DON"T SELL OFF OUR NATIONAL TREASURES!!!

It is scary to think that the efforts to turn the auto industry around could lead to flushing part of the history of brands such as Buick, Cadillac, Chevy, Chrysler, De Soto, Dodge, GM, Oldsmobile, LaSalle, Plymouth and Pontiac down the drain. But it could happen. We already saw GM's sell-off of prototypes and dream cars at last year's Barrett-Jackson auctions. As the bailout mentality sets in and cash becomes king, more of these historical automobiles could be liquidated. Some will go to collectors who'll preserve them, but others may not.

Those of you who have been around awhile, like me, may remember the '50s when Detroit dream machines were sold to pay the bills. One-of-a-kind automobiles wound up in Cuba, Saudi Arabia and other dubious destinations. For all we know, Saddam Hussein's son had Detroit dream cars in his palace collection in Iraq! Some may even have been crushed by U.S. Army tanks.

We do not need to see these things happen again. The Detroit dream cars need to be saved. If I was in the current administration, I'd call up dream car collector Joe Bortz (he lives in your old hometown Mr. President) and make him my Dream Car Czar. Then, I'd know that these "national treasures" would be safe forever.