From all the research that I’ve done over the past many years, I can conclude that GM’s problems started back in 1957. That’s right! The executive board decided to take away the will to compete from the top engineers.
These engineers had been working tremedously hard on designing new, more compact, more efficient engines, and also on smaller lighter weight cars of all sizes. The GM executive board decided that they would not compete in any type of motorsport activity based upon the terrible accident that had occured two years earlier at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France. This decision was done without even anaylzing and reviewing what had happened.
For those of you who have my book, look on page 194-195. That photo from the 1968 24 Hours of Le Mans will tell you why there were so many deaths at that race. The people are standing on the track, during the event, in the rain, while the cars are racing on the track!!!
These deaths were the result of irresponsibility and not from improved performance of the racing cars.
Once the GM engineers were told they could not compete with other manufacturers regarding the latest and greatest designs and technologies, the development slowed, and during many model years, it came to a complete stop with no changes in the cars from year to year.
Had these engineers been allowed to compete effectively, lighter weight, more efficient engines and automobiles would have been allowed to be produced, which would have resulted in safer, more fuel efficient automobiles that would have been in a better market position in the 70s.
This is where the cancerous gene entered the corporation. This cancerous gene would spread from one generation of executives and engineers to the next generation, sometimes mutating into a more damaging gene.
Corvette Pete