Thread: Closed Saab dealerships

I have seen a few closures this year but was surprised to see Saab of Santa Ana in California closed their doors. I bought 3 Saabs there and it always was a pleasure working with them. They closed the other Saab dealership in Mission Viejo last year so that leaves Orange County without a Saab dealer.

Any more dealers who have closed recently?

I heard that Turpin in Ottawa closed.
Very surprised not to hear of more closings in Canada given the situation with Saab here.

My nav system showed a dealer in Winnipeg, MB. I was going to drive by it but it seems it doesn't exist anymore. Saab's CA website shows they only have a service location in Winnipeg right now.

From their website:

In 2011 Fred Carl’s New Salem Garage d/b/a New Salem Saab hit a huge milestone that very few other Saab Dealer’s in the Country can match. New Salem Saab celebrates its 50^th year as a Saab dealer, which is a monumental accomplishment and we are very proud to have achieved this mark.

However, I write you today with troubling news. On August 12, 2011, Fred Carl’s New Salem Garage, Inc. d/b/a New Salem Saab will be forced to close its doors forever. In the past four years the Saab Franchise has been experiencing the most challenging period of time since their inception and introduction in 1947, which troubles continue to this very day. This fact has dramatically altered the ability of our exclusive Saab dealership to sustain a profit since 2008 when the financial, housing and automotive industries collapsed.

As a result and by no fault of my dealership, or its personnel, the unthinkable is about to occur; we must close. We are beside ourselves in disappointment and frustration. As all of you know, my team has feverishly tried to reduce expenses and the size of our operation and its business plan for the last several years. Although this allowed us some additional time, the continual disruptions of the Saab brand and its operational difficulties put us at a disadvantage that is uncorrectable with Saab’s current state of affairs. We are sorry and saddened to express this news to you.

The Carl family truly appreciates your friendship and business over the years. We have successfully maintained your Saab for your family for a very long time. We still love the Saab brand and would like nothing more for them to recover from their difficulties and continue to grow; Saab is still a Swedish wonder. Although we have lost our personal battle, we will continue to cheer and support the brand in hopes Saab’s resurgence is long, strong and soon.

Every great book has an ending. This is ours. Neither by intention nor plan was this the ending I had envisioned. There is not much I would have done differently if I had to do it all over again. The knowledge and experience I have gained over the last 20 years and especially the last 5 will serve me well in the future. For this experience and knowledge will again be applied to our personal future endeavors. We hope to see you all in the community in the very near future.

Sincerely and truly yours,

Darryl F. Carl
President
New Salem Saab *** 1961-2011 ***

SaabHistory has a few pictures and a short audio interview with Mr. Carl.
» New Salem Saab – Oldest Continually Family Owned & Operated Saab Exclusive Dealership In The North East » Saab History


First Saab delivered to NSS, picture credit New Salem Saab (1961) as posted on SaabHistory.

Heritage information from their website:

New Salem Garage – “where and when did it start?”

Just post WWII in the hamlet of New Salem NY, nestled just under the Helderberg mountains Dewitt Carl opened a Texaco Mar-Fax station selling service, gasoline and used cars where he and his family cared for the local automotive needs as primitive as they were. Servicing such early and long gone but not forgotten nameplates like Hudson, Tucker, Willies and Ford Dewitt, his wife Hazel and their children; Pauline, Arlene, Fred and Glen worked the American dream with the entrepreneurial spirit to the fullest extent. Long hours, big sacrifices and life tests that helped make this company what it is today.

How so you ask?

Well to start, working 12 plus hours a day, seven days a week sometimes with just family alone. No vacations, no sick time just work, work, work. Building customers one at a time over a period of years, being honest empathetic and caring of needs along with raising a family of six.Sacrificing many life joys in being there to raise the family, available for education and playtime or just talk time. In a way the business consumed who we are and thus began the era of a Saab family whose dedication and commitment to the brand is three generations strong and certainly not about P&L anymore.

Where did Saab come in?

