They have visited Trollhattan twice, own ten cars adorned with Gripen logo and were horrified by the thought of a future without the Swedish car brand alive. New York-pair Clint Grimes and Alvaro Isla, Sweden and the threatened car brand has become a lifestyle.
HARRIS, USA - Just a few minutes ride from Bethel, where the first Woodstock festival was organized in 1969, spreading a relatively modest blue house with a garage out. It is here that Clint Grimes and Alvaro Isla taking refuge on the weekends to escape the stress of Manhattan. And this is where the couple's impressive collection of Swedish cars are found.
Total collection spans more than ten vehicles - all from Saab. There is everything from a 96: a from 1969 to a brand new 9-4X. The car that stands out most is an orange Sonett III from 1973 - exclusively produced for the U.S. market.
- But you ask me, then select the favorite car? says Alvaro Isla and let bothered emit a sigh.
- It is as ungrateful as to ask a mother to point out his favorite child. These cars are my children.
The fascination of Saab has not always been there. The first time Alvaro Isla came into contact with the marque were in 1985. Then he loathed the model - the wayward 900 - standing in front of him because "it was just too different."
But after having owned a Saab 9000, which he later was forced to sell when he needed money for a venture in the restaurant, had the now 51-year-old Alvaro Isla started the beginning of a lifelong love affair with the Swedish car brand.
When the next car would be purchased was the sight after all in on just a wayward Saab 900. The couple met 18 years ago and they joke about the fact that Clint Grimes already owned just one 900 was the "dealbreaker" to love.
- Since it rolled on. We bought a 900 turbo convertible, a 9000 with a lot of horsepower, the Saab 900 SPG ... (The model called the 900 Aero in Sweden, ed's note).
When Clint Grimes, who has worked as an engineer at General Motors, talks about the four-wheeled vehicles that are in the couple's property, he does so with a tone that is indicative of a tremendous love for Saab. If nothing else, it's a testament to the couple's two trips to Trollhattan (2007 and 2011) to meet other enthusiasts and visit the factory. Other evidence is all the clothes and stuff with the Saab logo and that they collect all the literature available about the make of car.
- I just started trying to study Swedish in order to read all the books I have, not only what is available in English. In addition, we want to continue receiving the Swedish culture, says Alvaro Isla and get nods assent by Clint Grimes.
- The Saab, we have discovered that Sweden is a totally unique country. It is fascinating to you with just 9 million people can put so big impression in the world.
At the house of Harris, which is about two hours' drive northwest of New York, dedicated to the two to be especially disassemble the cars and then put them back together - as much for repeatedly "struck by the insight of how well made they are "as to" try to improve them. "
Quite often spent hours on the internet to hunt catch the original parts as a previous owner has cleared.
- As soon as you open up the cars so you realize that they are anything but a BMW or Mercedes. They are extremely well made, everything is perfect and carefully designed, says Alvaro Isla.
According to the couple is precisely the advantage of also Saab's biggest problems. That the cars are "made to perfection" means that costs increase while consumers need to buy a new vehicle is reduced. Another problem they consider to be that General Motors chose to maintain a high price tag of Saab, despite an impaired sense of luxury, inter alia, "make the inside more plastic."
- I am surprised that no more buying Saab, the mark does not become more popular. But I am happy about it - I do not want to stop at a red light and see Saab everywhere. The feeling of exclusivity makes a lot of my feeling about Saab, says Clint Grimes.
According to him, in recent years has been something of an emotional roller coaster. News that Saab will be saved from bankruptcy has turned into quite the opposite - that soon after swinging again with a new lifeline thrown.
Neither Clint Grimes or Alvaro Isla reluctant to criticize the Swedish government which they believe should have acted more forcefully to save Trollhättan pride. At the same time, they want to give a dose of praise for Victor Muller for his hard work.
- You can say a lot about Victor Muller, but if it were not for him, so would the Saab already be closed. The company may not survive in the future, but it has at least kept it alive for some time and tried, says Alvaro Isla.
The couple is not itself ineffective in the fight for a future for Saab.
In order to support the Swedish car manufacturer Saab recently bought the newest model, suven 9-4X, even though the money was actually reserved for a future 9-5 hatchback.
- We will continue to love the Saab even if the company goes under, but it will not be the same thing, says Clint Grimes has not given up hope of an eleventh Saab.
-If the company survives, we will buy a 9-5 SC - it is our dream right now.
CARS
Saab cars owned Clint Grimes and Alvaro Isla:
Model | Year | Color
• 96 | 1969 | Green
• Sonett III | 1973 | Orange
• 99 GL | 1978 | White
• 99 Turbo Combi Cardinal | 1978 | Red
• 900 Convertible | 1989 | Red
• 900 SPG (Aero) | 1989 | Grey
• 900 SPG (Aero) | 1989 | Black
• 9-5 Aero | 2001Blå
• 9-3 Turbo-X | 2008 | Black
• 9-4 X | 2011 | Bronze
Source: http://www.svd.se/naringsliv/motor/k...iv_6642044.svd
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