Pontiac West Assembly (also known as GMC Truck & Coach, GM Truck Validation Center and Pontiac Centerpoint Campus Validation Center) was a General Motors manufacturing facility located in Pontiac, Michigan. The manufacturing complex occupied an irregular 82-acre site bounded on the North side by Rapid Street, on the South side by South Boulevard W, on the East side by the Grand Trunk Western Railroad/Woodward Avenue (U.S. Route 24), and on the West side by Franklin Road.[1] The complex included GMC Truck & Coach Plant 1, 3, 4 and 5, as well as numerous administrative and support buildings. The last GM operations at the facility were closed, and the site completely demolished, in 2008.[2]
The complex was originally many separate privately owned parcels belonging to various manufacturing companies as well as private homes. By 1909 Rapid Motor Vehicle Company occupied a plant at 25 Rapid Street abutting the Grand Trunk Western Railroad tracks.[3]
By 1919, Wilson Foundry & Machine Company, Detroit Weather Proof Body Company and Pontiac Drop Forge Company were some of the diverse property owners.[4][5]
General Motors ownership of the site began with its acquisition of Rapid Motor Vehicle Company and its plant at 25 Rapid Street in 1909. The Rapid Motor Vehicle facility became Plant 1. In 1913, the manufacturing of all GMC trucks was consolidated at the Rapid Street plant.
GM acquired a controlling interest in Yellow Truck & Coach Manufacturing Company in 1925 and began moving its engineering operations to the Rapid Street plant. In 1937, Yellow Truck & Coach Manufacturing Company began purchasing the plants owned by Wilson Foundry & Machine Company. Plant 4 fronted S Saginaw Street (now Woodward Avenue). Plant 3 on the corner of South Boulevard W and Franklin Road was acquired in 1940. Plant 5 fronted Franklin Road north of Plant 3. In 1943, GM acquired the remaining interest in Yellow Truck & Coach Manufacturing Company and renamed it GMC Truck & Coach Division.[6]
Around 1981, Plant 1 was demolished. Plants 3 and 5 were demolished around 2005, and Plant 4 in 2008. In 2011 the vacant property was transferred to RACER Trust as part of the GM bankruptcy settlement, and sold to M1 Concourse in 2014 and developed into a playground for auto enthusiasts.[7]
Other associated GMC facilitiesedit
Plant 2 opened in 1928 at 660 South Boulevard E; this larger facility became known as Pontiac Central Assembly
Plant 6 opened in 1972 at 2100 South Opdyke Road; this modern facility became known as Pontiac East Assembly
^"Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Pontiac, Oakland County, Michigan. Sanborn Map Company, Oct, 1909". Library of Congress. Sanborn Map Company. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
^"Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Pontiac, Oakland County, Michigan. Sanborn Map Company, Feb, 1919". Library of Congress. Sanborn Map Company. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
^"Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Pontiac, Oakland County, Michigan. Sanborn Map Company, Feb, 1919". Library of Congress. Sanborn Map Company. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
^Meyer, Donald. "The First Century of GMC Truck History" (PDF). GMC Heritage Center. Donald Meyer. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
pontiac, west, assembly, also, known, truck, coach, truck, validation, center, pontiac, centerpoint, campus, validation, center, general, motors, manufacturing, facility, located, pontiac, michigan, manufacturing, complex, occupied, irregular, acre, site, boun. Pontiac West Assembly also known as GMC Truck amp Coach GM Truck Validation Center and Pontiac Centerpoint Campus Validation Center was a General Motors manufacturing facility located in Pontiac Michigan The manufacturing complex occupied an irregular 82 acre site bounded on the North side by Rapid Street on the South side by South Boulevard W on the East side by the Grand Trunk Western Railroad Woodward Avenue U S Route 24 and on the West side by Franklin Road 1 The complex included GMC Truck amp Coach Plant 1 3 4 and 5 as well as numerous administrative and support buildings The last GM operations at the facility were closed and the site completely demolished in 2008 2 Pontiac WestOperated1909 2008LocationPontiac MichiganCoordinates42 37 N 83 17 W 42 62 N 83 29 W 42 62 83 29IndustryAutomotiveProductsChevrolet and GMC trucksAddressBaldwin AvenueOwner s General MotorsDefunct2008 15 years ago 2008 Contents 1 History 2 Other associated GMC facilities 3 Vehicles built 4 ReferencesHistory editThe complex was originally many separate privately owned parcels belonging to various manufacturing companies as well as private homes By 1909 Rapid Motor Vehicle Company occupied a plant at 25 Rapid Street abutting the Grand Trunk Western Railroad tracks 3 By 1919 Wilson Foundry amp Machine Company Detroit Weather Proof Body Company and Pontiac Drop Forge Company were some of the diverse property owners 4 5 General Motors ownership of the site began with its acquisition of Rapid Motor Vehicle Company and its plant at 25 Rapid Street in 1909 The Rapid Motor Vehicle facility became Plant 1 In 1913 the manufacturing of all GMC trucks was consolidated at the Rapid Street plant GM acquired a controlling interest in Yellow Truck amp Coach Manufacturing Company in 1925 and began moving its engineering operations to the Rapid Street plant In 1937 Yellow Truck amp Coach Manufacturing Company began purchasing the plants owned by Wilson Foundry amp Machine Company Plant 4 fronted S Saginaw Street now Woodward Avenue Plant 3 on the corner of South Boulevard W and Franklin Road was acquired in 1940 Plant 5 fronted Franklin Road north of Plant 3 In 1943 GM acquired the remaining interest in Yellow Truck amp Coach Manufacturing Company and renamed it GMC Truck amp Coach Division 6 Around 1981 Plant 1 was demolished Plants 3 and 5 were demolished around 2005 and Plant 4 in 2008 In 2011 the vacant property was transferred to RACER Trust as part of the GM bankruptcy settlement and sold to M1 Concourse in 2014 and developed into a playground for auto enthusiasts 7 Other associated GMC facilities editPlant 2 opened in 1928 at 660 South Boulevard E this larger facility became known as Pontiac Central Assembly Plant 6 opened in 1972 at 2100 South Opdyke Road this modern facility became known as Pontiac East AssemblyVehicles built editChevrolet AK Series GMC C and E series Chevrolet Advance Design GMC New Design Chevrolet Task Force GMC Blue Chip Chevrolet C K GMC C K GMC Sierra GMC Motorhome GM Scenicruiser Bus GM Buffalo bus GM old look transit bus GM New Look busReferences edit PCC Validation Industrial Land I PDF RACER Trust RACER Trust Retrieved 15 September 2018 History of GM manufacturing in Pontiac MI Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Pontiac Oakland County Michigan Sanborn Map Company Oct 1909 Library of Congress Sanborn Map Company Retrieved 15 September 2018 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Pontiac Oakland County Michigan Sanborn Map Company Feb 1919 Library of Congress Sanborn Map Company Retrieved 15 September 2018 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Pontiac Oakland County Michigan Sanborn Map Company Feb 1919 Library of Congress Sanborn Map Company Retrieved 15 September 2018 Meyer Donald The First Century of GMC Truck History PDF GMC Heritage Center Donald Meyer Retrieved 15 September 2018 Property History 42 37 19 N 83 17 06 W 42 621994 N 83 285032 W 42 621994 83 285032 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pontiac West Assembly amp oldid 1115890916, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
