The Saab Model 92 – Saab USA Heritage Collection

Posted on 12. Feb, 2007 by Ryan in 1940-1949, 1950-1959, 2000-2009, 92, Detroit, Michigan

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile USA

At the recent Saab 60th Anniversary event in San Diego, California we had the priveledge to not only see the Saab USA Heritage Collection in person, but to literally drive any of the vehicles that were available from the collection.

These vehicles that were on display at the event include the 1952 92, 1956 Sonett “Super Sport”, 1960 93F GT750, 1960 96 RAC Rally Car, 1966 Quantum IV, 1970 99, 1970 Sonett III, 1978 99, 1987 9000 Talladega, 1990 900 SPG, 1997 900 SE Talladega. The vehicles that were not present were the 1967 Sonett II, 1986 900 Turbo Convertible, 1995 900 Pikes Peak, 2005 9-2x and the 2006 9-3 Aer Convertible “20 Years Edition, #1″

Over the next few months, I will be posting a photo and press release that Saab Automobile USA has provided in their recent “60 Year Anniversary Press Kit” in the beginning of each week until I have covered the entire Saab USA Heritage Collection for our future reference of this collection.

It will also be helpful to have this knowledge of what vehicles are in the collection ahead of time, because, I understand that as part of the 2007 Saab Owner’ Convention that will be held in Michigan this year, there will be a visit to the location where this Saab USA Heritage Collection is kept and maintained for all Saab owners and enthusiasts in attendance to see in person.

Thanks to Saab Automobile, we can now enjoy not only a brilliant set of photographs of each Saab heritage model, but a detailed written description of them as well.

This week, I will start with the SAAB 92.

The Cars in the Saab Automobile Heritage Collection

1952 SAAB 92

Often described as an airplane without wings, the 92 (earlier model designations belonged to Saab aircraft) was created in the aftermath of WWII as a rugged, low-cost and practical car to safely conquer the rough Scandinavian roads of the time.

Lead by Gunnar Ljungström, the original 92 was developed by a team of 16 Saab aircraft engineers – only two of whom, according to the legend, had a driver’s license. Responsible for the exterior design was Sixten Sason, a freelance industrial designer who also gathered fame with his contributions to Hasselblad cameras.

Reflecting its aircraft heritage, the Saab 92 used a monocoque one-piece body/frame structure, yielding light weight as well as great strength. Its front-wheel drive not only delivered good traction on snow, but also a flat floor and an amazingly roomy interior – given the compact exterior dimensions.

For the first couple of years, Saab offered the 92 only in green paint, said to be left over from army supplies. The four-passenger car was powered by a two-cylinder, two-stroke engine with an output of 25 horsepower. It had a three-speed manual transmission with the shifter mounted on the steering column, saving interior space.

Produced from 1949 to 1956, the 92 exemplifies Saab’s zest for innovation and design that have become known around the world as the key characteristics of the Swedish brand.

Because Saab did not officially start its automotive business in the United States until 1956, it is fortunate to have this 1952 model 92 (serial number 1837) as the “arch father” of its Sterling Heights, Mich.-based Heritage Collection.

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