Saturn Homecoming decal from 1994. Click to enlarge.
Remember how that a current headline would prompt the narrator on “The Waltons” to recall the simpler times of the 1930’s? Such a headline recently triggered reflections of the 1990’s in my mind.
GM KILLS SATURN
So read the www.cnn.com headline, in large, bold type, on the afternoon of Wednesday, September 30, 2009.. As part of the restructuring of General Motors, a business deal with Penske Automotive Group to continue the Saturn brand had not come to fruition. GM quickly announced plans to phase out Saturn, similar to its shutdown of Pontiac.
I am the original owner of a 1995 Saturn SL1, and former owner of a 1992 SL1. My interest in Saturns began when it was announced that GM would build them in my home state at their Spring Hill factory. According to the November 19, 1989 Chattanooga News-Free Press, our local Saturn dealership was the first in the nation.
The announced phase-out of Saturn caused me to reflect on the now simpler times of the 1990’s, on my experiences with two Saturn cars, and on the two Saturn homecomings – essentially like Woodstock or 1967 Summer of Love fests for Saturn owners.
SATURN HOMECOMING 1994.
After making cars at Spring Hill since the 1991 model year, the “different kind of car company” decided to welcome the Saturns and their owners to their birthplace for a big summertime event in June, 1994.
After paying my registration fee, I received a packet in the mail which included a window decal, various Saturn memorabilia including an orange ball for the antenna, official information on the Spring Hill activities, and admission to Opryland.
With family loaded into my 1992 SL1, we headed up Interstate 24 into middle Tennessee. Soon, we saw many other Saturn owners driving their plastic-sheathed chariots, with the identifying orange ball on top of the antenna
Our family spent the first day at Opryland Park in Nashville. Had I known that this would be our last visit, I might have taken more photographs. Opryland closed after the 1997 season. Still, we had a great deal of fun on the rides, enjoyed the shows, and feasted on theme park food.
Our youngest child was only two years old, and inexperienced in sitting still for concerts. During a performance by banjo-playing comedian Mike Snider, our son briefly took off on foot in front of the stage. Mr. Snider took note, and shouted “Yonder he goes!” while continuing to pick the banjo.
The second day was spent at the Spring Hill Saturn complex. We parked our car in a large field, and headed for the exhibit tents. Saturn workers helped to staff the exhibits. On seeing all of the cars back at Spring Hill, one person said, “It’s just like seeing our babies come home.”
There were demonstrations of the new 1995 models, which included air bags instead of the motorized seat belts that my car had. The 1995’s also had improved sound systems, and a free CD was given to each person who stopped by the audio tent. This was the first compact disc in our family's audio library.
A tour was offered of the Saturn assembly line. We saw the space frames entering the building above us, then being lowered to the waiting workers who installed door panels, windshields, and interior trim.
We were supposed to see Wynonna Judd in concert. However, a tremendous summer storm moved through middle Tennessee, and forced us to take shelter in a Saturn mechanic training center. Even this unscheduled exhibit was interesting, in that I was able to see some of the components of Saturns and learn how that they trained technicians.
After the storm moved through, we headed back to our car. By then, the parking lot was now a mud pit, which made for treacherous walking and driving. Still, we all felt that we had a great time at the Saturn homecoming. The exhibits on the 1995 models were enough to convince me that I needed to upgrade, so I ordered a new SL1 in September of the homecoming year.
SATURN HOMECOMING 1999
The second homecoming was held July 30-31, 1999.
Getting the family loaded into my Saturn this time was more of a challenge. I heard at least one complaint about “Now I know what it’s like to be a sardine.”
Again, we were treated to a tour of the Saturn factory. This time, we rode, rather than walked, through the manufacturing process. There were exhibits of the “lost foam” casting of the Saturn engines, which involved steaming beads of polystyrene to fill an aluminum die. We also heard a presentation on the green efforts of Saturn which included recycling the spent material from their plastic body panels. The tour also took us by the space reserved for making the new Saturn Vue.
With Opryland no longer available to guests, Saturn devoted an area of the festival to amusement park rides. The ones that moved fast were welcomed for the breeze, for the temperature in middle Tennessee was around 100 degrees. We also cooled off by staying an extra long time in the air-conditioned exhibit tents.
We were allowed to visit a recreation center of the United Auto Workers, and participated in various games including a horseshoe tournament and video snow skiing.
Hootie and the Blowfish, which had several hits during the 1990’s, provided the entertainment on the first day of the Saturn homecoming. The up-and-coming performer Faith Hill, and husband Tim McGraw were in concert on the second day.
Saturn promoted its new mid-size sedan, the L-series, at the second homecoming. I decided to keep my 1995 SL1, however, for at least a few more years.
That extended ownership turned into a much longer period than expected. The car became a part of the family, and now has 229,000 miles on the odometer.. I’m sure that my Saturn still has some traces of dirt from the baseball fields, or glitter from a dance recital costume. The car that once held children in car seats has since been passed from one student driver to another.
While the latest news from General Motors about Saturn sounds like the end of the line, I’m still hoping that the brand can be continued, and that Spring Hill can again become the place where Saturns are launched. I’m also wishing all the best to the folks at our local Saturn dealership, where I’ve always enjoyed excellent service from employees like David, Dickie, Lance, Reed, and others.
If you have memories of the Saturn homecomings, or are a loyal Saturn owner, please send me an e-mail at jolleyh@bellsouth.net.
Compact discs like this were given away at the 1994 Saturn homecoming. Click to enlarge.