AUBURN HILLS, Michigan (Reuters) –

With just days to go before Chrysler learns its fate, dozens of people flocked to pay tribute to the once famed icon of America's auto industry that might soon be entering the final chapter in its long history.

From a former Chrysler salesman to an employee from another struggling U.S. automaker, General Motors Corp, those visiting the Walter P. Chrysler Museum in the northern suburb of Detroit expressed sadness at the prospect of a world without Chrysler and hoped the company would survive.
"I would be very sad if it were to go out of business, not only for the corporation but for the Michigan community," said Scott Morris, a 50-year-old GM employee, looking around dozens of vehicles spanning eight decades.
Morris was visiting the museum with his wife and daughter, days before the company faces the deadline of April 30 by which it must cement an alliance with proposed Fiat SpA and win sweeping costs cuts from creditors and unions.
The Obama administration has warned that without the deals, Chrysler would face a cut-off of government funding and a potential bankruptcy.
"We're here today because we thought the museum might close in case Chrysler would go bankrupt, and we've never been here before," Morris said. Walter P. Chrysler Museum sits adjacent to the company headquarters in this Detroit suburb.
Private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management LP bought the automaker from Daimler AG in 2007, pledging to save an "American icon" that has moved from market dominance to the 1980 federal bailout to foreign control over the past 80 years.
Less than two years later, Chrysler is operating on $4 billion of government loans it received early this year. The government has also directed the automaker to link up with yet another European partner, saying Chrysler is not viable as a stand-alone company.
"I'm very sad Chrysler has come to this point. Chrysler was always known as the company with the best styling and engineering. Because they were small, they had to be smart," said Dwayne Janke, 50, who used to work at a Chrysler Jeep dealership in the 1970s.
"I came in the hope that nothing would happen to this museum. I wanted to show my support," Janke said.
Luis Sordo, 44, said he wanted to see what is potentially Chrysler's last moment as a stand-alone U.S. automaker.
"The auto industry is an icon for the country," Sordo said, visiting with his son and brother-in-law from Venezuela.
"I hope the company will make it and get a solution. Hopefully the joint venture with Fiat will work."

 

As sad as it is....it's true.

I was at Chrysler's world HQ last week on business. I decided that since I was already there I'd stop by the museum. I was amazed at how many people were there.

Maybe they could charge more for admission and help themselves back on track.

 

 

Bankruptcy will save the company. They need to cut the huge union saleries and huge union benny's. Just think, someone's getting paid $26 hr plus an enormous benny package for installing windshield wipers on a car.

 

CHRYSLER IS NOT GOING OUT OF BUSINESS.... EVERYONE CAN STOP PUSHING THE PANIC BUTTON.

And it won't be because Obama saves them either.... he is too busy running around rubbing elbows with communist leaders and dictators of other countries when he should be home helping the USA.

Chrysler will not go anywhere. Warranties will still be good.... Obama and his staff will personally fix every Chrysler so bring them on down to the white house when you need repairs. The white house will be set up to fix every vehgicle and you can even get tint, wheels and stereos installed for cheap prices!

Seriously.... declaring Bankruptcy is the best thing for them. They will be fine and stronger once they reorganize. DON'T PANIC.

 

.............

 

You're so right. Some poor shlub on a hot, boring, production line has no right to make $26/hr. Not like he's a banker who lost several billion dollars through risky trades, jeapordized his company, and is still paid multiple millions in bonus and salary. I agree, let's gang up and stomp the middle class guy. This recession and GM/Chysler's problems are all his fault.

 

I am liking your "THICK SARCASM" lay it on thick baby lay it on thick!!

 

I agree, Lets hang those guys making 50k a year, who do they think they are scraping by like that. After all when cars were priced at $6,000, Those bustards were making $20/hr.

 

The Unions have Killed our industrial leadership everywhere they get involved. Chrysler should declare chaperter 11 and then get the hell out Dotroit and move to TN, SC, AL, during their reorg.

 

Here's some reason for hope:So, can we now dispense with the union-bashing and cheap shots at Obama? Funny how no one has a harsh word for Chrysler management, the people actually responsible for making the business decisions.

I'd like to believe that a deal with Fiat will produce something good. I think the alliance with Daimler was bad for Chrysler financially but it was very good for their product lines. I don't see anything currently offered by Fiat that I'd like to see in a Chrysler though some spillover from Fiat's other subsidiaries--Maserati and Ferrari--would be greatly appreciated.

 

WOW $26.00 an hr. it' s like hitting lotto. Everyone blames the unions,how about blaming upper management and CEO's and who ever else told the union labor to build cars people weren't interested in, and that also make a ton more money the CEO's at the foreign car companies.

 

How can you hold those multi-million dollar babies responsible, They have done all they can to bleed the auto makers dry!

 

I kinda get the feeling this is all like a big poker game and there is a lot of bluffing going on to see what the other side will do. Gonna be very interesting to see how this finally plays out. Rad I agree with you on the Mercedes end of things, the quality of Chrysler products has never been better. I remember our 55 Dodge, you'd drive through a puddle and it would stall. The paint on my mom's K-car just sorta peeled off. We've come a long, long way from those days.

 

I find it interesting that everyone's in such a damn hurry to point a finger at someone or something as the sole reason for the auto companies woes. It's always either greedy exec's, (funny how that doesn't translate to the financial companies ) , the union workers (because there's no other unions in any other industry ), the government officials (because they do such a GREAT job at everything else ), etc. etc.

In all honesty, it's a combination of a lot of things. Do the exec's make too much money, yes. Have the union employees got pretty much everything they wanted for years, yes. Does government interference screw things up, yes.

What I find interesting is that nobody has mentioned the fact that many people don't have the disposable income that they have had in years past. Many people got a new car leased every 2 years, that number has dropped WAYYYY down. People are making their older cars last longer and longer.

Everyone wants the American auto companies to compete with the Japanese. With the imbalance of trade that's almost impossible. Toyota's been getting subsidized by the Japanese government for decades!

Honestly, just about EVERY industry is in a slump right now. The 2 largest purchases most people make is a house and a car. Last time I checked, the housing market wasn't doing so hot either.

 

Well said.

 

I'm not thinking $26 / hr is a lot of money... Compared to minimum wage sure, but...

 

[quote=blackcrossfire07]

. . . Chrysler will not go anywhere. Warranties will still be good.... Obama and his staff will personally fix every Chrysler so bring them on down to the white house when you need repairs. The white house will be set up to fix every vehicle and you can even get tint, wheels and stereos installed for cheap prices! . . .

quote]

That would help Chrysler save a few bucks, but remember, Obama isn't a certified Crossfire tech; he probably won't be any better than most local dealers.

I can see the commercials now: "Come on down to Crazy Barry's; our prices are insane!"

 

Sounds like we will soon be taking our cars to the FIAT dealer and saying Fix It Again Tony

 

$26/hr anymore is NOT a lot of money...perhaps a bit much to install window wipers, but you wouldn't exactly be living the high life in the bay area from $26/hr...actually in some parts of the bay area you might qualify for low income housing (seriously).

Management needs to pull their head out of the sand and show the world what those fancy ivy league degrees really stand for (not golf and greed).