VIP Department at Chevrolet?

[Oliver S.]

[Duke W.]

Re: VIP Department at Chevrolet?

I was a production engineer at Pontiac for a few months in 1968 before going off to grad school. I'm not aware that there was a VIP loaner car function at the central office in Pontiac. Most loaner cars for VIPs and TV/film productions were handled through zone offices, and Pontiac's Hollywood office had a good supply of cars for these purposes.

In August I flew out to Southern California to oversee the '69 Firebird pilot build at the Van Nuys plant... took a cab from LAX to the Hollywood zone office, and they outfitted me with a loaded Firebird 400 convertible. That was sure a better ride than some low-end four-door sedan rental car!

I expect Chevrolet handled VIP and TV/film loaner cars the same way, especially for short term loaners, but the various Corvettes supplied for the five year-long Route 66 TV series may have been handled out of their central office.

Tod and Buz always seemed to have the latest model year when the first new season episode aired in September. Filming likely started in June or July, so they probably had pilot or very early production examples.

Duke

[James G.]

Re: VIP Department at Chevrolet?

JOE PIKE at Central office in Detroit, and as Duke said Zone offices for all other requests. JOE also handled special COPO style cars like the 67 Green White 435 built for BOB WINGATE.