Saab Designer Profile – Gunner A. Sjögren

Posted on 27. Mar, 2007 by Ryan in 1970-1979, 2000-2009, 97 (Sonett II & III), Arlöv, Sweden, Designers, Linköping, Sweden, Sweden, United States

Gunner A. Sjögren was one of the Swedish Saab Designers that was also responsible for final design of the Sonett III besides Italian designer, Sergio Coggiola.

Gunner A. Sjögren also referred to as GAS, was born in Stockholm, Sweden in 1920. As a young kid living in Umeå, a Northern city in Sweden he had an interest in drawing automobiles, airplanes, trains and boats. His interest over time became a finely crafted skill which became his profession. Just after his time spent in highschool, he took a year to work at an engineering workshop in order to gain some real-life experience and then later went to college in Orebrö in order to realize his passion for the automobile.

In 1941, he was hired by General Motors in Stockholm, Sweden as a draftsperson. His drawings were of a very high quality, but not necessarily that of a technical nature, and as a result he was found himself better suited in the advertising department by contributing high quality illustrations to the products that were being promoted at the time.

After working with General Motors for a total of 13 years, he decided to go alone and do freelance work by accepting commissions from advertising agencies and various automobile publications. Five years of self-employment and once again he was back working in the automobile business an an employee, this time he was determined to work with SAAB. The time and place were in Gunner Sjögren’s favor, as he fell into an an advertised opening for an illustrator at their headquarters at the time in Linköping, Sweden in 1959. He worked in other locations that Saab had their offices as well such as Södertalje and finally Nyköping.

Gunnar Sjögren contributed to the clarification of Saab’s design philosophies to marketing stategies in parallel to his ability to produce eye-catching advertising material in order to help bring the public into the showrooms. The design work on the Sonett III with Sergio Coggiola was one of his notable accomplishments in the product lineup with Saab-Scania before he retired in 1980 at the age of 60.

Source: The SAAB Way (1949-1984)

I have provided a few illustrations that Gunnar Sjögens created of the Sonett III for you to appreciate the level of detail he exhibited in all of his work while being employed at Saab from 1959 until 1980.

Illustration Credit: The Saab Way

The design suggestions for the new Saab 97, Sonett III, came from Italian designer Sergio Coggiola. Many details, however, including much of the rear section were drawn by Swedish designers. The new model measured 390 cm (154 in.) in length; had a 215 cm (85 in.) wheelbase, and weighed 760 kg (1,675 lb.), empty. The quite large luggage compartment could be reached by raising the rear window.

Illustration Credit: The Saab Way

The 1972 Sonett could be recognized by its new grill, with a theme that was later incorporated into the 99. The rear panel was painted black, while the rest of the body carried light and bold colors. The wheels were wider and made of aluminium alloy. In 1972, 2,080 Sonetts were built.

Tags: 9-3, 9-5, Automotive Component Group, Designer, General Motors, model, new 9-5, new saab 9-3, saab, saab 9-3, saab 9-4x, saab 9-5, saab 9-5 wagon, saab 900, saab 9000, saab 99, Saab Automobile, Saab Designer, saab ng900, Sweden