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.

The Saab-Scania promotional film made in 1979 titled “22 Minutes & 22 Seconds” has now been converted and is available to watch here online. This film was able to be converted thanks to the Rocky Mountain Saab Club’s (RMSC) extremely kind donation recently. The RMSC provided everything that Saab History needed in order to meet the financial goals in concluding the first phase of the “Saab Film Project“. This additional to the Saab Video archive will be the three hundred and fifteenth addition to the archive since it was launched over a year ago.

The film you are about to see is certainly a unique mix featururing footage of Scania, SAAB Aerospace as well as SAAB Automobile. The variety of footage of these industries that were all a part of Saab-Scania AB at the time include manufacturing, testing, development, design, promotional clips, out takes and a number of other bits that I think you will find particularly unique and rather interesting.

Please enjoy the film and post your comments below.

Saab-Scania - 22 Minutes & 22 Seconds, 1979

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile

The Saab 900 continued the legacy of the 99 as a Combi Coupé / hatchback and was first introduced in 1979 and was produced for 15 years until it came to an end in 1993.

The 900 was designed by Saab designer, Bjorn Enväll and was produced in Uusikaupunki, Finland, Arlöv, Sweden, Malmö, Sweden and Trollhättan, Sweden

The Saab 900 became known as the classic 900 when it rolled off of the production line on March 26th, 1993 in an Imola Red 900 Aero, which was subsequently driven directly to the Saab Museum in Trollhättan.

This model for SAAB came equipped with the following specifications:

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Photo Credit: Saab Automobile:

The Saab 99 Combi Coupé or Wagonback as it was initially referred to in the U.S. arrived in 1974 following the Saab 98 prototype while it took on the additional characteristics of the 99.

The Saab 99 Combi Coupé was designed by Bjorn Enväl and was produced in Uusikaupunki, Finland as well as Trollhättan, Sweden.

The Saab 99 Combi Coupé was a hatchback and known as the Wagonback in the U.S. and was Saab’s first designer, Sixton Sason’s final project of the 99, to be produced.

This model set the history books as the first true “hatchback” for Saab and the first model is on display today at the Saab Car Museum.

This model for SAAB came equipped with the following specifications:

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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 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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I have just received the 1974 Saab 99 Television ad from the United Kingdom titled “Ghost”, enjoy!

A thank you for everyone who has contributed to getting this film converted for others to enjoy as part of the “Saab Film Project” here on Saab History.

This ad brings the total Saab History video archive to 438 total films!

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

Read more »

Photo Credit: Building Design & Construction

I have recently received an article from the Building Design & Construction publication dated, October of 1974 that describes the unique building design and signage of former Saab-Scania of America, Inc. headquarters at 60 Marsh Hill Road in Orange, Connecticut.

This headquarters was first occupied in 1972 and that continued until 1992 when the staff relocated to Norcross, Georgia.

I wonder if the same architectural firm that was contacted again, when the signage was installed that read “SCANIA” on the other side of the building, flanking the SAAB sign which was added some years later (year presently unknown). The font looked slightly different.

Here is the original article republished with permission from the publication. Enjoy.

Billboard building - Before it received the design contract for the new Saab-Scania U>S. headquarters building in Orange, Conn., New Haven architects Orr, deCossy, Winder & Associates never had worked with metal systems. With its lease nearly up, Saab decided it wanted its own building. And it wanted a distinctive building in very short order. So Russell Santora decided to try metal systems for the two-story building. Realizing the owner wanted a bold identity, Santora did not want to resort to other materials to dress up the factory-made components. Instead he approached the deisgn using the concept of “billboard as a piece of architecture. We used metal supergraphics because the building is viewable only for a few seconds from a major highway.” Santora said. Through the cooperative effort of project architect, owner, and contractor, the 96,000-sq-ft. building was completed in five months.

Source: Building Design & Construction

Photo Credit: Saab-Scania of America, Inc. - 1979

As a follow-up to the Saab collaboration with the Aspen Police Department, I have recently acquired a vintage photograph within a rather large donation to Saab History.

This photo depicts three brand new 1979 Saab 900 GLE Combi Coupes and was taken at exactly the same location where the previous photo was taken at the base of the mountain in downtown Aspen, Colorado.

Photo Credits: Saab History

In 1960’s SAAB had a dealership in Keene, New Hampshire the same city where the New England Saab Association Saab Club also began. SAAB’s first dealership actually began in Keene with Robertson Motor Cars on 124 Main Street, Keene, New Hampshire, then another dealership was added just South of the downtown area on a major route (Rte 12) and ideal for visibility by the name of “Taylor Imports”, selling SAAB 96’s & SAAB 99’s.

This past weekend, I passed through this route, where I spotted a beautiful silver Saab 9-3 SportCombi with Vermont plates. In the photos you see below, this building that is currently occupied by Sam’s Outdoor outfitters was the SAAB dealership “Taylor Imports” in 1975 which was the only dealership in the city at this time as Robertson Motor Cars wrapped up business in 1972 as the former owner has indicated to me most recently in a telephone interview.

The wonderful couple that I met who owned this Saab 9-3 SportCombi had apparently just bought it at P.J.’s Saab in Burlington, Vermont and have recently moved to Keene, New Hampshire. During our discussion, I asked them what they enjoyed most about their Saab and their response was that the “Heated Seats, the Cargo area to take their dog around with them, plus the front wheel drive and safety aspects were the big selling points”. When I indicated to the couple that the parking lot where we were currently standing used to be a SAAB dealership, they said that is interesting and would be really helpful if it was still a dealership today because of their proximity to a Saab dealership for servicing at the present time. Currently, they understood the nearest Saab dealership for them was Pioneer Saab & Volvo in Deerfield, Massachusetts at 34 miles from Keene, New Hampshire. I indicated that there is actually another Saab Dealership by the name of Tracy Banks Saab in the state’s Capital in Concord, New Hampshire that was a bit closer that the former and they were very thankful for the help.

What began as a simple Saab Sighting turned out to be a wonderful experience from the conversation about the overall happiness about this couple’s recent Saab 9-3 SportCombi purchase to the trip down memory lane standing on the original site of the former SAAB dealership in Keene, New Hampshire.

If you have a story that relates to Saab’s history anywhere in the world that would be interesting, be please send your content and photographs to info @ saabhistory.com and I will happily communicate it in the best possible way for our visitors.