June 2, 2009
When We Loved GM
Harry Smith: After Automaker Loses Its Luster, Is It Too Late To Fall In Love Again?
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Play CBS Video Video Getting GM Car Deals Harry Smith spoke with Consumer Reports' Jon Linkov about buying a new car from a bankrupted GM and if the warranty will hold up.
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Video Wall St. Favors GM Bankruptcy Wall Street reacted favorably to the General Motors bankruptcy, reports Bloomberg's Deidre Bolton. GM CEO Fritz Henderson tells Maggie Rodriguez he is optimistic that the company will rebound quickly.
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Video GM Files For Bankruptcy General Motors has filed for bankruptcy; the company has plans to close 14 plants and give the government 60% ownership. Russell Pearlman, Sr. Markets Editor for Smart Money Magazine, weighs in.
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(AP)
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In The Spotlight Harry Smith Reporting The Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith offers commentary for CBSNews.com.
Continuing news and analysis of the financially troubled U.S. automaker.
Stories
- Report: GM Sells Hummer To China
- GM Reinvents Itself In 60 Seconds
- GM CEO: "We're Open For Business," Sort Of
- Five Key Questions On GM Bankruptcy
- Will Politics Weigh Down GM's Future?
- GM Workers "Going With The Flow"
- GM CEO: "Give Us Another Chance"
- Obama: GM Has "Chance To Rise Again"
- List Of GM Plant Closings
Opinion
Interactives
The first one I can recall was a Chevrolet followed by a Pontiac and an Oldsmobile and a succession of Buicks. As kids, we'd have arguments in the school yard about which were better - Fords or Chevys.
We started flipping out in August because the new car models would soon be down at the local dealers. All of us knew and debated every single change in each model - the fins, the tail lights, the grill. We knew the engines.
We collected the brochures and marked the calendar for the days of the auto show. On the days we went, we’d come home with a shopping bag full of propaganda.
We loved cars. Especially GM cars. We stopped loving GM cars some time in the 70s. That's when the car giant's death spiral began. Poor quality, uninspired design. Most of those problems were addressed over the years.
Is it too late to fall in love again? It will take more than money to save GM.
By Harry Smith
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Add a Comment
- Right on Harry, that is exactly the way it was back then. I much preffered new model brochures, when I was young, instead of Playboys.
Unfortunately today, the passion for the automobile is gone, and no matter what you build, I think young people will be more interested in what new video game ,or cell phone is coming out. - Reply to this comment
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