An Impression worth a Lifetime 

"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale) 07/28/2017 at 14:30 • Filed to: Pontiac, Jim Wangers, Impression

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Let’s start off with Jim Wangers. If you know this name then you know your Pontiac history. If you do not, then let me tell you about the “Godfather of the GTO.” The legendary “ad man” for Pontiac and the marketer behind the Pontiac GTO and several other Pontiac specialty cars, Wangers helped establish the “muscle car” of the Sixties to its rightful niche in the history of American car marketing. No, he didn’t invent the GTO. That credit goes to John DeLorean, Russ Gee and Bill Collins, but Wangers was certainly the man who created the mystique that surrounds America’s original muscle car, the Pontiac GTO. He did amazing work getting the Pontiac name from “just another American car” to the hit sensation of the “wide track Pontiac.”

Now you know who he is, this is how I got to know the man very well. My mother about my sophomore year of high school decided she would start dating more since before that dating with 2 very active children is very difficult. So a friend and she go out to see the friend’s old high school friend who in turn brought a friend so they would be a group of 4. Well my mother and this guy hit it off and started dating. Well this man Dave worked for Jim as his business director and ad man basically. He would take them to the shows they were hired to speak at and show off cars and such since Jim had a very nice !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

So after meeting this new man friend of my Mother’s we go to the Jim Wangers’ annual car show Tour de Wangers. Oh my, what a joy to my eyes. All the Pontiacs and muscle cars were just amazing. Though there was a black Ferrari 512 BBi that I was drooling over (my favorite modern Ferrari). Then I saw it. A 2006 Ford GT, not in the blue with white stripes as it should be, but it was amazing. The owner was super cool and let me sit in it. O my what an amazing experience for a high schooler.

Like the car I was drooling over

Eastbound and Down

Me in a Ford GT

After that we started going on all sorts of car shows and events with Jim and Dave. School and such didn’t allow my sister and me to go on the cross country ones, but my Mom did. These definitely inundated me with my passion for the Pontiac brand and further cemented my GM fanboy. We went to Oregon for car shows and drag races, all over California, and met amazing other people in the GM world. It was all such an amazing experience for me and I have to thank Jim, Dave, and my Mother for it all. Though Dave and my Mother stopped dating, Dave and I are still friends and I try to see him and Jim as much as I can.

Drags

More Drags

The famous GeeTO Tiger (Dave and my sister)

Now the thing that had the biggest impression on me was something that we have talked about here many times on Oppo. We went to a Pontiac gathering in San Diego with Jim and Dave. We brought his 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge and his 1967 Pontiac Firebird 400 Ram Air. Unfortunately I can’t find any picture at the moment from this event, but it was a blast. So we are there most of the day and we leave to go back to Jim’s warehouse to put the cars away. Halfway back we stopped for food and go back out to the cars and they ask me if I want to drive the Firebird the rest of the way. I almost said no for the sheer fear I had of hurting a car that I could not afford as a just licensed teen. Thankfully my Mother looked at me and shook her head yes and me and I happily agreed and hopped in the passenger seat. Turning the key on and pulling out of the lot following the Judge was amazing. Especially when we got off the freeway and Dave driving the Judge starts pushing it on some twisty roads to the warehouse I was told to keep up with him. I can’t even describe the feeling I had being in that car and not only getting to drive it, but getting to push it relatively hard. Hearing the engine roar, looking over that beautiful green hood, and smelling that mix of gasoline, oil, and aged leather that makes classic cars intoxicating. That is why when someone asks me what my most dream car is or what is the one car you would own if you could only have one for the rest of your life, I answer with 1967 Pontiac Firebird 400 Ram Air in Verdoro Green with a black interior, 4 speed, and factory A/C. It is the car that makes with me perfectly and someday I will all because a man who owned a cool classic car decided to show and share it with a young impressionable young man and I will forever be grateful that.

lone_liberal > CaptDale - is secretly British 07/28/2017 at 15:04

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The impression that I had of Jim Wangers from seeing him on TV over the years was that he was a salesman to the core. That’s definitely not a bad thing when that’s your job. I’m glad to hear he was a good guy too.

19JRC99 > CaptDale - is secretly British 07/28/2017 at 15:07

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“1967 Pontiac Firebird 400 Ram Air in Verdoro Green with a black interior, 4 speed, and factory A/C.”


i feel...tingly....

CaptDale - is secretly British > 19JRC99 07/28/2017 at 15:07

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You should!

RallyWrench > CaptDale - is secretly British 07/28/2017 at 15:08

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Man, that is a bitchin’ story. Now I understand the Firebird love, same as mine for the 308. Is that green one the actual car you drove? Beautiful. Hope your life moves find you in a ‘Bird soon.

CaptDale - is secretly British > lone_liberal 07/28/2017 at 15:08

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He really is a good guy and really just super nice to talk to. If you ever have a chance to hear him at one of his presentations it is really worth it.

19JRC99 > CaptDale - is secretly British 07/28/2017 at 15:14

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If I were to have one Pontiac, that’s actually the exact same setup I’d want. Either that, or a ‘68 LeMans with a 400/4speed in Verdoro Green,

CaptDale - is secretly British > 19JRC99 07/28/2017 at 16:08

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Both good choices

19JRC99 > CaptDale - is secretly British 07/28/2017 at 16:11

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Actually, wait. I’d specifically want the ‘73 Firebird my dad used to own.

400 (350 when he got it), TH350.

CaptDale - is secretly British > RallyWrench 07/28/2017 at 16:12

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Yeah the Firebird takes over the 911 SC that I wrote about before.

I really hope you can get your 308

CaptDale - is secretly British > 19JRC99 07/28/2017 at 16:13

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Yeah I remember you writing about that. That would be a fun car, though I think really you’d need a 73 Trans Am. Hnnnngggg

19JRC99 > CaptDale - is secretly British 07/28/2017 at 17:54

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Honestly, I’m not a huge fan of pre ‘77 T/As. I prefer a nice clean basemodel/Espirit/Formula.

CaptDale - is secretly British > 19JRC99 07/28/2017 at 18:00

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REALLY?! I only like the 71-73 and 77 T/As

19JRC99 > CaptDale - is secretly British 07/28/2017 at 19:03

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Yes, really. It’s probably just bias, though. If he’d had a T/A, I’d likely prefer those.

CaptDale - is secretly British > 19JRC99 07/28/2017 at 19:36

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Fair enough