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Comments
KarenS
Host
Owner's Clubs
I have wanted to do a chat time with some of the other participants in this and other forums but probably won't be home in time tonight from meetings to enter into the ring. I'd love to in the future though - anyone else interested in the chat venue?
Ken
Later
Where are you guys? Come on in and speak up!
Ken
People with engineering backgrounds are stereotyped as not being too creative and I'd have to say that based on the best I could come up with on the DIC, I fall in the not too creative category. "Driver 1" was changed to "Mark" and "Driver 2" was changed to "Cindy". Clever, huh?
See ya all
Thanks for sharing
Ken
The Crawford Auto Museum- (web site is http://www.wrhs.org/sites/auto.htm) has about 200 cars. Mostly older, say 1900-1930, but some more recent. It is actually a nice collection, but poorly displayed. We made a similar trip (1,200 miles in the SSEi) last year and hit five auto museums. Add to that a couple of single trips, I've hit a bunch of museums since retiring two years ago.
Let me rank 'em, for ya:
1- The National Corvette Musuem and the Corvette Assembly Plant, Bowling Green, KY. The museum is great, but the assembly plant tour is spectacular. Twice a day, 9 am and 1 pm Mon-Fri. Of course, I'm biased 'cuz I took delivery of my Vette at the Museum ($500 extra, in addition to the normal dealer's shipping/prep, to go get it there... geeesh, but worth every penny).
2- The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum in Auburn, IN. About 120 cars, painstakingly restored, and displayed in an unbelievable setting. Exceeded my wildest expectations.
3- The Gillmore/ Classic Car Club of America Museum north of Kalamazoo, MI. About 120 wonderful old cars, wonderfully displayed in restored barns.
4- The Walter Chrysler Museum in Auburn Hills, MI (near Detroit). Of course it is Chrysler-ville, but very well done. The 300's, Fury's and Cuda's are to be expected, but it was a bit of a surprise to find Hudsons ('cuz they bought American Motors). Very nice museum spanning the very old to the very new.
5- The Henry Ford Musuem at Greenfield Village, Dearborn, MI. By far the largest collection, in OK shape, but the display was poorly lit and somewhat crowded. I should add that the museum has all kinds of cars and many other good displays.
6- The National Studebaker Museum in South Bend, IN. A very pleasant surprise... it would jave even been better if I liked Studebakers However, My dad always had Packards and I learned how to drive on Packards... and there were Packards at the Studebaker National Museum including the 1956 Predictor... the concept car of my dreams when I was 20... and I had never seen it in real life. Needless to say, I was in seventh heaven.
7- Hartford Auto Museum, Hartford, WI. A very nice museum. Maybe a hundred older cars in reasonable shape, well displayed.
8- Crawford Museum, Cleveland... already reported above.
9- Last, the Alfred Sloan Museum, Flint, MI. I thought this would be a great stop. After all, Sloan is the father of GM. However, my assessment is a bunch of old, poorly restored Buicks crowded into an old garage.
Not ranked, but I have to mention, the National Air Force Museum in Dayton. Even if you don't like airplanes, this one will take your breath away. It is free, and it is big.... really big.
Ramble, ramble, ramble....
Bill
Thanks again - sounds like my kind of trip!
Ken
Another good museum I visited many years ago is the Blackhawk Automotive Museum in Danville, Calif. Not on the Mid-West circuit, but worth visiting if you ever get out to the Bay Area. http://www.blackhawkauto.org/
Thanks much!
KarenS
Host
Owner's Clubs
The comparison is stunning. The Vette is a traditional frame, front engine (rear transmission... well maybe not so traditional), rear wheel drive while the Neon is about as far away from that as you can get. The Vette body is put together piece by piece by humans with lots of mechanical help. The Neon is put together mainly by big spark showering robots with human assistance where needed. The Vette's chassis is a hydroformed frame built around a massive engne and drive train. The Neon's engine line has this small engine with the front wheels hanging off it, and a steering wheel and a muffler attached.... which kind of join the main car at the last minute.
Both places are wonders of engineering and process. The Vette plant loves tours with two big groups a day. The Neon plant, no options for tours and you really have to work at it to get in.
