Post #2 — March 21–27, 1966

David Francis
10 min readSep 22, 2021
Original advertisement for 1966 Chevy El Camino.

A few weeks ago, I wrote my first Medium article focusing on the past, present, and future of my 1966 El Camino. I explored the world that it entered in 1966, how it saw society over the next 55 years, where it is now in time (2021), and where I hope to take it.

This reflection inspired me to do another evaluation of the history surrounding the El Camino. I yearn to know what was happening in the world at the exact moment of its production. As described before, the data plate in the engine bay indicates that the El Camino was produced some time in the 4th week of March 1966 in Fremont, CA. There is no way to determine the exact date of production. Furthermore, there is no known record of when the car actually left the GM assembly plant.

GM Assembly Plant in Fremont, CA. 1960s. This is where my 1966 Chevy El Camino was assembled in the 4th week of March 1966.

So, what was happening in the world during this week of production? March 21st to 27th does not contain any red-letter days of history. A simple Google search will show the general forgottenness of this 7-day period in the 20th century. However, upon further research, so much happened. This week would represent both the beginning and end of historical events and personalities. It included the conclusion of a centuries-long conflict and the first steps of technology that would shape future livelihood and historic events. These 7 days marked important events in world religion, human rights, law, organized crime, literature, pop culture, sports, and automobiles. They also set forward a future of technology, scientific innovation, sports, pop culture, fashion, and music. All of this happened in just the El Camino’s first week of infancy.

Week of March 21 to 27

During the 4th week of March, Lyndon Johnson was president. St. Paul VI was pope. Gas cost 31 cents. The Vietnam War was in full swing, leading to an ever-divided America. The radio waves were flushed with some iconic songs from some of the greatest music legends. Some songs on the Billboard Hot 100 included: Ballad of the Green Berets by Sgt. Barry Sadler (#1), These Boots Were Made for Walkin’ by Nancy Sinatra (#3), Nowhere Man by The Beatles (#4), California Dreamin’ by The Mamas & the Papas (#7), Homeward Bound by Simon & Garfunkel (#8), and I Fought the Law by Bobby Fuller (#9). The top-grossing movie in theaters that week was The Sound of Music, which would win 5 Oscars, including Best Picture, in about a month. The New York Times bestselling book was “The Source” by James Michener, a novel about the history of Israel. The most popular show in America at the time was “Bonanza”. The S&P 500 was priced at around $90. The most popular baby names were Michael and Kimberly.

Still considered by some as the greatest musical film ever, the Sound of Music was the highest-grossing movie for the 4th week of March 1966. It would soon go on to win 5 Oscars, including Best Picture.

March 21, 1966 (Monday)

On March 21, 1966, the Apollo 1 Astronauts were announced by NASA. Less than a year later they would perish in a fire during a test. Pictured (left to right): Gus Grissom, Ed White, Roger Chaffee.

The first day of this week would set in motion some of the most ambitious undertakings in human history (both of which ended in tragedy). NASA announced its Astronaut line-up for the Apollo 1 space program, the first in a series of missions that would ultimately culminate in the moon landing 3 years later. Less than a year later, the Apollo 1 astronauts (Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee) would die in a fire during a launch test after their hatch door failed to open. Furthermore, it was the first day of demolition in Lower Manhattan to clear the site that would ultimately become the World Trade Center. The Twin Towers would at one time be the tallest buildings in the world and become a staple of the New York City skyline. 35 years later, the towers would fall back to Earth after terrorists crashed planes into them on September 11, 2001, killing nearly 3,000 people in the process.

On March 21, 1966, demolition began to clear the area in Lower Manhattan that would eventually be the site of the World Trade Center.

Future icons in golf, hockey, and auto racing were born. On the opposite side of the Pacific Ocean from Fremont, CA (as well as the opposite hemisphere), Karen Lunn was born on this day in Sydney Australia. She would go on to become one of the best women golfers in the 1990s when she won the Women’s British Open in 1993 and top the Order of Merit rankings for the same year. On the same day, in a small rural town in Sweden, an Indy Car champion was born. Kenny Bräck would go on to win the Indianapolis 500 in 1999, one of the most prestigious auto racing events in the world. He also won the Indy Car championship the year before in 1998. In Dearborn, Michigan, just a short drive from GM’s corporate headquarters (the manufacturer of the El Camino), the world of hockey got a little more frightening. Al Iafrate would play in the NHL for 15 years while gaining a reputation for his extremely hard slapshot. In fact, he held the record for fastest recorded slapshot for 16 years, at 105.2 MPH.

