great pride, and guys who could absolutely care less. When the crap hits the fan, some guys shovel coal, some dress up like ladies and jump in lifeboats.
So far as quality of labor goes, it's like anything else in life. There are guys who are skilled and take great pride, and guys who could absolutely care less. When the crap hits the fan, some guys shovel coal, some dress up like ladies and jump in lifeboats.
Those were wonderful tributes to union labor.
Now could we have a bit of reality?
The cheap Omni/Horizon was built in the oldest tech assembly plant in America and was rated highest in build quality over the last few years of its run. Those workers were fighting to keep their jobs and had the hope of another model coming to their plant.
For our beloved Regals, those workers already knew their jobs were history before our cars came down the line in 87.
How much had quality declined? I have a 79 Malibu and an 87 Regal. On my 79 the original laquer is coming back to a pretty good shine as I remove the neglect of the prior owner. All four doors shut great, as does the hood. With just a drop its closed every time. The 87 has been repainted once and could use it now. The doors and windows need adjusting and the hood almost always needs a second try even though I try to keep it lubed. The trunk fits great on the 79 and on the 87 it has always been tight to one side. I could go on.
I had a 79 Regal Sport Coupe and an 83 Regal T Type. Both of those were much tighter cars than my 87. The 83 and 87 are both T Top cars. And when I ride with the buddy who owns it now, I always remark on how much quieter and smoother it is than mine. It had original paint until last year and lived most of its life outdoors.
I think they could have done better, but there isn't much to be done about it now, except make the corrections ourselves. One thing we are all lucky about is the motors came in as assemblies and they are great.
Now could we have a bit of reality?
The cheap Omni/Horizon was built in the oldest tech assembly plant in America and was rated highest in build quality over the last few years of its run. Those workers were fighting to keep their jobs and had the hope of another model coming to their plant.
For our beloved Regals, those workers already knew their jobs were history before our cars came down the line in 87.
How much had quality declined? I have a 79 Malibu and an 87 Regal. On my 79 the original laquer is coming back to a pretty good shine as I remove the neglect of the prior owner. All four doors shut great, as does the hood. With just a drop its closed every time. The 87 has been repainted once and could use it now. The doors and windows need adjusting and the hood almost always needs a second try even though I try to keep it lubed. The trunk fits great on the 79 and on the 87 it has always been tight to one side. I could go on.
I had a 79 Regal Sport Coupe and an 83 Regal T Type. Both of those were much tighter cars than my 87. The 83 and 87 are both T Top cars. And when I ride with the buddy who owns it now, I always remark on how much quieter and smoother it is than mine. It had original paint until last year and lived most of its life outdoors.
I think they could have done better, but there isn't much to be done about it now, except make the corrections ourselves. One thing we are all lucky about is the motors came in as assemblies and they are great.
