Who owns an American made car?

[charvelguy]

yeah, those guys were making good money.. starting pay for assembly at Ford was like 14-15/hr for a new hire. The cuts hit hard here..those people who had been there for 10-20 years had life real good.

[5074charvel]

The best car I ever owned was a '73 Opel Manta. German and Orange and a 4-speed and just a great ride. It handled so well, it was scary.

Opel Manta - you must be kiddin´

That car is a legend. There were two movies out in the 90s here based on the whole Manta-Scene.

[rjohnstone]

The Fort Wayne assembly plant consists of more than 2.5 million square feet of enclosed space. The plant built its first pick-up truck in 1986. GM currently builds versions of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pick-up truck, and Fort Wayne is home to the world's first full-size hybrid pick-up truck.

Interesting...
Every Silverado I looked at when I was shopping for one back in 2001 was from Canada.
Short bed, long bed, reg. cab, ext, crew. These were all from the 1500 and 2500 series.
When I asked about it, they said they were all made there now.
I know the H2 and a few other specialty trucks were built here and in Canada.


I agree though... the unions have made the US auto industry the mess that it is today.

[fett]

wow, that brings back HS auto shop days.. I haven't seen an Opel in long time.

I'll say it again. That was the best car I ever owned. Mine was an orange Rally. If I ever see one again, I will buy it.

[fett]

Opel Manta - you must be kiddin´

That car is a legend. There were two movies out in the 90s here based on the whole Manta-Scene.

I'll reply to you, as well. That was the best thing Germany ever shipped to the US. And then the dollar crashed in the '70's and parts got so expensive they stopped making them for the US. That was the end for Opel. They started making an Opel made in Japan and changed the design. Those '70's German Opels were cheap. Mine cost $3,500 out the door. I almost bought a GT a couple of years ago. In retrospect, I could kick myself for not doing it. Here's a Manta, but that's a little to rough for me. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Opel-...85624757QQrdZ1

[GWARGHOUL]

Ford F-series trucks are made in Mexico, again not American.

Actually, thats incorrect.

MOST if not ALL Ford trucks come from the Louisville, Kentucky assembly plant.If my memory serves me correctly, its the Wayne Stamping and Assembly Plant.

Was with my dad when he delivered a trailer of gas tanks from Detroit, to KY.
His 81 was made there too.

[charvelguy]

The Ford plant here on Ford Pkwy in St. Paul makes the Ranger.
Its had some major layoffs but now is slated to be shut down in early'08 as I believe the Ranger is being phased out.
It a shame too as this plant is part of Fords heritage due to its history. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin_Cities_Assembly_Plant

[rjohnstone]

Actually, thats incorrect.

MOST if not ALL Ford trucks come from the Louisville, Kentucky assembly plant.If my memory serves me correctly, its the Wayne Stamping and Assembly Plant.

Was with my dad when he delivered a trailer of gas tanks from Detroit, to KY.
His 81 was made there too.

Then someone needs to explain all the rail cars coming in from Mexico loaded with F-150's and F-250's.
Don't tell me... they send them down to TJ for the upholstery. :ROTF:

Seriously though... every time I go to San Diego, I see rail cars coming INTO the US from Mexico loaded with Ford trucks.

Perhaps they are making them in multiple locations.

[GWARGHOUL]

I know the frames come from Mexico. But yeah, the majority are made in KY... and have been for some decades.

Weird.

[StukaJU87]

The truck I have had for the last 11 years or so is a Toyota 4wd. 136,000 miles and going strong still.

I am waiting for the new Challenger (to be made in Canada. btw) in the spring of 2008. If it sucks, I will get a Mustang. I am in a holding pattern right now.

[GWARGHOUL]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Ford_factories

Yeah. Apparently they are made in thru several plants.

Apparently within the last few years, the KY plant no longer is the mainstay of truck production either.

[rjohnstone]

Yep... looks like Louisville is only making Explorer based SUV's.

Cuautitlan Assembly in Mexico is making the F-Series trucks along with Dearborn only making F-150's and the Lincoln Mark LT

Looks like GM is making the Silverado and Sierra in Oshawa, Ontario, Pontiac, Michigan and Fort Wayne, Indiana.

The dealerships here in AZ must have received all their allotment from Ontario. That's all I saw here.

[mudkicker]

When i worked on the NS railway, I would pull the Ford train. We ran frames from KY to Norfolk, Va. Norfolk assemled the F series trucks. Earlier this year the Norfolk plant was slated to close. No idea were the F series line will move to now.

[nor]

[GWARGHOUL]

Ok, I thought aboutn this.


There were 2 plants in louisville. It was a REALLY big and confusing campus.

If ya look at that list, Kentucky Truck Plant, in Louisville still builds the f-series afterall!.