On the topic of SAAB-SCANIA 1969-1989, I managed to find a film that specifically outlines each of the divisions of the company such as Aircraft, Saab Car Division, Scania Division and Combitech and Enertech. Enjoy the film and let me know what you think.

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile AB

The Saab 99 debuted at the New York Auto Show in April of 1969 as the successor to the 96. The 99 was initially designed as a larger 96, however over the time this model became the initial signature design and inspiration for future Saab designs of today.

The 99 was final vehicle that the first Saab designer, Sixten Sason’s designed. However, this design was collaborated with Bjorn Enväll and was produced in both Trollhättan, Sweden as well as Uusikaupunki, Finland.

The production of this model began as a 1969 model year and continued until 1984.

This model for SAAB came equipped with the following specifications:

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Photo Credit: Saab Automobile USA

The Saab 97 (Sonett II) first debuted at the Geneva Motors Show in March of 1966. This vehicle began production at the Arlöv, Sweden ASJ factory which formerly built locomotives, where there were only 28 Sonett II two-stroke models made, 25 production and 3 pre-production in the first year. In 1967, the Sonett II became the Sonett II V4, up until it ended production in 1969.

The Sonett II was derived from two designs, both the MFI-13 as well as Catherina.

This model was first made famous much like the previous 96, by Erik “On the Roof” Carlsson in a modified car in a rally called the Coupe De Alpes in 1966.

This model for SAAB came equipped with the following specifications:

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Photo Credit: Saab Automobile AB

The SAAB 96 debuted in 1960 as a successor to the 93F.

The 96 was made famous by notable legendary Saab Rally Champions Erik “On The Roof” Carlsson as well as his wife, Pat Moss.

The 96 was built in the Trollhättan, Sweden factory due to capacity in and the V4 models began production in Uusikaupunki, Finland factory.

This model had the longest run of any Saab in history at 20 years, where it went until 1966 when it was converted into model equipped with a V4 engine in 1967 that carried it all the way until 1980.

On the 8th of January, 1980 the last Saab 96V4 rolled off the production line in Finland. The last 96V4 off the production line was driven by rally legend Erik Carlsson from Finland direct to the Saab Museum at Trollhättan where it is on display today.

This new model for SAAB and came equipped with the following specifications.

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Photo Credit: Saab Automobile AB

The SAAB 95 was created in May of 1959 as a two-stroke seven passenger “estate” wagon that included rear-hinged suicide doors from older SAAB 93s and 93Bs and was built in the Linköping, Sweden factory due to capacity in Trollhättan and the V4 models began production in Uusikaupunki, Finland

This new model for SAAB was the most capable vehicle in terms of storage and passenger capacity, with the bench seat in the rear that folded away for two.

This model ran until 1966 when it was converted into model equipped with a V4 engine in 1967 that carried it all the way until 1978.

This new model for SAAB and came equipped with the following specifications:

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As a follow-up to the previous writeup on the past and present Saab designers and their achievements, it was necessary to include a chronological up-to-date listing of Saab projects both production and concepts.

This listing includes each Saab project, year introduced along with each designer and/or engineer that contributed to the given project.

This list is a work-in-progress, so any additions and/or modifications that you see necessary below, please add your comments to ensure correctness and accuracy.

Photo Credits: Saab Automobile

Design Contributions by Model

SAAB Scandia 90 (1946-1958)

Bror Bjurströmer

SAAB 91 (1947-1966)

A.J. Andersson

SAAB 92001 (Prototype) (1946/1947)

Sixten Sason

Gunnar Ljungström

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In 1964, the United States counterpart of SAAB SWEDEN, SAAB Motors, Inc. while located at 100 Waterfront Street in New Haven, Connecticut, created a promotional piece of literature in print titled “Sven The Saab”.

The idea of Sven The Saab was to apparently portray the aircraft heritage as well the Swedish background of the SAAB at that time in a comical way. It also tells a good story about how the SAAB automobile’s were brought to the United States.

A sincere thank you to both Ray Kopczynski who purchased the item off of an Ebay auction as well as Ted Yurkon for facilitating the scans of the literature from RAY and making them available to Saab History to share with the international Saab community. Enjoy going through the pages in this entire 26-page piece of SAAB history.

In 1961, an author by the name of Keith Ayling published a book called The SAAB Guide which has now been denoted in the Saab Book library for the record that is extremely rare clearly out of print.

In the 127 pages that this book includes, there are numerous vintage photographs as well as other important pieces of information regarding SAAB’s early history, with even a special chapter devoted to SAAB’s history in the United States from between 1956-1961.

There are ten chapters in the book that consist of the following: 1. The Birth of a “Wingless Airplane”, 2. Two Little White SAABS, 3. Roadability and Solid Comfort, 4. Why Front Wheel Drive?, 5. SAAB 95: A “Different” Station Wagon, 6. SAAB Granturismo 750, 7. Your Versatile SAAB, 8. Maintenance, 9. “The Little Sedan That Became a Racer”, 10. Formula Junior.

Thanks to visitor and Saab Enthusiast, Ted Yurkon for contributing an entire electronic version of this book that I will use to slowly dissect that information and convey it here on Saab history in the near future in the best possible way. Thank you Ted for all of your tireless efforts in getting this information out to all of us here.

