Faces of GM

Adam: A one-of-a-kind experience with 101-year old Camaro customer

November/19/2009 at 2:42 pm

Adam with Mr. Coffman

 Editor’s Note: Adam Denison is an assistant manager in Chevrolet Communications.

It’s not every day that I get the chance to meet a 101-year-old man, much less a 101-year-old man who is the proud owner of a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS Transformers Special Edition. I had the chance to do just that when I met Mr. Virgil Coffman of Decatur, Ill., on Tuesday.

When we heard about Mr. Coffman’s purchase of a new Camaro, we knew we wanted to meet him, so we acted quickly to bring him and his nephew, Bob Lamb, up to Detroit for the VIP treatment. It was my privilege to spend the good part of the day touring the GM Design Center and Heritage Center with Mr. Coffman and his nephew.

Mr. Coffman, born January 16, 1908, is a native of Illinois, but actually lived in the metro Detroit area from 1934 to 1973. He started off working for a parts supplier for GM, and then became a chemist for Chevrolet at a facility in Livonia, Mich., where he worked until he retired in 1973. He’s been interested in cars for a long time. One of his first cars was a 1928 Olds. Most of the 30 or so cars he’s owned in his life were from GM (most of which were Cadillacs), but he’s never owned a foreign car.

When I asked him what he thinks is the key to his longevity is he responded that it’s work. He stays active by cooking his own meals, making jam during the summer and making fudge for family and friends during the holidays. In the past he also enjoyed working on cars and even repainted some his own a number of times.

A few years ago Mr. Coffman decided he no longer needed a big car, so he figured he needed to get a sports car. He bought a red 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS which he drove until he traded it in for the Camaro. He told me that when he saw the Camaro for the first time he knew he had to have it. Some of his favorite features of his new Camaro are the Rally Yellow color and the ride and handling of the car. When asked why he opted for the Transformers Special Edition he remarked, “I figure if I hold on to this car for 10 or 12 years it might be worth $100,000.”

 He has been surprised by how many people stop to check out his car. “You can’t go anywhere in that car,” he said with his characteristic wit. “You get out and somebody going to talk to you.”

One feature Mr. Coffman finds very useful on the Camaro is OnStar’s Hands-Free Calling. He has a hard time hearing on the phone, so he prefers to use this feature to call his daughter-in-law because he can hear better on the car’s speakers.

It was a rewarding experience for me to tag along as Mr. Coffman took a tour of some of the Design studios with Ed Welburn, Vice President, GM Global Design, and then the Heritage Center. It was easy to see that he was having a great time.

 It was truly an enjoyable experience to meet Mr. Coffman, and feel his passion for the Camaro. That kind of passion knows no age boundaries.