As the story goes there was a Saab dealer in Delmar from 1958 until our family purchased the franchise in 1961. I’m not sure why they sold out but I know it was an interesting transaction of more Carl family strife and sacrifice. If my grandmother were here she could explain it with the strong emotion that it really deserves. However, during the purchase the financial institutions of the day would not lend the money to my grandparents for a Saab franchise. Remember Saab was a foreign front wheel drive car with a three cylinder two stroke, which only arrived in the states in 1956. The banks along with everyone else didn’t know anything about this funny sounding little Swedish car hence there reluctance to assist in the purchase.

Never the less our family pressed on and sold off many things to help raise the money needed including a chunk of the families savings which grandmother was “fit to be tied” over. They managed to scrap together what they needed and our franchise was awarded on March 23, 1961. We received at the time a small box of special tools and a smaller box of parts to start. The 61’ Saab arrived on the car carrier and Gramp paid the white overcoat wearing gentlemen truck driver cash for the first four cars we ever received.The rest is history as they say!

We now can repair and service any Saab vehicle that was ever sold in the US. We are now one of the five oldest dealers stilled owned and operated by the same family in the US today. Something I intend on only making better and longer.

Today we work in a different era with different concerns, expectations, needs and wants. The Saab brand is clearly identified from its roots as well. It was founded by sixteen aircraft engineers, of which only one had a license to drive. Money was tight and the war was over. They developed the SAAB 92. It came in one color, aircraft green. It was the beginning of automotive life, which has been continuous and exciting as well as full of commitment and sacrifice.

Saab is my life. Customers are my commitment.

Some pictures from the NSS website. Reproduced here as their website will probably be shut down in the future.

It's sad to see dealers that have been in business for a long time have to close their doors. Times are still tough in the car business and for a small, now-independent brand like Saab, it's got to be twice as tough.

I guess I'm lucky to have a small, Saab only dealer in my town. Even if Saab the car company goes out of business, Just Saab will stay in business. They have the market cornered on parts in this area and the service department will stay busy. Just Saab did close their Fairfield, OH branch two years ago, it was more or less a satellite store for the Cincinnati branch as they all they did was new and (mostly) used car sales. That leaves Just Saab with two branches, Cincinnati and Dayton, OH.

This dealership in Colorado also closed a few months ago. I can't find the fulll news article anymore but it basically was the same story as the others.

Fort Collins Tynan's Saab closing - Coloradoan

6/17/2011 - After 15 years in business, Tynan's Saab is closing as a result of poor sales. Tynan's Fort Collins offers Nissan, Kia in addition to its Saab sales, service and parts. The Nissan and Kia dealerships will remain open.

The SAAB dealership in Anchorage, Alaska has stopped selling the brand, they still carry on as Lithia Chervolet and their service manager says they will still service SAABs and do warranty work. The nearest SAAB delership is now in Washington State, 2000+ miles away.

Originally Posted by rpiereck

The SAAB dealership in Anchorage, Alaska has stopped selling the brand, they still carry on as Lithia Chervolet and their service manager says they will still service SAABs and do warranty work. The nearest SAAB delership is now in Washington State, 2000+ miles away.

Theres not one in Vancouver or anywhere in BC?

Originally Posted by Hirsch

Theres not one in Vancouver or anywhere in BC?

What? Are you suggesting there is another country in between Alaska and the rest of the US?

Seriously though, if you are looking at the Saab US site, it will only list American dealers, not the ones in Canada.
And yes, there is at least one dealer/service outlet in BC.

Originally Posted by Hirsch

Theres not one in Vancouver or anywhere in BC?

I am sure there is but I was searching for dealerships in the US. Buying a car in Canada and importing it to the US is not easy (or maybe even feasible).

Originally Posted by SaabScott

What? Are you suggesting there is another country in between Alaska and the rest of the US?

Seriously though, if you are looking at the Saab US site, it will only list American dealers, not the ones in Canada.
And yes, there is at least one dealer/service outlet in BC.

I am sure there is a dealership in Russia somewhere too. Either Washington, BC or Russia is pretty damn far from here. That is what sucks about living at the edge of the wilderness (and I'm not kiding).

All that will change soon as I move to Germany. I'm sure there will be a dealership nearby, and the factory itself won't be but 13 hours away...

East Syracuse, NY – The dealership that has sold Saab cars to Syracuse-area motorists for 48 years plans to close its doors by the end of January.

