Saab History

Photo Credit: Saab History

This just in from Bob Sinclair, former President of Saab-Scania of America, Inc. regarding the Saab-Scania Coffee mug.

A thank you to Jan-Willem Vester at Saab Automobile USA for providing the mug a number of months ago.

Here are the details about the importance of this coffee mug from Bob Sinclair, in his own words:

About the coffee mug, sometime in the early ’80s we established a multi-level follow-up that went to every buyer of a new Saab. I don’t recall the details, but it went something like this:

1. Standard “letter of welcome” like just about all car companies send.
2. Stereo tape cleaner, again with a message of thanks for choosing Saab.
3. Coffee mug, with a 3rd message, my card inside the mug.

The purpose was two-fold: To build favorable feelings toward Saab, of course, and to let owners know where to write if they had any problems…with their car, their dealer, or whatever.

Establishing direct contact with owners resulted in a huge amount of mail landing on my desk, but it also gave me direct insight into our operations across the nation. I read every letter. Our headquarters personnel, our employees out in the field, and our dealers all knew it. And they knew that complaints would be investigated, and if found to be legitimate the responsible dealer would be held accountable. At least that’s how it was supposed to work. Was it perfect? Of course not, but I think the effort involved was well worth it…and was just one more element of building a successful business for Saab here in the U. S.

Photo Credit: Unknown

The 1994 Saab Owners Convention took place at Oconomowoc, WI between August 12th-14th.

Thanks to New Salem Saab for providing the group photo above as well as Paul Berger for the official booklet below.

If you have any other material that should be included in the 1994 Saab Owners Convention posting here, please contact Saab History for that material to be added.

I am currently looking for any video footage that was taken of this convention at this time to include in this posting.

This convention is also listed on the Saab Convention Archive here on Saab History.

1994 National Saab Owners Convention

Author: Ann Buschhaus, Chairperson

The theme of this years event is “The Culture of Saab”. We will explore the various aspects of ownership of that quirky car from that Swedish airplane company. We’ll look at the history of Saab cars and its company, Saab in motorsports, Saab collectibles such as literature, posters and models, and Saab’s U.S. history. These things and more will be examined in detail as we look at Saab culture from the early days when Saabs had virtual “cult status” compared to the more main-stream image of today.

This year’s National Convention will contain all the activities of previous conventions, however, there is one important change. Activities will begin Friday afternoon with the first clinic scheduled for 2:00pm. We will also try to maintain a more relaxed atmosphere with fewer conflicting activities.

Clinics will be balanced between “cultural” and “technical” clinics. Cultural clinics will include Saab Aircraft, Saab Rally History, Early Saab Dealers, Collecting Saab Memorabilia and Developing a Local Saab Club. Techincal topics will include fresh ideas with no repeats from previous years.

There will be a concours, an autocross and an exceptional rally in which participants will also take one lap of the autocross course.

A swap meet will be held throughout the event and, of course, we cannot forget the Saturday evenings Award banquet with its guest speaker, the Saab Roundtable Discussion, test drives of new Saabs and all of the fascinating and diverse Saab owners that anyone could ever want to meet!

Our site is the Olympia Resort, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, 30-minutes West of Milwaukee. Olympia is a full-featured resort with plenty to do including an 18-hole golf course, pools, spa, tennis, cinema, etc.

Convention goers should make room reservations with the Olympia by calling 1-800-558-9573. Mention the convention and the fees will be $74.00 for single or double occupancy with a $20.00 surcharge for third and fourth persons in the room. Children 17 and under may lodge free when accompanied by an adult. The rate may also be extended up to two days before and after the convention for those who wish to stay longer. The reservation cutoff date for these rates is July 15, 1994.
The convention fees are $65.00 for adults and $55.00 for children 21 and under. This includes Friday night’s welcoming reception; Saturday’s breakfast, lunch and banquet (or child care service); Sunday’s breakfast; all clinics and participation in the concours and rally. Participation in the Autocross is an additional $5.00 and swap meet spaces are also extra. A car wash facility with supplies provided, will be open on Friday and Saturday. With an excellent location, an interesting and somewhat different schedule, plenty of popular convention activities and the camaraderie of fellow Saab enthusiasts, this year’s event should be great fun and very informative.

