What On a Clear Day Reveals About the Cars We Love

At Fesler, we’ve spent more than 30 years restoring and customizing classic GM muscle cars—vehicles like the Chevelle, GTO, and 442 that still turn heads today. But recently, we cracked open a book that gave us a different perspective on the very machines we bring back to life.

That book? On a Clear Day You Can See General Motors, written by John Z. DeLorean in 1979. DeLorean wasn’t just an automotive icon—he was a GM insider, having served as a rising star within the company before his dramatic exit. His insider account offers a candid, often unsettling, look at how corporate decisions behind the scenes shaped the cars we now consider icons.

“There was more concern about an executive’s office carpeting than whether or not the customer was getting a well-engineered car,” DeLorean wrote.

The Disconnect Between Leadership and Engineering

DeLorean’s book reveals that by the early ’70s, GM’s top brass was more focused on politics, perks, and internal status than pushing the envelope of innovation. Engineering teams were often hamstrung by leadership reluctant to take risks or invest in long-term improvements.

For those of us in the restoration world, that explains a lot.

Many of the cars we work on—Pontiac GTOs, Oldsmobile 442s, Chevrolet Chevelles—look incredible on the outside but suffer from the compromises made behind the scenes. DeLorean specifically calls out GM’s refusal to implement more advanced suspension systems due to cost concerns. The result? Poor handling that we now correct with modern upgrades, giving these classics the road feel they always deserved.

Emissions, Horsepower, and Missed Opportunities

One of the more frustrating chapters in automotive history was GM’s response to 1970s emissions regulations. Rather than engineering smarter engines, GM took shortcuts that robbed cars of their performance identity.

DeLorean doesn’t hold back: “GM could have met emissions standards without sacrificing horsepower—but that would have required innovation.”

That quote hits hard when you’ve got your hands inside the engine bay of a smog-era GTO. We’ve seen firsthand how power was choked down to meet regulations, and we’ve made it our mission to restore that performance—rebuilding engines to meet modern emissions needs and classic muscle expectations.

Rust Never Sleeps—And Neither Did GM’s Cost-Cutting

Another consequence of penny-pinching? Rust. Lots of it. DeLorean points out that GM frequently chose cheaper materials and cut corners on corrosion protection to boost short-term profits. Today, we’re still undoing those decisions. From replacing rusted body panels to redesigning drainage systems, the battle against corrosion is a constant one.

A New Appreciation for Classic GM Cars

Oddly enough, reading On a Clear Day You Can See General Motors didn’t diminish our love for these cars—it deepened it. Understanding the internal struggles, the missed opportunities, and the compromises made gives us a whole new level of respect for the vehicles themselves—and the people who are passionate about them.

When we restore a GM classic, we’re not just fixing rust or improving suspension. We’re, in a way, fulfilling the vision these cars were meant to have before the bean counters got involved.

 

Have You Read DeLorean’s Book?

We’d love to hear your take. Did On a Clear Day You Can See General Motors change how you view your own classic car? Shoot us a message or drop us a comment—let’s talk shop.