After 40 years, Garry Small is retiring as the owner of a Portland automotive dealership that bears his name.
But it’s not just any dealership. It’s the last remaining Saab dealership and official Saab service center on the West Coast.
Garry Small Saab is one of a handful of Saab dealerships left in the country, and the only official Saab service center on the West Coast.
Geoff Norcross / OPB
The store repairs, services and sells used models of the Swedish car company that went out of business 15 years ago.
Small spoke with “All Things Considered” co-host Geoff Norcross about his decision to sell, and what he plans to do now.
Geoff Norcross: You opened your store in East Portland in 1986. What is it about Saab cars that make them so special and so different from other brands?
Garry Small: Saab, of course, safety is their number one thing. And customers, they just love their Saabs and they’re very loyal to the brand. And so that’s what really keeps us going, just keeping the Saabs on the road.
Norcross: Saabs have not been made for quite some time. The company filed for bankruptcy protection in 2011. How did that affect your business?
Small: That affected the business very much because, when they filed bankruptcy I had, like, 15 new Saabs in stock. So when they came in and said you’re no longer a dealer, that left us with 15 new Saabs with no warranty. You got brand new cars with no warranty, you can’t sell them. So all of us dealers got together across the United States and we got together with this attorney, and they put together a program to give us a warranty. It didn’t cover factory warranty, it didn’t cover paint or interior or anything like that. But at least it was something to help us sell the cars. We ended up losing about $10,000 per car just to sell. It took us about a year to sell them. That almost put us out of business.
Norcross: You not only sell used Saabs, but you also service and provide parts for them when they need repairs. How busy is that part of your business?
Small: It’s very busy. We’re usually booked up like 2 to 3 weeks in advance. They all come to us because they want their cars fixed correctly, and we’re the only ones that really know a Saab.
Norcross: What’s going to happen to your employees who have been with you for years servicing these cars?
Small: The new owner is going to come in and he’s keeping my employees and my technicians. And also my parts counter guy. So it’ll work out
Norcross: Does the new owner plan to keep your shop an official Saab service center?
Small: Yes.
Norcross: Can I ask how old you are, Gary?
Small: Eighty-six. It’s time for me to retire.
Norcross: I guess so! And I understand that once you retire, you’ll have time to pursue one of your passions. Can you tell me more about that?
Garry Small is selling his eponymous Saab dealership and service center in East Portland to devote more time to racing.
Robyn Small
Small: Yes, that’s my race car. I race a Volvo P1800 in vintage car racing at Portland International Raceway and Seattle. That’s the only thing that keeps me going, is that race car.
Norcross: I’ve got to ask, though. You said you race a Volvo. Why don’t you race a Saab?
Small: I started out with Volvo in 1962, and I had a Volvo service center. We all raced Volvos. My partner at that time raced a Volvo sedan and I raced a Volvo P1800, and I had to put that car away when I got involved in the dealership in ’86. I retired out of racing until six years ago, and then I decided I want to get back into racing again. So I bought this race car and I rebuilt it. So now I’m racing again.
