Cadillac, Hummer and Saab Chief Mark McNabb Resigns from General Motors

After being at the helm of GM's premium Cadillac, Hummer and Saab brands for just over a year during which time the automaker took the decision to sell two of the three brands, Mark McNabb decided to jump ship resign from his position. The 48-year-old Vice President will be replaced on June 1st on a temporary basis by Stephen J. Hill, general sales manager of the autmoaker's premium channel since 2008. "He elected to pursue other career opportunities," said Cadillac spokesman Klaus-Peter Martin. "A big part had to do with he wanted to be closer to his family in New Jersey," he added.
Before joining the ranks of General Motors, McNabb served as senior vice president of sales and marketing at Nissan North America Inc.

Via: Detnews

GM Officially Announces Pontiac's Death, Saab, Hummer and Saturn to be Gone by 2009

This is the end of the road for Pontiac as General Motors confirmed earlier media reports by officially announcing on Monday the death of the 83-year-old marque that will be phased out by the end of 2010. As part of its revised "Viability Plan" that accelerates the timeline for a number of important actions, GM said that it will speed up "the resolution of Saab, Saturn, and Hummer to the end of 2009, at the latest." The General will focus on four core brands in the U.S., Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC, offering a total of 34 nameplates in 2010 compared to 48 in 2008, a reduction of 29 percent. "We are taking tough but necessary actions that are critical to GM's long-term viability," said Fritz Henderson, GM president and CEO. "Our responsibility is clear - to secure GM's future - and we intend to succeed. At the same time, we also understand the impact these actions will have on our employees, dealers, unions, suppliers, shareholders, bondholders, and communities, and we will do whatever we can to mitigate the effects on the extended GM team."
Other significant changes in GM's updated "Viability Plan" include the accelerated idling and closures of powertrain, stamping, and assembly plants while the firm will almost cut its U.S. dealer count in half, from 6,246 in 2008 to 3,605 by the end of 2010. This is a further reduction of 500 dealers, and four years sooner, than the previous plan submitted to the U.S. Treasury on February 17.
And how will all these measures affect U.S. workers? According to GM, the updated plan will see an additional reduction of 7,000 to 8,000 hourly employees. Overall, U.S. hourly employment levels are projected to be reduced from about 61,000 in 2008 to 40,000 in 2010, a 34 percent reduction, and level off at about 38,000 starting in 2011.

GM Finds a Buyer for HUMMER, Deal Could Save 3,000 Jobs

So what do you do when you're in the bizarre position of being a Ford nut that wants a Hummer but doesn't have enough money to buy one? Well, while most people would just forget about it, FullSizeBronco (FSB) forum member Francois (aka H150) decided to take matters in his own hands -literally- and build a full-size replica of the Hummer H1 using bits and pieces from various Ford models including the frame of a 1987 F150 4x4, the rear axle from a 1991 E250 van and a 7.3-liter Powerstroke diesel engine from a shuttle van.
And mind you, this handyman didn't choose the easy way out by using a fibreglass kit. Instead he painstakingly fabricated the Hummer body out of steel. Five years later and he has almost reached the end of this amazing journey as there are only a few pesky details left to finish up the project that has been baptized for apparent reasons, Hummer H150. Kudos to you sir, you definitely deserve it!
Source: FBS , Via: Jalopnik

Custom Built Hummer H1 is one Freaky Creation

My eyes, oh my poor eyes... Can't remember for sure if we have seen any custom made vehicle worse than this heavily modified Hummer H1 that's up for grabs on eBay, but it certainly makes the top list. And wait until you see the interior with the ostrich leather dashboard and the number of LCD screens surrounding the driver...
Aside from claiming that the modded H1 "gets more attention than all other exotics" (wonder why...), the seller mentions that more than $185,000 were invested on the vehicle that is powered by a tuned V8 diesel cranking out 195 horsepower and 430 lb-ft (583Nm) of torque.
Still interested? Our condolences for your lost of taste but if you insist, the eBay 'Buy it Now' price for the Hummer H1 is $89,000.
Link: eBay