Kenny Bräck was born in Sweden on March 21, 1966. He would win the Indy 500 in 1999.

March 22, 1966 (Tuesday)

NASA made more news this week by announcing the launch schedule for the lunar missions (Apollo 11–20). 3 years later, the Apollo 11 crew would become the first humans to step foot on the moon. Furthermore, GM (the manufacturer of the El Camino) made the news for all the wrong reasons. In a statement by GM’s president James Roche made in front of a Congressional hearing, he apologized to Ralph Nader, an auto safety lobbyist and future 4-time Presidential Candidate, for the company’s intimidation and harassment of Nader. Nader released a book the year before called “Unsafe at Any Speed,” accusing GM of not adequately prioritizing the safety of their automobiles (the Chevy El Camino included).

In 1965, Lobbyist (and future 4-time Presidential candidate) Ralph Nader would write a scathing book (“Unsafe at Any Speed”) about the auto industry (particularly GM) and their indifference towards car safety.

In Oakland, California, just a few miles away from where the El Camino was being assembled, NBA player Brian Shaw was born. He would go on to play 14 seasons in the NBA, winning 3 championships with the Los Angeles Lakers. He would also serve as an NBA head coach. Future United States Senator for Arizona, Martha McSally, was also born on this day in Warwick, Rhode Island. She would become the first U.S. woman to fly in combat and also the first to command a fighter squadron. Just a short hop over the Atlantic Ocean in Portugal, António Pinto was born. He would go on to become one of the most accomplished European runners ever, winning the London Marathon 3 times (1992, 1997, and 2000) and representing his native Portugal in the Olympics 4 times.

Born just a few miles from the Fremont assembly plant, Brian Shaw would win 3 championships with the Los Angeles Lakers. He would also become an NBA head coach.

March 23, 1966 (Wednesday)

Today marked a momentous occasion in the history and relations of world religions. For the first time in 400 years, the leaders of the Roman Catholic Church and Church of England met. It marked the first discussion concerning unity between the Catholic and Anglican churches since the English Reformation in 1534.

After over 400 years of religious conflict, the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches met in a conference to hold discussions on their shared faith.

Only about an hour’s drive away from GM’s assembly plant in Tarrytown, NY (where El Caminos were being manufactured every day), future Major League Baseball pitcher Mike Remlinger was born. He was a one-time All-Star in 2002.

March 24, 1966 (Thursday)

Selective Services made a major announcement that altered its drafting decisions going forward for the Vietnam War. They announced the possibility of deferments based on academic performance for college students. My uncle was actually drafted into the Army and station in Vietnam in 1971–1972 as a result of this rule. He had completed enough credits in college for a deferment, but there was a clerical error that said the opposite. This mistake was later discovered while he was in Vietnam. Voting rights were also progressed in the landmark Supreme Court decision Harper v. Virginia. They ruled that all forms of poll taxes, regardless of public election, were deemed to be illegal.

Selective Services made several alterations to the draft process during the Vietnam War. Pictured is the draft lottery based on the birthdates of eligible men.

On this day, legendary organized crime figure, Virginia Hill, died of suicide at the age of 49 due to an overdose of sleeping pills. She was the one-time girlfriend and associate of the famous mobster, Bugsy Siegel.

Virginia Hill was Bugsy Siegel’s girlfriend and associate.

March 25, 1966 (Friday)

The Beatles were photographed for the album cover of “Yesterday and Today.” The bizarre picture with severed baby doll parts and pieces of meat would become known as the “butcher cover.” The cover was replaced with another picture for many copies. One of The Beatles' most famous and praised songs, “Yesterday,” appears on this album.

The Beatles album cover for “Yesterday and Today.” Pretty sure I’m having nightmares tonight.

Also on this day, African American master diver, Carl Brashear, was injured during the underwater recovery of a lost nuclear warhead off the coast of Spain. Brashear would end up having his left leg amputated. Despite his injury, he became the first African American master diver in 1970 and continued a career in the Navy for another 13 years. His story inspired the film “Men of Honor” (2000) starring Cuba Gooding Jr. (as Brashear) and Robert De Niro.

