Sheryl Hammans Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 The original Compartment Key to our 64’ GTO is stamped with a dedication to to Fremont GM Plant. I have not been able to find any information about the key. I was hoping someone might know the story behind the key. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 (edited) Hi Sheryl, I can take a guess at this but I will admit that I would only be taking an educated guess. You might try reaching out to Tim or Penny Dye at the Pontiac-Oakland Museum in Pontiac Illinois. They maintain the Pontiac-Oakland Club International's library and collection of Pontiac literature and history. Tim or Penny certainly have more information than I have. The Fremont CA assembly plant opened in 1962 and built cars for GM from 1962 to 1982. It then closed, and was partially demolished and re-opened as the GM-Toyota joint venture known as NUMMI in 1984 and closed in 2010 (with GM's bankruptcy). It is now the Tesla Motors plant. If you look up the history of your GTO from Pontiac Historical Services, I suspect your GTO was built at the Fremont Assembly plant. My guess is that the word DEDICATION is a symbol of GM's and the UAW's dedication to quality that is built into your automobile. I suspect that many such keys came from that plant that way. Edited February 19, 2019 by Frosty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheryl Hammans Posted February 19, 2019 Author Share Posted February 19, 2019 2 hours ago, Frosty said: Hi Sheryl, I can take a guess at this but I will admit that I would only be taking an educated guess. You might try reaching out to Tim or Penny Dye at the Pontiac-Oakland Museum in Pontiac Illinois. They maintain the Pontiac-Oakland Club International's library and collection of Pontiac literature and history. Tim or Penny certainly have more information than I have. The Fremont CA assembly plant opened in 1962 and built cars for GM from 1962 to 1982. It then closed, and was partially demolished and re-opened as the GM-Toyota joint venture known as NUMMI in 1984 and closed in 2010 (with GM's bankruptcy). It is now the Tesla Motors plant. If you look up the history of your GTO from Pontiac Historical Services, I suspect your GTO was built at the Fremont Assembly plant. My guess is that the word DEDICATION is a symbol of GM's and the UAW's dedication to quality that is built into your automobile. I suspect that many such keys came from that plant that way. Thank you for your help. I have been in contact with Tim and he does not know anything about the keys. I was hoping to find someone else who has a key. They might know more about them than I have been able to find out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 (edited) 5 hours ago, Sheryl Hammans said: Thank you for your help. I have been in contact with Tim and he does not know anything about the keys. I was hoping to find someone else who has a key. They might know more about them than I have been able to find out. The only other thing I could suggest is finding a retired GM worker from the Fremont assembly plant who worked at the plant in those days. Not an easy feat I am sure. However, you may find former employee reunions posted online from time to time. That might be an opportunity. I say this somewhat tongue and cheek but you might try some of the local McDonald's around the plant. A lot of retirees hang around near their old plants - often called "The Breakfast Club" in a lot of areas, these guys might give you a lead. This is certainly true here in the Flint, Michigan area. Lots of hourly and salary employees meet for breakfast fairly regularly at established restaurants. Edited February 19, 2019 by Frosty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheryl Hammans Posted February 20, 2019 Author Share Posted February 20, 2019 Yes, the car was built at the Fremont Facility. Thanks, but I don’t live in the Bay. I found a Website for past Fremont employees, but no one has answered my question about the keys. I guess it will remain an enigma. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solution Popular Post OldHud308 Posted March 5, 2022 Solution Popular Post Share Posted March 5, 2022 Hi Sheryl....I moved to Sunnyvale, CA in 1961. That's just down the road from Fremont. When the plant opened, they had a dedication ceremony and open house. You got a complete guided tour of the assembly line, start to finish. You also got a dedication key blank that you could take to your favorite locksmith and have cut to fit your GM vehicle. I still have my uncut blank. Almost used it on various GM vehicles over the years. I believe the original purpose would have been a give away commemorating the opening of the plant. But some could have ended up on cars coming off the line. Also local dealers may have received some. Hope that helps 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiwiStarChief Posted March 5, 2022 Share Posted March 5, 2022 How cool is that nugget of history! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheryl Hammans Posted March 29, 2022 Author Share Posted March 29, 2022 OldHud308, Thank you for the story to go with my key. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your reply Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 This is an amazing story. I truly learned something. I know from personal experience that each GM facility would do different things at various times for special events. I worked at GM for both the 75th and 100th anniversaries. The celebrations could not have been more different. GM was in a significantly different financial situation in 2008 vs. 1983. In 1983, every GM employye got a 75th annivesary commerative book. That didn't happen in 2008 as GM was almost bankrupt, and I had to buy the special centennial edition of GM myself. This is a great story - thank you again for sharing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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