Which brings me to the point... if someone can get us into a Bonnie plant... I'll be there
Are you saying that you've checked it out and the lights don't come on automatically in the dark?
Stephen
Thanks guys. Marty
In regards to twilight sentinel - my friend's 93 SE has it - he thought it was std on all Bonnevilles. Seems like one of those features that was std one year and included in an optin package for other years. Thankfully GM has included this great feature in most of the mid to full sized cars today. I've had it for years in Caddies and Grand Marquis and wouldn't want a car without it.
BTW - I have a 2000 SE model in spruce Green that has been a rea joy to drive these last 5 months.
For all you Rockaway get-together guys - I drove past on Rt 80 Sunday evening and enjoyed the fond remembrances from last month. Let's do it again someday.
Best to all from here in the Keystone State - anyone have any idea why they call it that? I'll be heading home to Maine tomorrow and counting Bonnevilles all the way. I only saw 5 heading down here sunday - think I missed a lot due to sun in my eyes - BTW - have any of you noticed that when driving straight into the sun - the huge dash has a terrible glare? It doesn't help that I had shined it up to a glossy look for Rockaway.
Take care, everyone
Ken
A little excitement on the ride into work this morning...local radio station calls my name...I have 93 minutes to call back, so I figure I'll wait until I get to work. Didn't want to chance getting excited on the cell phone while driving my precious Bonne when I won that really great prize. Didn't matter...right name, wrong girl...tried to bribe the D.J....but, Nooooo. I ask you, how many Xena's could there possibly be? :-)
Anywho, my inane fact of the day is for you, Ken...a "Keystone" is the wedge-shaped stone in the center of an arch that supports the rest of the stones in that arch. For whatever reason, someone commented back in the day (early 1800's) that Pennsylvania was the "Keystone" of the country and apparently, it stuck.
And to be honest, I didn't know this because I was born and raised in Philly or I actually remember that school lesson...my fourth-grade daughter had Pennsylvania History in Social Studies and I just happened to quiz her for an upcoming test about a month ago.
BTW, Marty...Welcome and I have a "96 SE that has optional keyless entry. I also have the Twilight Sentinel, but I'm not sure if it was standard or not. If you really care, let me know and I'll look it up in my manual. Also, if you need to know anything about Pennsylvania...I'm your girl! (hee hee)
Well, gotta go...have a day!
Xena
Thanks for the explanation - makes sense geographically and I wondered if that was perhaps the answer.
Xena - yes it certainly is hard to believe you have a namesake out there! By the way - the radio give-away - it didn't happen to be one of those Hawaii vacations that the local jazz station has been handing out for the last year or so did it? I wish some station up here in Boston would get that idea!
Here's hoping the next Xena to be called is you!
Ken
The name "Xena" comes from friends who joked and now wish they hadn't. I still visit them in the hospital. :-)
Anyway, Ken, no Hawaii trips...the station (93.3) has 93 envelopes and you pick one when you call in (I would've picked 16). The grand prize in one of the envelopes right now is $30,000, the rest are basically concert tickets, complete CD libraries of various artists, DVD players, walk-mans, other cash prizes...stuff like that.
A few months back, the grand prize was a brand-new Harley, before that, a VW Beetle, I think (which I would have traded for a Bonne). Anyhow, I've decided that Envelope 16 is probably something I already have or don't need...right? Who needs $30,000? Not Kathy Lee! Or Xena!
O.K., I'm outta here...and my name is
Xena
Speaking of radio gimmicks, there is a pop station down in Tampa that is notorious for doing way off-the-wall stunts, like a 'Yugo drop' and running a Camaro into a wall with a blind guy behind the wheel (don't ask). Oddly enough, the station is 93.3 FLZ.
And having the name Kathy Lee isn't that bad-unless you husband's name is Frank...;-)
Regards,
Brian
BTW: I was born in Reading, PA.
http://h_body.home.att.net/index.htm
You might want to consider linking to Aurora and Seville STS sites as well - after all, these are also H body brethren.
Nice initiative. Keep it going!
Dan
Thanks! Stephen
Super start to what promises to be a great site. I'll be sure to check back occasionally.
