There are Saab enthusiasts all over the world, and we recognize some of them in our surroundings. Although there are fewer and fewer Saab cars on the road, they are not giving up on this brand, and one such is Chris Rizzon, about whom the local newspaper “Manchester Journal” recently published a large report, admiring the enthusiasm that Chris has for Scandinavian cars.
Rizzon Saab Repair, a long-time Saab car repairer located in Manchester, Vermont, has been keeping the proud Scandinavian brand rolling for decades. Chris Rizzon is the owner of Rizzon SAAB Auto Repair, which specializes in fixing Saab automobiles. Saab Automobile, which was hived from its parent company in 1990, has been defunct for nearly a dozen years and the population of roadworthy Saabs has been decreasing. Rizzon believes that as the Saabs die out, his business will also die out with them. The family-owned and operated business has become a staple in the community, known for their expertise and dedication to the Saab brand.
In 1997, Chris Rizzon left his job as a technician for a Saab dealership and opened his own repair shop, Rizzon Saab Repair. He renovated an existing building next to his house, creating two service bays, one with a full lift for working on exhausts and the other a low-rise lift for changing tires and replacing brakes. Rizzon performs mostly routine maintenance on Saabs, such as brakes, tires, exhausts, clutches, engine oils and axles. He does not rebuild engines, but he will drop an engine from a donor car into an otherwise roadworthy Saab. He also occasionally performs work on other types of cars, such as Volvos, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and Subaru, but these jobs are typically for customers who also have a Saab. Rizzon estimates that 95% of his revenue comes from services rendered on Saabs.
As a Saab-exclusive repair shop, Rizzon Saab Repair has a deep understanding of the unique engineering and design of these vehicles. Their team of certified technicians have a wealth of knowledge and experience working on Saab models, both old and new. This expertise allows them to provide top-notch service and ensure that each vehicle is repaired to factory standards.
Chris gets customers from various locations, such as Glens Falls, Salem and New York City, as well as Burlington. He attributes this to the fact that “nobody else wants to work on them” or “nobody else has the diagnostics or the knowhow” to work on them. Certain models of the defunct Saab brand, such as the Saab 900, have attracted the attention of collectors. Rizzon has done work on these cars for customers who want to fix them up so they can garage them in the winter and take them out on pleasure drives during the summer. The hope is that this will help the cars last longer and appreciate in value. Rizzon notes that Saab was always considered a “cult car” due to its difference and focus on safety and performance.
Rizzon Repair’s commitment to the Saab brand doesn’t stop with their repair and parts services. They’re also a proud member of the “cult of Saab,” a community of enthusiasts who are passionate about the brand and its history. The team at Rizzon Repair shares this passion and is dedicated to preserving the legacy of Saab through their expert repair and maintenance services.
In an era where many shops are opting to work on a variety of different makes and models, Rizzon Repair’s dedication to the Saab brand is a refreshing change. They understand the unique needs of these vehicles and are committed to providing the highest level of service to their customers. So, if you’re a Saab owner in the Manchester area, Rizzon Repair is the place to go for all your repair and maintenance needs.
Chris Rizzon has specialized diagnostics hardware and software for Saab automobiles that allows him to plug the cars into the equipment and find faults. His experience also enables him to identify issues even before the customer brings the car to his garage. He charges a labor rate of $75 per hour and customers bring different jobs to him, some with small repair budgets.
In conclusion, Rizzon repair is a family owned car repair business that has been serving the Manchester community for decades, providing top-notch repair and maintenance services for Saab owners. Chris has a wealth of knowledge and experience working on Saab models, both old and new.
Cool story. Love that there are Saab enthusiasts in every corner of the world keeping Saabs on the road.
DiVitto