Inside General Motors, Circa 1999

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

Today, we’re setting the way-back machine for 1999 for an ABC “exclusive” behind the scenes of General Motors. Rick Wagoner is in charge, market share is dropping and the Aztek still hasn’t emerged from its camouflage. It’s a more innocent time, as evidenced by ABC’s breathless, toothless reportage, and it makes for good nostalgia and good schadenfreude. Does it get any better than that?


Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

More by Edward Niedermeyer

Comments
Join the conversation
4 of 24 comments
  • Odomeater Odomeater on May 10, 2010

    "Good design doesn’t come from a depressed bombed-out city that lacks a talent pool." And we all know that GM only employs those from inner city Detroit.

  • GarbageMotorsCo. GarbageMotorsCo. on May 10, 2010

    Ah, 1999. Back then I was a diehard owner and GM could do no wrong in my eyes. How things have changed. Two terrible trucks and a disastrous SUV experience later and I'll never buy another Government Motors vehicle again in my lifetime. There are just SOOOO many better choices out there for the money with better quality, reliability and value. When GM is getting passed up by Hyundai and Subaru (nevermind the Ford, Honda, Toyota, Nissan and even those German makes), by friends and coworkers you know GM just cannot be in a position of surival.

  • IronEagle IronEagle on May 10, 2010

    Great find! I would do terrible terrible things to get inside that warehouse with all the concepts over the years. To have a book of all the keys..oh my! :)

  • Accs Accs on May 12, 2010

    Hmmm From a purely analytical standpoint.. I have nothing positive to say towards GM as a whole. From a completely design oriented standpoint.. talk about design. I wish half of that got to the showrooms. There is still no reason why a mid-engined Vette hasn't been produced. Its been the herald of the name since inception. But Alas.. this is GM. And to see how fantastic their cars are look at the many awards theyve won from Consumer DIGEST and.. Consumer REPORTS! Ta-DA! Talk about depressing. Then I checked out the "Is this love" song with some nice footage of Vettes. Made me happier.

Next