Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveOC
For What It's Worth, given all the distressing news of the past couple of days, Sales of Solstices and Skys were up this past month:
For the month of May:
Solstice Sales = 539
Sol production = 560
Sky Sales = 353
Sky Production = 70
According to a couple of different reports here on the Solsticeforum, Opel GT and Saturn Sky production has been completed, and Pontiac Solstice production will be finished as of June 12.
Here are the total production numbers I have calculated since day 1 of production back in 2005:
Opel GT: 7,517
Saturn Sky: 34,227
Pontiac Solstice: 64,403
I will update these numbers next month when GM publishes it's monthly report, and thereafter if any of them change.
R.I.P. kappa cars  |
I debated whether I should type anything, but I decided what the heck.
REQUIEM FOR THE KAPPA
After the bankruptcy filing, one of the plant casualties is indeed Wilmington Assembly.
GM files for bankruptcy-law protection -- baltimoresun.com
"but a Wilmington, Del., plant that has many workers who live in the Baltimore area will shut down July 31."
The plant is down for five weeks after this Friday, June 5, 2009. It will start back up on July 13, and build out the rest of the cars for 2009 Model Year, all Solstices I think, clean out the shipping lot toward the latter end of the week of July 27, and close on the 31st. There will be no 2010 model year. All of the dealerships know this, so this is not "new news" or "sensitive" information.
This is, however, really sad news, such a great little car. I feel fortunate to have given 7 years of my career working on this car, worked with such an awesome team to bring a drawing to life with character and heart and yes, dare I say it, maybe a bit of soul.
Maybe a lot of soul.
I have been watching the inevitable march of the end coming for a while now, beginning with the economic meltdown and the beginnings of the housing bubble bursting, and these events are poignant for me.
Over the years, the platform came to life, and became an everyday companion. It isn't perfect, in fact far from it, but it carried out the mission well. Champion spots in many of the competitions it participated in, whatever the form, be it road racing, autocrossing, or just plain car shows or as a modification platform, or as a reason to get together and enjoy the open, twisty road with new friends.
I have used this following analogy for friends I have talked with:
The little kappa -the little platform that could - the Solstice, the SKY, the Opel GT (and yes, even the Daewoo G2X), were like favorite pets. You know they won't live as long as you will - one day there WILL be an end.
You get the things when they barely eat solid food, untrained. They make noises, and intrude on your life. They wake you up, or sometimes have you up late into the early morning hours. They pizz on the carpet, and sometimes they misbehave.
Over time, you get to know each other - you teach them cool tricks, and are so proud when they can actually do these things for other people. They become a part of you and you a part of them. Their quirks become... adorable, annoying... and maybe you even accept them. You defend them, and protect them, and they give you unconditional loyalty. You learn what you can ask them to do, what they are willing to do, and what they cannot do. At times, when you are "playing" with them, it is like you have become one.
Then, they start to get sick. There is nothing you can do. They get weaker and weaker, and you know the end is closing in. It seems like you have lots of time, but they take a turn for the worse, and far ahead of when they should - WAY TOO SOON -
- they are gone. And you must say goodbye.
Is it possible to love an inanimate object, or is it the concept it represents, or the challenges that you and your co-workers have gone through together - co-workers that have now become very close lifelong friends because of trial by fire, trying to run quick and lean and smart, anticipate and chop down problems early, and truly embody every concept of the word "team"?
If so, I guess I am guilty of having done so.
These cars have provided me with some of the most embarrassing, and most proudest moments of my career. Most of all, they will provide memories that I will carry to my grave. The majority of them excellent.
You got it, DaveOC.
R.I.P. Kappa, I have been so fortunate to have spent time with you over the years.
Linear Mode
