Twist to an otherwise Saab Story

First gen-Saab 9-7x in front of operating Saab dealer in the Chicago suburb of Lansing, IL.

Lets start this post off with a brief History of General Motors relation to Saab and why this dealer, Like very few others across the country is an important automobile landmark.

As it was announced in December 2009, A middle seas automaker announced it would acquire the property rights and production equipment for the previous generation Saab 9-3 and Saab 9-5 in a deal for the company to run production for three months.

The buyers intention was to create a new brand around the purchased technology and admitted to the purchase of three overall vehicle platforms, two engine technologies and two transmission systems.

The sale fell through.

Brings Saab lovers back to a better time in the auto industry.

General Motors announced the brand would be eliminated in 2010 if it failed to secure a buyer before the close of 2009.

As talks with several firms failed, including the Netherlands-based boutique supercar maker Spyker, GM formally announced its intention to wind down the Saab brand by 2011 in North American sales.

Favorite model in the group.

Earlier bidders Spyker and Merbanco revised their offers and were joined by a submission from Luxembourg-based Genii Capital, which boasted the support of F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone.

GM continued accepting bids until a self-imposed deadline of January 7, 2010.

Acknowledging that the chances for reaching a deal with any party were very slim, they pledged to evaluate each offer with due diligence.

2003 Saab convertible and 2005 Saab sedan

On January 26, 2010, General Motors confirmed that Spyker and GM had come to an agreement allowing Spyker to purchase Saab, subject to regulatory and government approval.

The sale was completed on February 23, 2010.

General Motors would continue to supply Saab with engines and transmissions, and also completed vehicles in the shape of the new Saab 9-4x from GM's Mexican factory.

The deal included a loan from the European Investment Bank, guaranteed by the Swedish government.

It comprised US$74m in cash up front, payable to GM by July 2010, and shares in Spyker to the tune of US$320m.

As Saab is reportedly began production again in 2014, there might be a chance that they will return to America, as Alfa Romeo and possibly MG are doing sometime this year.

Its good to see a functioning Saab dealer as their hasn't been a new Saab sold in this country for over two years, which isn't that long ago, wait 10 years, they try a hunt down a Saab.

This is more of a Saab repair shop and Museum, than a dealer, but great to see on a fine summer evening.

>some shots of the dealer and cars seen:

Marker sign and modern classic Saab modeled in the distance.

Dealer viewed from the highway.

Top it all off with a Swedish flag.

Saab sign and logo painted on building.

Location of dealer:

Flikkema Saab- 2424 East 176th Street, Lansing, IL.

Spotted a UAZ-469 in Palatine, IL.

The UAZ-469 is an off-road vehicle manufactured by UAZ [( Ulyanovsky Avtomobilny Zavod)-which translates to "Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant")].

It was used by Soviet and other Warsaw Pact forces, as well as paramilitary units in Eastern Bloc countries. 

In the Soviet Union, it also saw widespread service in all state organizations that needed a robust off-road vehicle; standard military versions include seating for seven personnel.

The UAZ-469 was introduced in 1971, replacing the earlier GAZ-69. The UAZ-469 presented two great advantages: 

It was able to drive in virtually any terrain and it was very easy to fix. 

The UAZ-469 reached legendary status for its reliability and off-road ability. 

The vehicle was not available for purchase by the public, but many were sold as surplus to private owners.

Holden GTO Or a Pontiac Monaro?

As a usual Saturday goes, if i'm not going to work, I involuntary make my rounds through some of Naperville's best car dealerships, more commonly known as dealerships... there will be more humor than just that coming up shortly. I am usually hunting out the latest model to review, possibly test drive something, or find something that I never expected to see and oodle over it all day.

A future classic muscle from down under is the Holden Monaro, Australia's version of of our short lived 2004-2006 Pontiac GTO.

2004-2006 Pontiac GTO

2006 Holden Monaro

At Naperville Auto & Cycle Sales, I spotted this GTO with the Holden badge on the back, but not the front, which was clearly the Pontiac...

The GTO in question

A Holden badge that can easily be bought through eBay

This was a change of pace, exciting to see a Holden badge in America, I have loved Holden since 2008, and 2010 when I went to New South Wales Australia.

Its been a very popular trend to buy cars and switch the badgeing and passing it off as something not available in America.

There is a facility in Denver,CO, called Left Hand Utes where they legally buy the parts for Holden Commodores and Utes and swap the parts of Pontiac GTO's and G8's to make US registered Australian master pieces.

Some shots of the back of the properly badged models for reference:

Pontiac GTO

Holden Monaro

Longer and Brighter is Better:Part II

A day later, and more casual driving got me thinking of more cars that fit in with the redder crowd of four wheelers.

Lets just jump right in... we know what we're talking about.

As the current Dodge line-up, when Swedish maker Saab was one its last leg with U.S. sales, the final production models had to be the most futuristic Saab any car enthusiast has ever seen.

The bar was thin, grey/clear plastic, and red LED tubes on both sides of the car.

2010-(us)2012 Saab 9-5

(US)2012 Saab 9-5 Sport Combi

(us)2011-2012 Saab 9-7X

A more personal favorite of mine in this case, are the Oldsmobile Aurora and Lincoln Mark 8.

1995-1999 Oldsmobile Aurora

1992-1998 Lincoln Mark 8

To carry on Lincolns award winning design of cars, back then and now, most of these models hold the characteristic of a red stripe on the back of the car.

2009-... Lincoln MKT

2015 Lincoln MKC

2015 Lincoln Navigator

2007-2010 Lincoln MKX

2013-... Lincoln MKZ

As the new Lincoln MKC arrives this summer, parent Ford's Edge concept will come to market to match the design as in 2007 with then launched Edge/MKX SUV's.

2015 Ford Edge concept

The Honda Odyssey minor tweaks for 2014 come with the advantage of making this post... guess why? 

2014 Honda Odyssey 

More, as I can imagine, is still to come in part III.

Seeing Double

I was browsing through Google searches of Saturn cars and thinking in 5 more years, no one will know the name Saturn, what it is or what the yell is the logo supposed to be... I clearly see its the planet Saturn's rings, but it remains controversial if that's really it.

Point is, I passed over a picture of a 2006 Saturn Vue Red Line, and first thing that came to mind was... it looks like a Porsche.

How can a Saturn look like a Porsche Cayenne Turbo, yet the front end shares shares striking similarities on ventilation:

Although the front look the same, the rears, as many SUV's are just plain with the name and license plate indentation .