Got money? Wanna start a car company?

[fund razor]

Here's what I think will happen:

There will be some kind of assistance to GM, Ford and Chrysler. It will probably look like a loan but feel like a bankruptcy. It may be both. It will break the unions and abandon the retirees.
They will reduce lines and make their differentiating products, the ones that they do best and are bigger ticket. They can make competitive trucks, SUVs, cadillacs, corvettes maybe. Mustangs and Vipers. Whatever.
They can't compete against Korean and Indian micro cars, which will start hitting our shore last week.
But we can. I know a bunch of displaced car builders from design to final detail. There are workers everywhere. Could put it where the old Jeep plant is since it is brownfield anyway and we start cranking out cheap cars made by non union workers who would rather build cars to compete against asia than work at Tim Horton. We can hire the layed off dealership people and convert closed dealerships, buying them in distress, maybe foreclosure? Even jets are hitting the street right now... cheap.

Need a few hundred million to get the ball rolling.

You will get to join Detroit Yacht Club and all sorts of other great stuff.

We could call the company Toledo Motor Company.

Detroit Auto show 2010: Concept cars:
The TMCs.

There will be three basic models:

The Toto: a two seater car very cheap.
The Tonto: a small sedan
The Tatonka: a small suv

Send me a PM and we can get started.
Thanks!

[fund razor]

Hey.... if somebody steals this.... I want a cut. You heard it here first.
You can do it, but I want some money. You don't want me walking up to you in a tux at the party before the Auto Show and tap you on the shoulder.

[fund razor]

btw... the location suggested is at the crossroads of the largest east west (I-80/90)and north south (I-75) corridors in the US, an international port, airport and more rail lines than most US cities.

[Tommy Gun]

great idea...I'm in.

[Davidmnc]

Only a couple hundred million.............Ummmm.......Nope...can't swing it.

[fund razor]

great idea...I'm in.

I am willing to work with a consortium.

[MarylandMark]

I'm close to DC and off next Friday. If you can just get the company going by then I'll go to DC and try to get on the bail out list! I'll even take a few of my minority friends to increase our chances!

[phragle]

we can find a couple plants within 50 miles or so that are closed as opposed to building, Im in for $5.00 Do we get stock options?? Do I get a cushy corner office with a big desk and a view?? Do we get company retreats with expensive hookers and free booze?? I am willing to sacrifice and take a cessna instead of a corporate jet. We can get Reggie on board if we give the cars a beak instead of a hood ornament and use 24kt gold rims. Brownie can do the never rust stainless exhaust. JC does engines, Dave does the paint, I will do practical aplication evaluation and we can put stecz in charge of the windshild washer squirters ( the stufff does kind of look like koolaid). Mexiclean can make them shiny. The Jersey boys will be in charge of anti theft systems. Gino can head up the collision avoidence systems. who else do we have for critical positions??

[03darkshadow]

im down with being the marketing guy

[Trim'd Up]

I will throw in $100. I am always in for hookers, trips and free booze. I don't even need an office.

[Perlmudder]

im in for all i got right now. 4 dollars (2 toonies), a paperclip, and a jelly bean.

[TEAMBAJA]

Has the janitor position been filled yet?

[DollaBill]

I'll take sales and dealer development.

In reality, there's lots of money available. 100M is easy when people are scared of everything else.

First promo - "Buy a car - get a lap dance"

[db71]

Or we could just buy saturn from GM probably on the cheap. I watched a 5 hour movie on Henry Ford last week interesting stuff started with one model and made it right. Now you just need adesign to get investors. I think your best bet would be a motorcycle with a car body. Not nearly the safety standards of a car. I don't know what defines car over motorcycle though.

If SOS has 2000 members its only $100,000 per member for 200 mil. I think?????

[db71]

No joke though these companies are going to be having fire sales on equipment and land and buildings in areas of existing factories which they will be closing and states will be wanting to help keep jobs there.

I think this is a great idea. I am thinking manual tranny, 4 cylinder maybe a Sea-Doo 3 cylinder super charged, crank windows, AC optional, composite body, composites used wherever possible. I am thinking First model a convertible 4 seater with small back seats call it a motorcycle.

I wonder what the crash standards are for motorcycles. if you have to do any testing or anything.

[fund razor]

No joke though these companies are going to be having fire sales on equipment and land and buildings in areas of existing factories which they will be closing and states will be wanting to help keep jobs there.

I think this is a great idea. I am thinking manual tranny, 4 cylinder maybe a Sea-Doo 3 cylinder super charged, crank windows, AC optional, composite body, composites used wherever possible. I am thinking First model a convertible 4 seater with small back seats call it a motorcycle.

I wonder what the crash standards are for motorcycles. if you have to do any testing or anything.

I would qualify this as a new idea and you don't have to pay me.

[MarylandMark]

who else do we have for critical positions??

I can be the political lobbyist. That is the only way to get any thing done with the Gov't!

I know a way to cut cost right off the bat:

Strippers are a waste of money. Some hookers look just as good if not better and you know you....uh... I mean the clients I am taking out to entertain... yea.. that's... them.. you know they are going to get some in the end. 100% sure thing happy ending with hookers; not so much with strippers but still a good close rate.

We... I mean they...can stay at a Holiday Inn vs the JW Marriott. Lot cheaper, less press and as a bonus they come out smarter. I know one by Capitol Hill where the wino will sleep like a wheel chalk under your tire for $20 a night in low-end fortified wine.

I got all kinds of cost cutting ideas but it takes money to make money. Send it my way so I can get started for us!!

[db71]

Alright I studied it Buy Saturn make only three of five models The Sky, Aura, and Outlook. Even thought these cars share assembly lines with other Gm cars mainly Opel in Europe. Just buy all the plans for parts and make them yourself rather than rely on GM Start with one facility for final assembly and use the same seats and motors and heater controls etc. in every model to reduce costs. Depending on how the bailout works out there will be some parts suppliers looking for someone to supply. So maybe you could get them to take on some of the burden.

Maybe Saturn could be bought on a loan from GM that if you buy there motors for 10 years it is forgiven.

Remember millions or billions are made in times like these.

[MarylandMark]

use the same seats and motors and heater controls etc. in every model to reduce costs.

I've always said that. KISS- keep it simple stupid.

Make them all the same- no reason to have a Chevy, Buick, Olds, GM, Caddy and Pontiac all the same car with $2K worth of stuff changed and re-badged on each of them. Ford, Mazda, Isuzu and the like did the same.

3 names for each of the Big 3- low, mid and high end. Say GM, Chevy and Caddy for GM. All GM's can have the same options because it will be cheaper to build them all the same than not (power w/d, A/C, etc). All Chevy's the same way, etc.

Remember millions or billions are made in times like these.

More millionaires made during the Great Depression than any other time in history

[fund razor]

More millionaires made during the Great Depression than any other time in history

Yes, and I was kind of hoping to be one. Just need to convince people to invest in the auto industry. Bad week for that.