Ken
I've added a few more elements to it today and will probably dicker with it some more over the weekend. I think I will also wander over to the LeSabre board and invite them to check it out - the poor Buick appears neglected, I need more stuff for it.
Great start! I think most of us has had the thought of an H-Body website cross out mind, but we either don't have the a) time b) expertise c) space or all of the above.
It would be a good idea to have a few links to other H-Body pages. I know of one Aurora page which is quite comprehensive. I'll dig up the URL on my huge file o' bookmarks and e-mail it to you, if you don't mind.
Keep up the good work!
Great job on the web site!!!
I think the tips, tricks and miscellaneous section is a good idea. Maybe some of the usefull content from this forum can be stored in that section for quick reference.
Very nice! One day's work you say? I can't wait to see what you end up with after everyone sends you their info, links, etc.
What kind of software do you write? Embedded systems, PC apps, ? Maybe you should head up here to Detroit & do some programming on the cars. Lots of cool things coming in the next couple of years.
Just curious, do you know where the Park Avenue fits into the A, B, C's of GM platforms?
Bill
Bill - I think the Park Avenue is a "C" also built at Lake Orion, the home of the Bonnie. I can't think of any other GM cars on that platform. Seems to me that the C-body has always been the land barge class, used to be the full-size rear drivers. Fond memories of an '89 Buick Estate Wagon I used to drive - now that was a big car! Named it "Starship Enterprise." I sat in a new Park Ave at an auto show and it is really comfy, and it can be had with the supercharged 3800. And, personally I think hood ornaments are a lost art. ;-)
Technical:Technical specifications: media.gm.com Stabilitrak: Cadillac Stabilitrak linkRecalls (2000): Alldata Technical Service Bulletins: Alldata TSB's
Safety: NHTSA crash test results: NHTSA - BonnevilleIIHS rating: IIHS - Bonneville
Reviews:USA Today automobilereviews.comautowire.net Car & DriverMotor TrendNashville SceneBonneville vs. 300M Carpoint's Consumer ReviewsAcorn Online
Miscellaneous:A gorgeous '58 BonnevilleThe official Bonneville pagePontiac Bonneville Owners' Club (some neat links here)Bonneville Car Club of AmericaWidetrackwarriors (a Florida Pontiac Club) - tons of Pontiac links Aftermarket wooden/carbon fiber dashes Modified Bonnie's landspeed record attempt
Whew! That's it for now Michael - use them at your own risk!
Stephen
I have a few more links and I'll post a sequel one of these fine days - once I have a good 15-20 minutes to spare.
BTW, I liked the '58 page too - what a looker!
It's nice to own a car that has a heritage - can't say that for many cars anymore. It sure would be nice to go visit the Pontiac plant and museum sometime - bet they have some great cars there.
Take care all.
Ken
Ken
We took a drive around the harbor and historic areas (I enjoy playing tour guide occasionally - we live in a beautiful area) in my Bonneville - naturally - and just enjoyed a nice evening.
After meeting with 3 Bonneville and 2 Aurora owners now - it is apparent the drivers of these cars are definitely a cut above average!!
Have a great day everyone.
Ken
7 months later (with only 4K on the odometer), I continue to be extremely happy with the car. Nary a problem to speak of.
I was interested to learn from TPKen that there are indeed, mounting holes for installing a rear sway bar. Does any know of aftermarket suppliers that sell performance bars? Addco did not list any on its site.
Also, I would be grateful to learn if anyone sells strut tower braces for the Bonny. I love crisp handling (I do miss the rear drive T-Bird, which I modified to be a real road hugger), and I think that the car could use additional stiffness upfront.
Glad to find such a great club. I will keep in touch.
Your wife is to be congratulated for marrying someone with such excellent taste!
The Bonneville is a fantastic car - we all agree - and a good family vehicle. What color is yours?
It's great to have you here - we look forward to hearing of your experiences. BTW - where do you live?
Best wishes for many years and miles of Bonnevillian enjoyment.
Ken
If you decide to go that route, you might consider asking him to supply the attaching bolts for the bracket that is bolted to the frame on either side. I'm sure they're hardened bolts so it might be safer to have Saner provide them.