South Gate Assembly
Encyclopedia
South Gate Assembly was a General Motors
automobile plant located in the Los Angeles suburb of South Gate, California
. It opened in 1936 to build B-O-P (Buick-Olds-Pontiac) cars for sale on the west coast. Managed by the Pontiac
division, it was the first GM facility west of the Mississippi River. It was the first GM plant to build multiple car lines, resulting from a Depression-spawned move to cut production costs by sharing components and manufacturing. South Gate was the second of several B-O-P "branch" assembly plants (the first being the Buick-operated Linden
plant), part of GM's strategy to have production facilities in as many places as possible. These "branch" plants would build cars for distribution to a specific region.
It added production of the Pontiac Tempest
, Oldsmobile F-85, and Buick Special
alongside the fullsize cars for 1961. When the compacts became intermediates for 1964 their production ceased at South Gate, and Chevrolet fullsize production was added.
The plant was converted from full-size car production to the subcompact H-body
cars for 1975. This arrangement was short-lived, and GM returned the factory to building full-size Chevrolet, Olds, and Buick B-body
vehicles for 1977. The Olds and Buick were dropped and the Cadillac DeVille
added for 1979. However, due to decreasing sales of the Chevrolet B-body cars, it was idled in March 1980. It was then retooled once again for subcompacts, building the 1982 Chevrolet Cavalier
and Cadillac Cimarron
. Slow sales resulted in the closure of the plant, with production ending on March 23, 1982.
The plant site was later environmentally remediated and used as the location for new schools, including South East High School
(opened 2005), which were built by the Los Angeles Unified School District
to relieve severe congestion in the existing schools of South Gate.
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
automobile plant located in the Los Angeles suburb of South Gate, California
South Gate, California
South Gate is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The sixteenth largest city in Los Angeles County, it encompasses . South Gate is located just southeast of downtown Los Angeles It is part of the Gateway Cities region of southeastern Los Angeles County...
. It opened in 1936 to build B-O-P (Buick-Olds-Pontiac) cars for sale on the west coast. Managed by the Pontiac
Pontiac
Pontiac was an automobile brand that was established in 1926 as a companion make for General Motors' Oakland. Quickly overtaking its parent in popularity, it supplanted the Oakland brand entirely by 1933 and, for most of its life, became a companion make for Chevrolet. Pontiac was sold in the...
division, it was the first GM facility west of the Mississippi River. It was the first GM plant to build multiple car lines, resulting from a Depression-spawned move to cut production costs by sharing components and manufacturing. South Gate was the second of several B-O-P "branch" assembly plants (the first being the Buick-operated Linden
Linden Assembly
Linden Assembly was a General Motors automobile factory in Linden, New Jersey. The factory opened in 1937 to build Buick, Pontiac, Cadillac, and Oldsmobile vehicles...
plant), part of GM's strategy to have production facilities in as many places as possible. These "branch" plants would build cars for distribution to a specific region.
It added production of the Pontiac Tempest
Pontiac Tempest
The Pontiac Tempest was an entry-level compact produced by the Pontiac Motor Division of General Motors, introduced in September 1960 for the 1961 model year....
, Oldsmobile F-85, and Buick Special
Buick Special
In 1962, the Special was the first American car to use a V6 engine in volume production; it earned Motor Trends Car of the Year for 1962. This 198 in³ Fireball was engineered down from the 215 and used many of the same design parameters, but was cast in iron. Output was 135 hp at...
alongside the fullsize cars for 1961. When the compacts became intermediates for 1964 their production ceased at South Gate, and Chevrolet fullsize production was added.
The plant was converted from full-size car production to the subcompact H-body
GM H platform
The H Platform, or H-body, name has been used twice by General Motors. The 1970s H-body was an inexpensive rear-wheel drive compact automobile platform from the 1970s, used for the Chevrolet Vega and Monza and their derivatives...
cars for 1975. This arrangement was short-lived, and GM returned the factory to building full-size Chevrolet, Olds, and Buick B-body
GM B platform
The B platform, or B-body, was General Motors' full-size rear-wheel drive automobile platform. It was closely related to the C-body and D-body and was used for coupés, sedans, and station wagons....
vehicles for 1977. The Olds and Buick were dropped and the Cadillac DeVille
Cadillac DeVille
The de Ville was originally a trim level and later a model of General Motors' Cadillac marque. The first car to bear the name was the 1949 Coupe de Ville, a prestige trim level of the Series 62 luxury coupe. The last model to be formally known as a de Ville was the 2005 Cadillac Deville, a...
added for 1979. However, due to decreasing sales of the Chevrolet B-body cars, it was idled in March 1980. It was then retooled once again for subcompacts, building the 1982 Chevrolet Cavalier
Chevrolet Cavalier
The Chevrolet Cavalier was a compact automobile produced from 1982 to 2005 by General Motors. Built on the company's J platform, the Cavalier was one of the best-selling cars in the United States throughout its life.- Predecessors :...
and Cadillac Cimarron
Cadillac Cimarron
The Cadillac Cimarron was a compact car built by Cadillac based on the GM J platform. It was first introduced in 1981 for the 1982 model year, and sold through 1988. During its seven-year model run, 132,499 Cimarrons were built.-Development:...
. Slow sales resulted in the closure of the plant, with production ending on March 23, 1982.
The plant site was later environmentally remediated and used as the location for new schools, including South East High School
South East High School (South Gate, California)
Ms. Criss Ms. Corral Ms. George Address 2720 Tweedy BoulevardSouth Gate, California 90280 Enrollment 2,800 Athletic Conference Eastern LeagueCIF Los Angeles City Section Colors SilverBlue Nickname Jaguars...
(opened 2005), which were built by the Los Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles Unified School District is the largest public school system in California. It is the 2nd largest public school district in the United States. Only the New York City Department of Education has a larger student population...
to relieve severe congestion in the existing schools of South Gate.