Ford Motor Company Wixom Assembly Plant

Front of a Lincoln Town Car, painted en plein air, oil, 2005 by Margie Guyot

Rear view of a Lincoln Town Car, painted en plein air, oil, in 2005 by Margie Guyot

I found both these little paintings this morning while rummaging through my “backroom stash”, looking for frames. I thought people might like to see them. I worked at the Ford Motor Company Wixom Assembly Plant for nearly 30 years, until it was shut down in 2007. The company figured it was cheaper to relocate in Mexico, where wages were far cheaper. Fortunately, I was able to retire a few years early, with full retirement and benefits, having been credited for all the overtime I’d put in. The schedule for the afternoon shift was 5:30 PM – 4 AM. Five hundred cars a night. I remember it well! Many times I’d volunteer for 2 hours overtime, driving cars off the Final Line or sweeping floors.

For about the first 4 years, I built back seat cushions, then for the next 14 years I put on rear bumpers and fascias. Many people thought it was a super-boring place, but I always thought it was the most amazing place I’d ever seen. I loved to watch the robots and automatic mechanisms doing their job. It was endless fascination!

Whenever I’d be on a new job, I liked to try to figure out the best, easiest way to do it. And ways it could be made goof-proof. I always turned in suggestions and they were always giving me $50 reward checks. No cars, though!

Eventually I ended up being a Team Leader up in Paint Shop. A relatively “gravy” job, although it had its stresses. Fellow workers were jealous (they thought we did nothing) and management thought we’d take over their jobs. Hated by all; trusted by none.

The whole plant would shut down for the first two weeks of July, allowing various upgrades and maintenance jobs to occur. This one July, however, the team leaders up in Paint Shop had to come in — just to be around, “just in case”. Mostly, we had nothing to do. One day I asked our department head if I could bring my paints in. He said OK, so these paintings are the result. I think I did more, but they’re still “lost” out in the back room of my studio. I just thought you might enjoy seeing.