If enthusiasm on the part of a cadre of true believers could save a company, General Motors wouldn't think of closing Saab. A small but hardy group of Saab owners and enthusiasts showed up today in the parking lot at the Renaissance Center, GM's headquarters in Detroit, and held signs reading "Save Saab." Gray skies and temperatures in the twenties didn't deter the faithful, a group of about fifty who had, according to organizer Ryan Emge, come from Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Virginia, New Jersey, Ohio, Wisconsin and Iowa.
Emge, of Portland, Maine, runs the website saabhistory.com, hastily put together the low key rally, which as it happened took place while GM's board of directors was meeting inside. Enge told a Reuters reporter that at one point they turned their Save Saab signs towards the Ren Center towers. Of course, whether anyone inside saw, or could even read the signs at such a distance, is unlikely.
"The folks at GM were very supportive of this initiative today and despite the weather, we all hung out outside in the parking lot with the GM world headquarters as our backdrop for nearly 2 hours in the blistering cold and snowy weather to send our message," Emge wrote on saabhistory.com.
The rally might have been larger with more time to organize it, but it's unlikely that with millions of dollars at stake, the GM board would be swayed by the enthusiastic though still small group.
Victor Muller, CEO of Saab-hopeful Spyker Cars, has said that General Motors told him a decision would be made by January 7. If that's the case, Enge's rally had the right timing but it's doubtful it will have much effect, Enge's save Saab rally isn't the only effort be Saab enthusiasts, however. We doubt anyone in the GM boardroom will bring it up on his laptop, but David Blumburg, from Stockholm, Sweden, and a self-described "guy from Sweden with many interests" put a music video on YouTube called "Griffen Up!" A play on "man up" or "cowboy up" and the griffon (griffen in Swedish) image used on Saab's logo, Blumburg's song tells Saab enthusiasts not to give up. He writes: "In light of the uncertainty currently experienced by all Saab aficionados, it's easy to lose perspective and throw in the towel prematurely. This is the worst thing we could do!"
Parka-wrapped Saab owners in the parking lot and music videos aren't likely to change any hearts at the Renaissance Center, but if GM decides to save Saab and sell it, we know where the new Saab can go if they need a songwriter/video maker.
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Illustration: Save Saab rally at General Motors headquarters in Detroit. Photo courtesy Ryan Enge.
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Comments
FROM PESCARA, ITALY
Mitiche le Saab di un tempo! La “900? prima serie, ossia quella degli anni 80 era davvero unica! Ora invece la Saab, da quando è passata sotto la G.M., credo che abbia perso molto della personalità di quegli anni.
Ricordo intorno agli anni ‘81-’83, frequentavo gli ultimi anni delle scuole superiori e iniziavo a pianificare la mia vita pensando a quale facoltà e in quale università iscrivermi, e avevo una passione smodata per le automobili (che mi è rimasta tott’ora) e come riferimento automobilistico avevo la Saab 900 turbo, che dalle mie parti era una rarità, ma sulle riviste di auto era piuttosto famosa e ne seguivo le evoluzioni. Da allora è passato tanto, troppo, tempo!, ma quelle Saab non me le sono dimenticate! Purtroppo in giro non ve ne sono rimaste molte, ma restano delle auto
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