Garry Small Saab of Portland, Oregon – SAAB 92

Posted on 30. Jan, 2008 by Ryan in 2000-2009, 92, Dealerships

Photo Credit: Saab History

During my recent visit to Garry Small Saab of Portland, Oregon, site sponsor of Saab History, I got to see their super rare 1954 SAAB 92 which was originally located in California.

The SAAB 92, was the first production vehicle for Svenska Aeroplan AktieBolaget or SAAB and was initially only available in the color “Watermelon Green“. This changed a few years later of course due to demand.

This rust-free vehicle is very unique to North America, given that the SAAB 93 was actually the first production vehicle to be delivered in the United States back in 1956 which were first delivered on the port of Hingham, Massachusetts.

Sixten Sason, was the first SAAB designer responsible for this vehicle as were a handful of other engineers including Gunnar Ljungström, as well as the Grand Father Sigmund Johansson of Peter Johansson who is the current lead engineer on the new XWD system system as well as 14 others including two of whom, did not even have driver’s licenses.

Here is a summary written by Saab Automobile USA about their own 1952 92 which is part of the Saab USA Heritage Collection.

Here is the summary:

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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