Talk about GM merging with Renault and Nissan is just another subversive move to lose US identity. Already GM is in the process of again downsizing its assets in this country rather than reaffirming itself. When I was a kid GM was but a shadow for trucks and not very big ones, which were left to White Horse and Mack. Its true identity was in its fleet of automobiles and its bread and butter, much like the economy Ford, was in its Chevy for the average blue collar family. The Pontiac, and the economy models of Olds, and Buick, for the incrementally growing middle class. Higher brackets went for the bigger Olds and Buicks and ultimately the crown jewels — La Salle and Cadillac.

GM needs simplicity by fading into the background and letting the great names of the past be rediscovered but with new, quality stressed engineering. The GM medallion should only be on trucks and heavy chassis SUVs and available at Saturn dealers.[Preferably Saturn should be discontinued.] Passenger dealers should be discouraged to feature GM. Chevy dealers on the inventory lots should feature compact-chassis utilities, suburbans and stripped down Malibus, along with low mileage Cobalts [renamed simply Chevy, and Corvettes and Monte Carlos in showrooms to be on order.

Pontiac should consist only of Firebirds and a new relatively luxurious mid-sized called the Chieftain available in a convertible and two and four door sedan.

The Olds, should return and showed in Cadillac showrooms as OldsRoadster, inspired by the famous Cord and original Corvette, to answer the T-bird and Miata.

Buick should consist only of a newly designed Roadmaster convertible and sedan as a direct answer to the Acura.

One Cadillac should be offered that would be the envy of Lexus and Lincoln.

Needless to say, each division would be distinct and no auto parts interchangeable with any of the others. Bring back America.

Copyright © 2006 Richard R. Kennedy All rights reserved. Revised: July, 19, 2006.

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