Since Thursday of last week, we have received a total so far of 13,325.11 euros which is the equivalent of $17,624.78 USD. For the first six days I have to say I am impressed to see so many people support such a great cause. Judging by the ticker I see to the right, it would look like we have 18 days and 15174.89 Euro left to reach the target. We have done a great job collectively so far and need to continue to push to reach the target.
I know that North America has been behind Europe in donations, but I can’t stress hard enough that every donation counts towards the final goal and hey, most of us got paid yesterday. We are many in North America and if every owner donated 5 euros towards the total, we would already be surpassing the required amount. In know way am I saying only donate 5 euros, donate what you can, if it’s 5 or 500, doesn’t matter to me. Do what you can or what you want and we will get there.
Some questions have come up about what happens after the first five years? Why is the car not just gifted to the museum? And what if we don’t reach the goal? All of these questions are good questions and have been answered as follows.
Regarding the five year contract and why the car is not just gifted answered by TimR in comments:
The real reason why we keep it private and only loan it to the Museum over a renewable 5 year period is that the museums future is still not secured. IF the museum would fall into financial difficulties next year, which is very likely at this point, this car would be the one, which would be easiest for the owners to get some money out of, and thus secure the future a bit longer… this must not happen!
So by keeping it private for the first 5 years, guarantees that nothing can happen to the car regardless of what happens to the museum.
Many cars at the museum have a similar deal, where a contract is signed between the museum and a private owner, that the museum will keep the car in display condition and I guarantee by that contract that the car will stay where it is.
IF after the first 5 year period, the museum’s finance are in order and its future secured for a minimum of another 5 years, the car can be written over to the museum…
What if we don’t reach the goal? Answered in post Buying the last 9-3. Status update friday 27th of April.
The deadline for providing a donation is the 20th of May at 14:00 Central European Time. That is when we will know if we have been able to complete the task of saving this valuable car or if the money gathered will be sent as a one time donation to the Saab Cars Museum.
Now with all that out of the way, I will tell you why this specific car is so important to me and all of us. Not that long ago there was talk about all the remaining cars on the production line being scrapped altogether and never being completed. This didn’t happen and ANA, a Saab dealer agreed to purchase the final cars at different stages of production and complete the ones they could in house which to me is very impressive. This car is to be the very last Griffin to come of the line and be completed and weather or not it’s the last 9-3 to ever be built remains to be seen, but I would think it is more then likely the last of its kind which makes it a very special car. It also closes out the Spyker/SWAN era of Saab and like it or not, that becomes a part of our history.
Why this whole cause is important to me and all of us is because I personally don’t know of another brand where fans and customers of the brand have come together like this. We are looking at as a collective group, buying a historical car to ensure it has its place in history so that people can see this car and say “that was saved by the fans”. As a fan, that image just makes me happy and proud of this group.
If you have already donated, thank you very much. If you are thinking about donating, please do it. For those of us in North America, come on guys and gals, lets show everyone that Saab matters to us too, lets make this dream a reality and show the world how different we are and why Saab fans are the best.
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