My Camaro Makes History

If owning a new Camaro wasn't neat enough in itself, the fact that I got a little something extra for my car was just icing on the cake!

Background: On March 15th, 2002, while waiting for my car, I got the idea to write a letter to the Ste. Therese assembly plant manager. The intent of the letter was to thank the Ste. Therese team and to see if somehow, some way, they'd allow some of the workers at the plant to sign a little 3X5" card or some lasting little momento to toss in the glovebox while the car was being built. Sort of a keepsake, since it was the last year of the F-body.

I had been in touch with Scott Settlemire, then Assistant Brand Manager for Camaro, and my dealership as to when my car was going to be built, if at all. I finally had information that it was to be built during the week of my birthday, April 8th. My car was born on April 11, 2002, at approx. 2:20 pm ET. I had my SLP serialized number of 6906 by that day as well. All is good waiting to see my car in a short while.

On April 23rd, 2002, a delivery attempt by Fed Ex was made to my home, but I was at work. Apparently there was a package for me from Ste. Therese. What? This must be the extra parts they had left over, I mused to myself. They stopped off the next day, and luckily I was home, and when I opened the large Tyvek envelope, I could hardly contain myself.......inside was two pictures of MY CAR flanked by several employees at Ste. Therese assembly plant, holding up a poster and included was a huge card signed by many members of the Ste. Therese assembly plant. Plus a personal letter from Mr. Mike Arcomone, the then-current plant manager. He said that they would run a small piece about it with a photo for the final plant newspaper, to which I would recieve a copy. Wow!! Mr. Arcamone left Ste. Therese shortly afterwards to take the plant manager position at GM Powertrain Livonia, Michigan. The poster the team is holding in the pictures says "Michael Rothe, this one's for you! Drive it safely with pride! - The Ste Therese Team" When the car was delivered, the poster was rolled up in the back of the car! My dad, who retired from Corvette after 30 years with GM, said that in all his years he's never seen anything like this done for a customer. VERY cool. Something I will cherish always.

Below showing the last page of the final Ste. Therese plant newspaper. My car has the distinction of being the last F-body to ever be photographed for the plant newspaper at the Camaro/Firebird assembly plant.