Carl Brashear became the first African American naval master diver despite having his leg amputated in 1966. His story inspired the film “Men of Honor.”

Finally, one of the most famous auto racing series during the 60s and 70s made its debut today at Sebring International Raceway in Florida. The Trans-Am series was the first true road racing series in the United States. American automotive manufacturers built specialized versions of pony cars used in the series and sold them to the general public. Some examples include the Z28 Chevy Camaro, the Boss 302 Ford Mustang, the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, and the Dodge Challenger T/A. Some of these cars built for this racing series remain some of the most valuable muscle cars today.

The drummer for Guns N’ Roses, Frank Ferrer, was born in Brooklyn, NY today. While just a few hours’ drive north, Tom Glavine was born in Concord, Massachusetts. Glavine became one of the best baseball pitchers during the 1990s with the Atlanta Braves. He was a part of Atlanta’s “big three” rotation along with other hall of fame pitchers Greg Maddux and John Smoltz. He would pitch for 22 seasons, winning over 300 games, and win the Cy Young Award twice (1991 and 1998). He would be elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014 on the first ballot.

Tom Glavine would become one of the best pitchers of the 1990s. He would win the NL Cy Young Award twice (1991 and 1998) and eventually be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014.

March 26, 1966 (Saturday)

Some of the largest anti-Vietnam War protests occurred on this day across dozens of cities. In New York City, an estimated 20,000 people marched down Fifth Avenue after a rally in Central Park. These protests are discussed at length in Ken Burns’ documentary “The Vietnam War.” Today also marked the last episode of one of the longest-running sitcoms in TV history, “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.” The show was broadcasted on ABC for 14 seasons. In fact, the show actually started as a radio show back in 1944.

A series of large Antiwar protests across the country on March 26, 1966. An estimated 20,000 people showed up at a rally in Central Park.

Some other major sports events occurred this day. This included: 12 Hours of Sebring (where a driver and 4 spectators died) and the Five Nations Rugby Championship, where Wales beat France, 9–8, to clinch their 15th title.

March 27, 1966 (Sunday)

Demonstrations against the Vietnam War continued, only this time on the other side of the world. In South Vietnam, over 20,000 Buddhists marched in protest against anti-Buddhist policies and the militant nature of the South Vietnamese government.

Final Thoughts

This period of 7 days is both normal and extraordinary. As far as red-letter historical events, there is little to no importance during this week. The world did not drastically change. No major historical figures died or were born. The history contained within these seven days is little more than little facts that are the answers to really hard trivia questions.

But March 21–27, 1966 is a perfect snapshot of what the world was like at the time, as well as where it was going. The events of this week are just a small microcosm of the greater geopolitical, religious, and scientific history. As well as a small, but essential cog, in the mechanism of time that will continue to move forward. It brought the end of complex religious conflicts for the faith of billions of people, which was started by Henry VIII. It also set forth some of the most important events in human history, primarily the moon landing in 1969. It was also the unknown beginning of the end for the Twin Towers, starting the clock between two rubble piles being removed from Lower Manhattan. First for building up. Second for tearing down.

The continued genius of artists like the Beatles and Simon and Garfunkel were just being heard for the first time. What some still consider the greatest Musical film ever was being seen for the first time in theaters. Real-life events that occurred during this week would soon become the inspiration to create art in its honor decades later.

The Vietnam War was still roughly 9 years from ending, yet the sentiments of many Americans were already being felt in this Spring week of 1966. The events pertaining to the Vietnam War, both in Vietnam and the United States, did not by themselves end or escalate the war. But they did play a role in both outcomes.

People who entered the world during these 7 days would shape the world in their respective fields for years to come. Some who were a part of athletic championships, extraordinary records, and prestigious accomplishments. Some who became future leaders and policymakers, breaking the glass ceiling along the way. Some would shape pop culture and further mold the cultural icons around us as time marches on.

This is the world that the El Camino entered into during the 4th week of March in 1966. Both normal and extraordinary, just like the car itself.

d/s/f

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David Francis

My 1966 Chevy El Camino has seen a lot in its 55 years of existence. I want to share its stories that have yet to come.