For more information and registration forms, call Ann Buschhaus, chairperson at XXX or XX@XX.COM. I’ll see you at the convention!

Here is the 24-page official convention booklet below, just click on the button to download.

This convention is also listed on the Saab Convention Archive here on Saab History.

In March of 1990, the Saab Car Division of Saab-Scania sent their employees on a cruise as celebration of the “Long Run” event that took place back in 1986 in Talladega International Speedway in Alabama.

There was a video produced that showcased this celebration cruise that recently arrived as part of the donations that were made.

In the recent donation that I received, one of the promotional videos in a series of 8 clips appropriately titled “The Enthuasiast” features a 1985 900 “Aero” which appears to be the same if not identical to the vehicle that the editor of the Trollhattansaab.net blog has recently acquired.

This 1985 Saab 900 Aero model is showcased on a beach where a bmw owner witnesses a Saab Enthusiast polishing the Saab, asks for a test drive around the beach with the owner, then goes into the dealership the next day to look into trading in the bwm for a Saab.

This film has been added to the film archive in the “1990″ section, but feature older models like the 1985 900 “Aero” as well as the first appearance of the 9000 that came without side-marker lenses as well a wrap-around spoiler.

I like this promotional video because I think that it shows that a Saab Enthusiast can offer quite a bit to the Saab Automobile brand. I think us Saab Enthusiasts can do an even better job for the Saab Automobile than we do today, by using real metrics when it comes to how we promote Saab with regards to actual sales and other important areas. If we are able to start measuring our success in promoting Saab, we would be able to show exactly how we contribute to the growth of Saab Automobile, leading to a win-win for both Saab and their large following of growing enthusiasts worldwide.

Enjoy the video and lets start brainstorming!

The 1996 Saab Owners Convention took place in Kirkwood, California from August 16th until the 18th.

I am looking for the official group photo as well as the official convention booklet of this event. If you could assist in locating either of these, please contact me.

In the meantime, I am able to offer a home video of the 1996 Saab Owners Convention that was produced from the archive into this posting for the record. Enjoy.

This convention is also listed on the Saab Convention Archive here on Saab History.

Photo Credit: Unknown

The 1995 Saab Owners Convention took place on August 18th through the 20th in Atlanta, GA.

Thanks to Darryl Carl of New Salem Saab for the group photo above.

Here is the welcome letter as well as the official convention booklet that is now available to download.

Welcome Saab Owners!

On behalf of the Saab Club of Georgia and Saab Cars USA, Inc., we welcome you to the thirteenth annual National Saab Owners Convention! The Club is extremely excited to join the elite group who have hosted a national convention.

You, as well as our international visitors, are gtting a sneak preview of Atlanta prior to the rest of the world. As you know, next summer our city will host the 1996 Summer Olympic Games! We hope you’ll take the opportunity to tour some of Atlanta’s many sights during the weekend. The hope of every host club is to meet the expectations of previous conventions. The fear of every host club is that no one will show up! We are glad you have joined us here in Atlanta as we share in the memorable weekend. The 1995 convention was planned with your enjoyment and satisfaction in mind and we hope you find the event rewarding.

For all details, please review this program in its entirety. And if you still have a question, please look for any committee member wearing the white “staff” polo shirts and a peach ribbon wearing their name tag. They will be happy to assist you.

Thank you for sharing your time with us and we hope you have as much fun this weekend as we did bringint it to you! Our best regards,

Chris McPherson, President……………………………………………………….Jim Crumlish, President & CEO
The Saab Club of Georgia…………………………………………………………Saab Cars, USA, Inc.

Here is the 41-page official convention booklet below, just click on the button to download.

This convention is also listed on the Saab Convention Archive here on Saab History.

