Baby Boomer Celebrity: Who Am I?

Posted on October 14th, 2012 in 1970s,1980s,Celebrities,Fads & Toys,Me Generation,Movies,Pop Culture by Terry Hamburg

Pontiac GTO, one of the first “muscle” cars

I was one natty, cool dude, dude. I rose like a meteorite in the auto industry by developing models baby boomers craved. First was the wildly popular Pontiac GTO. Next came the Firebird, soon outselling the Camero. And then the Grand Prix, the most successful new car in 1969 that blew luxury competition out of the water.

I understood the youthful baby boomer mentality and delivered what they wanted before they even knew they wanted it. Some call that genius. If you got, flaunt it! I became a jet set celebrity, hobnobbing with the rich and famous. Hey, the rich and famous were hobnobbing with me! I was pulling down $600,000 a year (we’re talking the old days) and bought interests in the San Diego Chargers and New York Yankees.

1969 Pontiac Gran Prix

Everyone expected me to become President of General Motors, but I’m nothing if not unpredictable and I quit at 48 to form my own independent motor company. I was plagued by financial problems. About 9000 of my wild sports car were made before the plant closed down. Baby boomers boomers loved it. I helped define the Me Generation.

The U.S. Government knew I had troubles, so they manipulated a drug sting in 1982 where an informant posed as a cocaine dealer. I played along for a while. Then, I wanted to pull out but feared for my life. It was frickin’ entrapment and the jury agreed with me. I walked out the court a free man. In 1999, I declared personal bankruptcy after fighting over forty legal battles. I became born-again Christians after the ordeal.

There are still specimens of my car on the road. One was immortalized in a blockbuster series of movies.