Paul Weller, owner of Sports Car Centre of Syracuse with his wife, Terri, said the decision to shut down was forced by the Dec.19 bankruptcy filing of Saab Automobile AB and two related companies in Sweden. Saab was the only brand sold at the dealership.

The automaker had not supplied cars to Sports Car Centre since April. The bankruptcy filing threw doubt into Sports Car Centre’s ability to get parts and to be reimbursed for warranty service, Weller said.

Plans tentatively call for the showroom and service center at 3105 Erie Blvd. E. to shut down on Jan. 27. About 15 employees are looking for jobs, some of whom have worked for Sports Car Centre for 20 years or more, Weller said.

Customers with 2009 and earlier Saabs still will be able to get warranty work performed through General Motors, the Swedish company’s former owner.

Saab Cars North America, the car maker’s North American branch, is seeking an out-of-court solution so that owners of newer models can get warranty service, Saab Cars North America said on its website.

Saab, the bankrupt car maker, no longer has ties to Saab AB, the defense and technology company that bought East Syracuse defense contractor Sensis Corp. in 2011.

The Wellers bought Sports Car Centre in 1986 from Terri Weller’s father, Philip Hmiel, who founded the business in 1963.

The business began on South Salina Street, then moved to Old Liverpool Road, Salina, Route 11, North Syracuse, and Bridge Street, East Syracuse, before settling into its current spot in 2001. It is the only Saab dealership in an area stretching midway to Rochester and Binghamton and all the way to Utica and the Canadian border, Weller said.

The company whose cars it sold was half-owned by General Motors from 1990 until 2000, when GM bought the rest of the company. Facing its own financial straits, GM sold Saab in 2010 to Dutch automaker Spyker Cars, but retained preferred stock.

That stake allowed GM to veto proposals that would have let Chinese investors plow money into Saab. In making the bankruptcy filing, Spyker Chief Executive Victor Muller blamed GM’s rejection of the deal for forcing the filing.



Paul Weller, owner of the Sports Car Centre of Syracuse, stands next to a Saab 9-3 in 2002, after the dealership's move to its current location on Erie Boulevard.

Source: End of the road in sight for East Syracuse Saab dealership, Sports Car Centre | syracuse.com

I remember going to the Bridge St. location many times. Jimmy Hutchings at Sports Car Service in DE used to work here.

Shaw Saab - Norwell, MA
closing after 44 years in business as an exclusive Saab dealer



From their website:

Greetings!

It is with profound sadness that I announce we will be closing after 44 years in business as an exclusive Saab dealer. My father started the business June of 1968 as one of the founding Saab dealers of this quirky, but safe little brand. The bankruptcy of Saab Automobile AB (Sweden) has forced this hand. As hard as we all tried (and you have no idea), it was impossible to sustain this business any longer. We will be closing the doors next Friday, February 3rd at 6:00 PM.

Words cannot describe the array of emotions we are all experiencing right now. Everything from sadness and anger to pride and hope. Although I can sit here and play the 'blame game', or let you know how I really feel -- I will limit my response to the conclusion that a deal to sell Saab to Youngman/Lotus was ultimately blocked by the decision makers at General Motors. In summary, GM from the outset made it quite clear that they would not approve a sale of Saab to any Chinese entity that allowed a transfer of shares amounting to 20% or more. In the final hours of negotiations, a proposal was presented to GM allowing Youngman/Lotus to focus and invest in new model development for the future without changing the ownership structure of Saab. That proposal was also blocked. At that moment, it became painfully clear that GM would withhold support for any such deal -- and the race was lost.

Oddly enough and in retrospect, Ford found a way to get a similar deal done with Volvo. In my strongest opinion, this whole tragedy was all so very avoidable.

With this announcement, Saab Cars North America suspended the processing and payment of all warranty claims. GM has come forward and stated that they will honor the warranty on all 2009 and older vehicles. However, GM will only allow that work to be processed at a dual GM/Saab dealers (locally -- Saab of Hyannis & Saab of Norwood).