This is one of the earliest advertisements that I have encounted from 1968 that SAAB Motors, Inc. that was posted in national newspapers which showcases the SAAB international delivery program. If anyone know exactly when the European Delivery program officially began in the United States, I would appreciate hearing about it.

On October 19th, 1965, SAAB Motors, Inc. in the United States held an event called on Banker’s Day where SAAB dealers nationwide were invited to tour the facilities at 100 Waterfront Street in New Haven, Connecticut. This promotional booklet was put together and delivered to SAAB dealerships, with this particular item being delivered to the SAAB dealership, Brookfield Motors in Ohio.

I urge you to look through this booklet as the material is quite facinating. The letter from Tryggve Holm, the President of SAAB Sweden on page 3, to the information on SAAB’s expansion in the United States on page 7 are great reads and very informative about SAAB’s history in the U.S. at that time. I also believe that you will find the advertisements from the companies that work well with SAAB equally interesting. If you would like to see larger photos in which to read the fine print, just click on the underlined photo captions that are associated with the row of thumbnail images.

Here is the first print advertisement I have been able to find from the debut in 1964 of the SAAB Quantum IV Formula S Racer. Enjoy.

Photo Credits: Wendell Francis

As I have recently been organizing the website, I was looking at the Quantum IV section more and more and realized soon enough that the Quantum IV Formula S was a production kit car and certainly not a concept car like all other Quantum models were.

Furthermore, I have recently been provided a writeup on the SAAB Quantum IV from the son of vintage SAAB racer and enthusiast Wendell Francis, Paul. This article is from the April 1990 issue of Victory Lane Magazine in which have also been recently given permission to reprint the article called “Quantum Reflections” that covers in detail, the history of the SAAB Quantum IV Formula S. This is an incredible read, enjoy.

As the Barber SAAB series, the popular training ground for open wheel drivers, moves on to the 1990 season, let us reflect back 25 years to Quantum Formula S, the open wheel SAAB racer of the mid-sixties. In 1964, Hank Rudkin, leader of a group of New England SAAB enthusiasts, concluded if Volkswagen could have their own formula series, then SAAB should too. As a result, the Quantum Motorcar Corporation was established in Seymour, CT to begin production of the Quantum Formula S. Rudkin began lobbying SCCA to establish a separate class with rules similiar to that of FV for his SAAB based racers.

The rugged SAAB three cylinder, two-cycle engine and four speed transaxle, as used in the SAAB 96, was moved to the rear and placed in a semi-monoco-que chassis which relied mainly on twin four-inch diameter tubes and stressed metal bulkheads for strength. These large tubes also served as 3-1/2 gallon tanks. The fully independent suspension used the A arms from the front wheel drive hub carriers to the rear employing in the standard dual wheel cylinder SAAB drum brakes all around. The front arms were ball-jointed to cast alloy uprights with a built-in steering arm connected to a 96 rack and pinion. Coilover type shocks completed the Formula 1 like the suspension set-up. Total weight of the car was 830 pounds. The SAAB 841cc powerplant produced a true 65 horsepower by using a GT crank, racing pistons, cylinder head and distributor along with altered port timing. According to the July 1965 Sports Car Graphic Track Test, “the peak power is at 5600 rpm, the red line at 6500 and nothing much over a gasp below 5000 rpm.”

The 35 pound three piece fiberglass body was constructed of red color impregnated cloth. A wrap around windscreen identical to those used on Lotus Formula Juniors was affixed along with a left-hand gear shifter. The Quantum could be bought in a kit form from the factory or any SAAB dealer (part number 500-700) for $1,347 which included everything except the engine and tires. The tuned motor was another $595. SCCA veteran Jim Haynes raced the factory prototype to a fourth place finish in Formula Junior at the October ‘64 nationals at Lime Rock Park turning laps at 1:07 and 112mph. SAAB displayed a Quantum Formula S on their stand at the New York International Auto Show in 1965.

Unfortunately, a separate class for Formula S never came about and with the demise of the Formula Junior in 1965, the majority of the cars delivered by Rudkin in 1965/1966 were raced in Formula C. Quantum made available 85 horsepower engines as used with H modified racers. Haynes finished fourth in FC at the 1965 ARRC (forerunner of the SCCA runoffs), and Bill Rutan was FC national champ in 1967 in his Quantum. These cars were easy to spot on the track with their stove pipe expansion chamber exhausts, but the pop corn popping sound of the two-stroke motor could be heard long before the cars came into view.
No one knows for sure how many Quantum Formula S racers sold. In mid ‘65, Rudkin had orders for twelve, he had hoped for 200 per year. Rudkin believes about fifty cars were built, many underwent changes to larger engines and disc brakes. Thirteen Quantums are known to exist today including one still unassembled in a basement in Western New York. The author raced a Quantum in the early ’70’s and sold it to SAAB-Scania of America, Inc. in 1988. The car is displayed in SAAB’s Orange, CT corporate lobby. The Vintage SAAB Racing Group pioneered the return of the Quantum Formula S in SVRA and Walter Mitty Challenge races in the SouthEast. At least two Quantums are currently being prepared for West Coast vintage racing. Tom Cox, of Woodstock, MD, owner of two Quantums, maints the Formula S Register.

Source: Victory Lane - April, 1990