1970 WAS AN INTERESTING YEAR. THE UNITED AUTO WORKERS CALLED A CRIPPLING STRIKE. THAT MEANS NO NEW CARS FOR SIX MONTHS. YOU SAY COME ON SIX MONTHS?
YES BECAUSE YOU SEE THE FOLKS WHO MAKE THE SPRINGS FOR THE SEATS ALSO DECIDED TO GO ON STRIKE WITH THE INCREDIBLE INFLUENCE OF THE UAW. FOR ADDITIONAL FUN AT THAT SAME TIME, WE HAD A RAIL STRIKE! MOST OF THE CARS CAME BY RAIL TO WHAT IS CALLED THE RAILHEAD AND THEN EFFICIENTLY AND IMMEDIATELY DRIVEN ONTO AWAITING TRUCK CAR CARRIERS FOR DELIVERY TO EVEN THE REMOTEST LOCATIONS. WELL, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, IF YOU DIDN’T BECOME A GOOD USED CAR SALESMAN, YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WOULD GO ON A DIET FROM THE LACK OF FOOD. IT WAS SERIOUS.
I WAS ASKED BY JOE MYERS, GENERAL MANAGER OF COLLINS OLDSMOBILE, INDIANAPOLIS, IF I COULD COME TO WORK AND TEACH THEM THE TECHNIQUES I HAD MASTERED SUCH AS CLIENT DEVELOPMENT. AT THE TIME, COLLINS OLDSMOBILE WAS ONE OF THE TOP OLDSMOBILE DEALERS IN THE COUNTRY RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM A BRAND NEW 144 STORE SHOPPING MALL.
I NEEDED A CAR DESPERATELY. I HAD A STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH ALL THE RESPECTED CAR PEOPLE IN INDIANAPOLIS ESPECIALLY WHOLESALERS WHO WERE SO IMPORTANT TO OUR BUSINESS. I TOLD ONE OF THE TOP WHOLESALERS, I NEEDED A RIDE. HE SAID, ALEX I HAVE GOT THE PERFECT CAR FOR YOU. A CURRENT MODEL 1970 BONNEVILLE FOUR DOOR HARDTOP, GREEN WITH BLACK INTERIOR AND I HOPE YOU HATE IT. I DID. I HATE BLACK INTERIOR. IT’S NOT FLATTERING TO ALL THE SEAT AND TRIM SCULPTURING BUT I WAS MIGHTY GRATEFUL TO GET THE CAR.
I GAVE IT THE BELOFF TOUCH. THE WHOLESALER BOUGHT IT FROM I THINK DAVE WAITE PONTIAC USED CAR DEPARTMENT. THEY COULDN’T GET RID OF IT. THE ONLY OPTION IT HAD WAS FACTORY AIR, BUT IT WAS STILL A GREAT CAR—455 WITH A BONNEVILLE RIDE. I KNEW I HAD TO SELL IT JUST AS THE STRIKES WERE ENDING. ANYONE NEEDING WHEELS WOULD HAVE TO CONSIDER MY GREEN CAR AND THEY DID.