There has been much work with Senator Brown's staff and Senator Kerry's staff regarding the Saab situation. The dealer associations in New England are attempting to rally our senators behind Senator Blumenthal of Connecticut, who has decided to grab and run with the ball on the Saab situation and the possible expansion of GM backing on such issues as customers' warranties (2010 & 2011). There has been positive feedback from our Senators, as well as from those in Maine and New Hampshire. It is expected that Senator Blumenthal will have a letter for circulation amongst the Senators in an effort to prod GM to do more on model year coverages beyond 2009.

As far as Norwell, we have signed an agreement to sell the real estate to Herb Chambers. It is his intention to bring Lexus here. My son, Mike, presented Herb with a 'Lexus of Norwell' business plan. The plan encompasses a full Lexus franchise that includes Saab service and a Saab conquest program that converts Saab owners to Lexus. It is a plan that incorporates our dedicated staff giving the feel of a family business while maintaining the necessary financial strength of a premier automotive group. As a sidenote -- Herb personally called me after reading Mike's business plan and stated it gave him 'goosebumps'. It was a thorough and very comprehensive plan. If this comes together, Mike would be named General Manager.

Timing, however, is a complicated matter. Herb's architects and builders are working feverishly trying to complete a building design. They are uncertain as to whether the building needs a renovation, a major renovation, or a complete tear-down. This means that the building will be dark anywhere from 3-12 months.

In summary, it is our best intention to remain under this rooftop to service you, our dedicated customers. Discussions continue on this topic at this time.

In the meantime, please visit SaabUSA.com for a listing of local Saab dealers for your servicing needs.

I owe a debt of gratitude to my employees and to you, our customers. Our employees are who we are -- they are the face of Shaw Saab. It has always been our philosophy to run an exclusive Saab dealership -- one brand under one rooftop -- and do it better than anyone else. My people did just that and I thank them for their dedication to the Saab brand, to Shaw Saab and for their painstaking efforts servicing you. I also thank you for your years of business and support.

To close this chapter, I want to share a story with you. My Uncle Ken (Kenneth G. Dalton) was editor of the Brockton Enterprise in the good ol' days. His daily article (K.G.D. Says...) spoke of his many experiences in this wonderful New England area. He always ended the story with '~30~'. Upon his death in the early 80's, my Aunt Freddie had the '~ 30 ~' engraved on his headstone which finally begged the question as to the meaning. She explained that it meant 'the end...for now'. Meaning there was another story, or another chapter coming tomorrow. That gave even greater meaning and pride to his marker.

The best way to close this out is simply to say--

Best personal regards,
Fred Shaw

From the North County Times:

Oceanside is losing its last downtown new-car dealership, ending an era that goes back nearly 100 years.

Saab of Oceanside has closed its showroom doors and its service section at 617 S. Coast Highway, staying open for the next two to six weeks to sell parts and the last two cars in its inventory, owner Ziggy Galleisky said Friday.

"We're just winding down operations, basically," he said about the family business that his father, Hart Galleisky, started in 1968.
The decision to close, said the younger Galleisky, 49, has been "excruciating, to put it bluntly. Emotionally, it's probably one of the hardest things I've dealt with."

The once-prosperous business was caught in a bind when Saab's parent company, Swedish Automobile, filed for bankruptcy in December.
Saab as a brand eventually could be resurrected, but Galleisky said he has been struggling for the past few years and can't wait.

John Daley, who owns the nearby 101 Cafe and is vice president of the Oceanside Historical Society, said Galleisky's dealership will be missed.

Read more: OCEANSIDE: Last downtown new-car dealer closing

I'm not sure about Dana Motors, formally Dana SAAB in Billings, Montana, but it seems they have ceased operations as a SAAB dealer and have been able to re-brand themselves as a premium used vehicle seller and service shop.

Back in October when I visited them for an oil change they were still hopeful for a comeback, and as the oldest SAAB dealership west of the Mississippi river they should be so. Their operations were small but according to Dell McCormick, the dealership owner, who was working at the shop when I met him, they served the largest geographical area of all US SAAB dealers. No small feat.

When I vitited Dana Motors they had a few 9-5 and 9-4 for sale, but according to their new site those cars are gone. Their stock of used SAAB vehicles shows one 23k mile 9-5, a few 9-3s and a 9-7. None really new, so I guess they were able to sell their new stock.

