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Jim Wangers Celebrates 85th Birthday in Style
Posted on June 10, 2011 | Leave a comment »
Today in "Old Cars News" I read that Jim Wangers' is Celebrating his 85th Birthday in Style ... Pontiac Style that is! Ironically, Pontiac also Turns 85 this year. Jim is Celebrating by Throwing a Pontiac Party Like No Other with a Pontiac Concours Event Held on a Private Ranch in Falbrook, CA. on June 26th Limited to ... Yup You Guessed it ... Pontiacs. 85 of them Coming from Far Away as North Carolina and Missouri. The Party is Open to All and You Still Have Time to RSVP Read More in Old Cars News ...
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I am restoring my 69 gto Judge and since I read his book( Glory days..), I have become increasingly motivated towards completing it in the way Royal Pontiac would have done it. I am from Montreal,Canada and I wish I could be at that party and have a chance to speak with very wonderful personage.
God bless Jim Wangers for being at the right place at the right time.
Daniel BPosted by Daniel, 06/13/2011 8:50pm (11 months ago)
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I had occasion to speak with Jim while doing research for my book Factory Lightweights. There weren't too many automotive ad men who understood the concept of "win on Sunday, sell on Monday" better than him. He is a true hot rodder and icon in drag racing. The Pontiac guys have someone they can be proud of in Jim
Wangers.Posted by charlie, 06/11/2011 10:19am (11 months ago)
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Now this indeed is a celebration that our factory Tri-Power 4 Speed '64 Convertible GTO, built October 16th, 1963, would love to be part of. Happy Birthday Mr. Wangers from All of Us here at Still Runnin, A REAL LIFE HOT ROD MAGAZINE !!
Posted by Lea Ellen, Your Publisher, 06/10/2011 10:32pm (11 months ago)
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I spoke with Mr. Jim Wangers about two years ago at GM Carlisle after a lecture he had given on muscle cars. For someone who is in his 80's his recall of detail was astounding. He not only remembered production weeks of the first GTO's but could break down sedans, convertibles, and hard top dates. He may not have been the designer of the GTO, but without him the GTO would never have gotten by Corporate. His contributions to the muscle car era were mostly behind the scenes and probably the most important of anyone connected with Pontiac at the time.
The industry should have someone who is this knowledgeable of what the public is looking for now. Maybe the US car makers wouldn't be in the condition they are in if they were more in tune with their customers, as Jim Wangers had been.
If you ever have the chance to speak with Jim Wangers take advantage of the opportunity.Posted by Big John, 06/10/2011 10:25pm (11 months ago)
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