So many memories came flooding back that Vincent and I knew we had to record a Bonus episode! Join us as we chat about Vincent’s many good times at Saab both professionally and personally. Vincent shares more photos of the good times, talks about the Saab swag he helped create, shares additional memories of the 1992 Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel meeting, the changeover from the Saab-Scania logo to the Saab logo, discusses Scania trucks towing SCUD missiles in Saddam Hussein’s army and the controversy that ensued in the USA and some closing thoughts about his great memories of his time at Saab. Enjoy!

Join me this week on a fascinating journey with my guest Vincent Donroe-Wells. Vincent started as a contracted Account Manager, then came on board with Saab tackling various responsibilities including Merchandising, Auto Shows, Advertising and eventually National Sales Promotion Manager encompassing all previous jobs and adding many new programs and experiences. Vincent was an instrumental part of the now famous Opryland Dealer launch meeting of the 9000 and 900 Convertible and the new 900 launch meeting in Orlando as well as many, many more creative projects. Please enjoy this journey with over 150 photos and 15 videos to enhance the viewing experience. Enjoy!

This week’s guest is the effervescent long time Saab Connecticut employee Valerie Torphy. Valerie regales us with stories from her long extensive career in Sales and Marketing which included working with brochure production, dealer analysis, dealer Saab signage, prospective dealer franchise analysis, dealer meetings scouting, meeting production, used company car auction programs, and coordinating Saab into the GM vehicle employee purchase programs. Valerie was Saab’s first Used Car Manager. She also talks about her great joy working for Saab-Scania USA President Bob Sinclair and VP/President Sten Helling.

Post Saab Valerie has been a driving force behind the semi-annual Saab employee reunions and is already planning the 2027 event. Enjoy!

There are several ex-Saab employees that can truly be referred to as “legends”. Arsey Miller is one of those people. Join me for an extensive conversation with Arsey as we discuss his years with Saab in jobs ranging from District Parts, Service and Sales Manager, Regional Sales Manager, National Product Display and Sales Training Manager. As well as all of these diverse positions Arsey was instrumental in the Saab National Peace Officer Ski Race, training the IDS sales persons in Europe, working with the Scania Bus and Saab Friction Tester at industry shows and much, much more. Enjoy!

This week I renew an old friendship with someone I worked very closely with and learned a lot from starting from my early days at Saab – Angela Leibowicz. Angela started at Saab in Customer Service for the Eastern Region and eventually became the National Consumer Relations Manager. She has many great stories from her years at Saab including applying for a job because she liked the building, developing the vehicle buyback program, the holiday “nuts to you” Bob Sinclair tale, several interesting celebrity encounters and working with a “slacker” like me! Please enjoy.

This week witness my most ambitious multi-media YouTube Podcast yet with guest Walt Lawson. Walt started with Saab in 1982 washing cars at the Saab fleet shop. From there he became a Technician, a Technical Representative and then moved to Training Instructor at the Southern Region Technical Training Center before leaving Saab and moving on to Kia Motors. Our lives crossed twice long before either of us worked for Saab. We start there in our interview. Join me for the interesting journey of Walt Lawson. Enjoy.

Joining the Podcast this week is ex-Saab District Sales Manager and 9-3 Product Manager Doug Blank. Doug’s interesting career includes his time as a Radarman on a U.S. Navy Destroyer to a vehicle painter on the Jeep assembly line and several jobs at Saab as a District Sales Manager and the 9-3 Product Manager. Doug has some great stories ranging from the questionable color choices out of Sweden where white was only for Police cars and not for retail to attempts to get OnStar and XM Radio into the vehicles to having his new 35 mile 9000 Aero totaled just a few moments after picking it up!

Please enjoy my conversation with Doug.

Original Parts Help Line Creator Eric Weiss joins me this week on the Podcast. Eric started at Saab as a “Senior” Consumer Relations person where I followed in his footsteps as he transitioned shortly to my future role running the Parts Help Line. He then became a field Service Representative calling on 15 dealers in Connecticut and Rhode Island. A short time later he moved up to the Eastern Region Service Manager position. Eric regales us with some great stories ranging from the nightmare of the early 900 Sony radios, his interactions with CEO Bob Sinclair, visiting a dealer that also sold boats in the same showroom and transitioning to the “other side of the fence” working for Secor Automotive in New London, CT for the past 32 years where he can still be found today. Welcome Eric.