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9:03pm
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9:06pm
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9:51pm
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Howzitgoin? |
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9:52pm
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9:54pm
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10:02pm
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Three little letters. M.O.B. www.dreamtimepodcast.com... |
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10:03pm
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10:06pm
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10:06pm
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But when it came to throwing a party for unveiling the all-new 1965 Pontiacs, no one could match Epstein's extravagance and talent for revving up the crowd and selling Pontiacs. Epstein's was not your run-of-the-mill Pontiac store. During working hours, guys with 20-inch necks were common sights as they walked through the service area. Many of these guys had colorful middle nicknames. I'm not sure whether the big guys such as "Peanuts" or "Big Tuna" made a visit or even Frank "Ol' Blue Eyes" Sinatra. But Sinatra's presence was heard in Epstein's radio commercials, which were specially orchestrated for the Pontiac dealer.But I digress. Epstein's Pontiac unveiling was by invitation only. One of my high school buddies mentioned his family got an invitation, and they were heading there later that week.It was a Thursday in September 1964. The dealership's windows were covered with brown paper. Signs with the words "Private Party" were plastered on the windows. We didn't have an invitation, but my dad was confident he could talk his way in. There was a long line, possibly hundreds of people, stretching outside the showroom along Lincoln Avenue. When the uniformed usher stopped us at the door, my dad said he left the invitation in his car."No problem, sir," said the usher. "Come on in." In the small showroom, several bright spotlights were aimed on a big, dark-blue metallic 1965 Bonneville two-door hardtop. What a beauty! The '64 was old, boxy, yesterday's news. Every piece of sheet metal was changed for '65. The '65 was topped with a flowing roofline and beautifully curved rear fenders. It was a showstopper. The mighty have fallen - - - We followed the line of Pontiac enthusiasts to the next stop, the ballroom. Actually, it was the service department, but you didn't recognize it. The floor was covered with wall-to-wall carpeting. Drapery hung from the ceiling to the floor, hiding every inch of the brick walls. The ceiling was decorated to hide the steel girders supporting the roof. There were huge, brightly lit chandlers. A 10-piece band, the members wearing tuxedos, was playing a familiar toe-tapper, "Chicago, Chicago, that toddlin' town." New Pontiacs were scattered around the temporary ballroom. It was an unbelievable transformation for one night. The party reflected the strength of the Pontiac brand. Pontiac set a record in 1965, thanks to the sharp-looking Tempest, GTO, Bonneville, Catalina and Grand Prix -- and its strong dealer body, most in single-point stores.But today, Pontiac and GM have tumbled. Last year, Pontiac sold 267,348 vehicles. In fact, combined sales last year for Buick, Pontiac, Saturn, Hummer and Cadillac didn't come close to Pontiac's 1965 sales. Those five brands totaled just 781,233 units last year, 50,215 less than Pontiac's 1965 sales. Nothing lasts forever -- not even Pontiac, probably even these memories. | |
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🙉
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🙉
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10:23pm
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@DavetheSpazz: Maybe that whole comment from KMA365 at 10:06pm should be kaboshed. | |
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10:31pm
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Specifically, keep the first lines then replace the final 80% with " . . . continued at " then the link. | |
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