What I find interesting is Dana Motors new logo, they came up with a logo that clearly shows their SAAB roots, with a Phoenix replacing SAAB's Griffin:


This is what their small show room looked like when I visited in October, big enough for one 9-5. To the left of this picture is their maintenance shop, with six or eight vehicle lifts.


Dana SAAB was a family operated business, and it's nice to see it was able to survive the manufacturer's turmoil

Cars For Sale Billings MT | Car Dealer Billings MT | Dana Motors

This dealership is/was part of the Elder Automotive Group. Saab of Troy, Michigan and Saab of Tampa, Florida are part of the same company, together with many other dealerships. I checked Saab of Tampa website and it appears they switched to Mitsubishi. Saab of Troy still seems to be open, according to their website.

Saab of Lakeside was a nice stand-alone dealership in a good location. It was a newer dealership and they hadn't be there very long. Sad to see the building sitting empty..



From the Macomb Patch:

Notices taped to the doors of the dealership say, "closed for routine construction," but Saab of Lakeside is no more.

The Hall Road dealership fell victim to its parent company's bankruptcy in December 2011 and closed last month.

Saab has not manufactured any vehicles since April 2011 and efforts by foreign investors to purchase the company have been unsuccessful. Industry sources credit the failure of these attempts to former owner General Motors' refusal to license key technology to potential buyers.

The future of Saab is still indefinite, but with greater proceeds expected from the sale of individual assets rather than the company as a whole, it is unlikely the carmaker will remain intact.

Saab will not return to its Hall Road home and the dealership will likely host a different car brand in the near future. There is no word yet on what this brand might be.

For Saab customers around Macomb Township, this means going elsewhere for vehicle maintenance.

Neighboring Jaguar Land Rover of Lakeside will accept all non-warranty work, such as oil changes and routine maintenance, while Saab of Troy, 1819 Maple Lawn, will do both warranty and non-warranty work.

Jaguar Land Rover Lakeside, 18979 Hall Rd., 586-203-2624
Saab of Troy, 1819 Maple Lawn, 248-205-1333















Saab of Tampa from Google streetview

This thread is rather depressing... The Saab building in Doylestown (Fred Beans Saab) has been "de-badged" and the 2-3 remaining Saab techs are now in the used car center (also where the Saab's now get serviced.....

From the Concord Monitor:



Tracy Banks Saab on Manchester Street has closed in the wake of the Swedish automaker's bankruptcy, with its service department moving to the newly renovated Banks dealership up the street.

As of Jan. 31, the Saab dealership's sales, parts and service operations moved from 54 Manchester St. into the larger dealership, also owned by Tracy Banks, at 137 Manchester St., according to a note posted on the Banks website.

"All current Tracy Banks Saab customers can now service their vehicles at Banks Chevrolet-Cadillac-Buick-GMC. . . . All of us at Banks Chevrolet-Cadillac-Buick-GMC welcome you and look forward to serving you, your family and friends," the note read.

General Manager Bill Jasak didn't return messages yesterday seeking information.

Tracy Banks Saab's phone number and website now redirect to Banks Chevrolet-Cadillac's number and site, and the dealership itself was dark yesterday, its parking lot crammed with new Chevy, GMC and Saab vehicles.

Banks purchased Fiermonti Olds-Saab in 1999, moving the Oldsmobile business to the main dealership and renaming the Saab-focused dealership after its new owner. Tracy Banks Saab was one of just two Saab dealers in the state, along with Gary Blake Saab in Exeter, according to the New Hampshire Business Review.

The main Banks dealership completed an expanded building and showroom last year.

Cookies disabled? | Concord Monitor

I'm surprised Continental lasted as long as they did. Really nice people and very helpful. Tried to buy parts from them after Mission Viejo went out.

Side note, one of the main guys from Saab of Santa Ana is sales manager over at Volvo of OC now, basically next door. Nice guy. Met him when I test drove a c30.

Originally Posted by jk88

Side note, one of the main guys from Saab of Santa Ana is sales manager over at Volvo of OC now, basically next door. Nice guy. Met him when I test drove a c30.

Are you talking about Tony B.? I bought a Saab at the Mission Viejo dealership and two at the Santa Ana location. Sales guys were really nice as well. I miss those places, too bad they are gone now.