« Limerock club signs up 100 members, to renovate track and facilities |
Main
| Energy bill to save 'billions' »
December 19, 2007
Hurd Auto Mall is acquiring Wigwam Saab of North Providence in a deal that closes Jan. 2, according to President Chris Hurd.
"We're very excited about it," he said in an interview. "(Wigwam) has very, very loyal clientele and (the acquisition) fits into our menu of offerings."
"I've always had my eye on Saab," he said. "They have a fantastic product and I have been approaching (Wigwam) for years."
Wigwam President Don Gregson confirmed the deal and said that not only Chris Hurd but his father, the late Judd Hurd, had talked about acquiring the franchise.
Gregson said Wigwam on Charles Street has been selling Saabs since July 1958 when his father ran the dealership. It had previously sold Indian Motorcycles "which explains the name Wigwam."
He said he and his brother Dean decided to sell to Hurd because they wanted to retire along with their sister Drusilla and had been offered a good price by Hurd, who declined to disclose terms of the deal.
"We are very fond of Saab, of our customers and our employees, but the autombile business is very taxing today, both physically and mentally," he said.
"We are happy to sell to Chris Hurd because we have never heard a bad word about him," he added.
Hurd said the Saab franchise would be incorporated into the existing buildings at the Hurd Auto Mall on Hartford Avenue, adding that he expects a number of Wigwam employees to come over to the mall.
He said General Motors was supportive of the deal, partly because it has owned Saab since 2000. Hurd is an exclusive GM dealer, with buildings devoted to Chevrolet, Hummer and Buick-Pontiac-GMC.
He also said he intends to buy a Saab from Wigwam. "I want to start driving one now," he said.
Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth 
at 2:26 PM to GM
| Permalink
Please be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published.
