Comments on: SAAB Cape Cod – Kurt Vonnegut’s dealership

By: Adam Quilton

Adam Quilton — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 17:09:15 +0000

I live in Osterville, MA and have been searching for this Vonnegut-Saab connection for some time. I will visit the public records office in Hyannis later this month. Wish me luck!

By: Abbott

Abbott — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 18:29:17 +0000

forums which go above the similar subjects? Thanks a ton!

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Hosting Reviews — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 22:29:29 +0000

I have been looking around and I must say that the information provided here at, http://www.saabhistory.com/2007/04/15/saab-cape-cod-kurt-vonneguts-dealership/, have been stellar.

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car picture — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 09:49:06 +0000

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By: coggs

coggs — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 01:20:34 +0000

it was in the stone building on 6A mentioned above which still stands. See the link below for a lot more info.

http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091229/BIZ/912290301

By: bugsy

bugsy — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 17:10:17 +0000

This comment just came in to CCL:

My understanding was the dealership was in the Stone Building on Route 6A where it turns at Parker Road/Church Street.

By: Tim Winker

Tim Winker — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 19:27:33 +0000

It will probably forever be an unsolved mystery, but here is my best guess at Vonnegut’s SAAB connection.

I first heard about Vonnegut’s claim to have been the “first Saab dealer” in the U.S. in a magazine article, PLAYBOY, I think.

At one of the Saab Conventions, I asked Ralph Millet, who founded Saam Motors in the U.S., if he remembered Vonnegut as a dealer. He said he did not, and Ralph had a pretty good memory.

I once wrote to a Vonnegut fan site that seemed to have an inside line on the author’s life, but that came up with some lame response along the lines of “if he said it, it must be true.”

Here is what I have been able to piece together:

In the early days of Saab Motors, a dealership was formed called Saab Cape Cod. My guess is that it was the 2nd dealership established, so it must have started about 1957. The owner would have been known to Ralph Millet, president of Saab Motors, so it must not have been Vonnegut. (There are other references that say Vonnegut worked at the 2nd Saab dealership in the U.S.)

Vonnegut was between books and in need of steady income in the mid-1950s. (This was long before he became outrageously famous with “Slaughterhouse Five” and “Breakfast of Champions”.) Selling cars can provide that steady income, so he sold cars… SAABs. The drawing on the “Saab Cape Cod” letterhead indicates Vonnegut was “Manager”. In those days of small dealerships, he was probably the only employee in the front office.

As to going out of business 33 years before the piece appeared in (supposedly) 2004, I’m guessing it was ten years prior, in 1961, that the doors were locked for the last time. That gives only about four years 1957-1961 that the dealership was in existence.

This is all guesswork, but with some online sources to back me up.

– TW

By: ryanoe9000

ryanoe9000 — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 16:28:16 +0000

Thank you. I will visit that site and place my contact information there.

I have also put in a phonecall & e-mail to the W.B.Nickerson Library (closed today (Tuesday).

You have been a great help.

By: bugsy

bugsy — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 16:21:50 +0000

I posted your request on Cape cod Living. You might want to leave a comment with your contact info.

By: bugsy

bugsy — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 19:35:00 +0000

The library at the Cape Cod Community College has a collection of vintage photographs from Barnstable. You might try them.

http://www.capecod.mass.edu/
in the W.B. Nickerson Memorial Room