I don’t normally cover Saab aircraft here. I like the fact that Saab come from an aviation background but I like to keep the site about my point of interest, which is the cars.

I couldn’t resist sharing this photo, though, when I saw it on my Flickr feed today. Don’t you just want to take it home and restore it?

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Given all the recent talk about GM’s troubles and the WSJ article about them possibly divesting other brands, I feel obliged to pass on that GM have since come out and denied that any brands other than HUMMER are on the block. From the Detroit News:

General Motors Corp. is assuring dealers that it has no plans to cut additional brands — stressing that its Hummer nameplate is the only one being reviewed for a possible sale.

GM’s response came after the Wall Street Journal reported Monday that the Detroit automaker is reviewing plans to eliminate another brand, possibly Saturn, as part of a larger cost-cutting strategy. In a letter sent to dealers the same day, Mark LaNeve, GM’s vice president for North America vehicle sales, said no such plans are in the works.

“Similar to the Hummer situation we would communicate with you, our dealers, very early in the process if this was the case,” he wrote. “In this challenging period that our industry is going through, there is bound to be lots of media coverage, speculation and rumors. The best way to combat (that) is through strong sales performance and a focus on our customers.”

I don’t think it’s quite that clear cut and I feel pretty certain that there’s been chatter, at the very least, about other brands, but in real terms, I think HUMMER is indeed the only brand on the edge right now.

Time will tell about the immediate future.

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Retrospective Motorsport’s tilt at the Le Mans vintage event happens this weekend. At their homepage they have a nice little story about how the first Saab attempt at Le Mans came about. They’ve also got a photos of the car they’ll be running this weekend. The likeness to the original is fantastic!

I’d like to wish Bo Lindman and his crew all the best for the drive. I’m sure we’ll hear all about it next week.

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And whilst we’re thinking about motorsport, Per Eklund finished 9th in the most recent round of the European Rallycross championship.

Mike Jager has all the details, as usual, and a great airborne shot of Eklund’s Saab 9-3.

And yes, I’ll maintain my hope for a more focused Saab racing effort in the future, with Per as manager if the team. Maybe when a smaller and more agile 9-3 arrives in a few years?

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