The 1993 Saab Owners Convention took place in Kenosha, Wisconsin on August 6th through the 8th, 1993. With the help of an anonymous Saab Enthusiast, we now have the official booklet available online for downloading.

If you have the official group photo shot of this event as well as any way of getting hold of the Saab videos that were shown at this event, please contact me so that I can include it in this posting for the record.

Here is the official welcome letter below by the organizers from the booklet that is available for download below.

This convention is also listed on the Saab Convention Archive here on Saab History.

Welcome to Saab 93

Welcome to the eleventh annual Saab Owners Convention. The Milwaukee SAAB Club is proud to be hosting this event. We’ve been working hard for well over a year now and we hope that this work will pay off in a convention that you will enjoy.

We have plenty of activities planned - sometimes it seemed like there were too many! In the following pages of this program you will find information about these activities, such as the Pirelli Autocross, the road rally, and the concours. In addition to these activities please take the time to check out the vendors in the Swap Meet area, indoors and outside, look at the cars in the parking lot and socialize with our fellow Saab owners.

The best way to start the socializing is at the Friday evening Welcoming Reception during which we will be showing a collection of Saab videos on the monitors in Woh’s Place.

This year at our banquet we will be making some history with a special presentation on the new 900 - Saab’s first new car since the 9000 was introduced in late 1984 (’85 here).

If that’s not enough you will also find information about the Kenosha area. Other information in this program includes details you’ll want to know about the housing arrangements, child care during the banquet and the road test cars so kindly provided by Saab Cars, USA, Inc.

One item we would like to point out in your folder is an identification tag for your car. People like to be able to know something about the cars they are looking at, so we ask you to please fill this out and leave it on the dash where it can be seen. This will also be your parking permit for the event.

We sincerely hope you will have a great time, just as we have had at previous conventions.

Pat Greer
Ian Simpson

Here is the 31-page official convention booklet below, just click on the button to download.

This convention is also listed on the Saab Convention Archive here on Saab History.

Photo Credit: Saab History

The Saab Factory in Trollhättan, Sweden began production in December of December of 1949 of the SAAB 92. At that time, the factory still exhibited it’s aircraft heritage with an air traffic control tower and wind sock elements that were built back in 1937 when they were manufacturing airplanes. From 1947 until 1949, SAAB built automobiles such as the 92001 prototype (URSAAB) and the SAAB 92 in Linköping, Sweden.

At the time of completion of the SAAB factory in 1949, the space available for automobile production covered approximately 190,000 square feet (17,700 sq. meters). This space consisted of the press, body and assembly, engine & transmission construction, upholstery and paint shops and lastly final assembly and adjustment areas. The SAABs built per day at the time were three to four which resulted in 1,246 SAAB 92 cars built in the first year, model year 1950.

In the 10 years of airplane production and 57 years of automobile production that have taken place at the SAAB factory in Trollhättan, the classic Saab 900 that began production in 1979 and ended in 1993 and 1994 with the convertible still remains the leader in units producted with nearly 1 million (908, 810)

Today, the Saab Automobile factory has increased dramatically over the years to include a number of enhancements, additions and expansions to the press, body assembly and most recently the paint shop in 2000. The inventory system the factory uses today is referred to as “Just In Time” or JIT where all materials and supplies are made available only for what is being produced at the present time, therefore there will be no overstock or wasted materials.

It is also worth mentioning that all vehicles produced in the Saab Automobile factory in Trollhättan, Sweden are all built on specific demand from Saab Automobile dealerships worldwide.

The Saab Automobile cars that are produced at the factory today include the Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan, Saab 9-3 SportCombi, Saab 9-5 Sedan and the Saab 9-5 SportCombi.

At the recent Saab Festival celebrating 60 years of an automobile manufacturer (3 years in Linköping, and 57 in Trollhättan), I had along with many, the opportunity to tour the factory. Factory tours are available year-round with advanced notice. While there are no opportunities for photos nor videos to be taken during the tours, I have been able to provide you some of the most recent footage of the Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan being manufactured in the factory from the first model year, 2003.

Sources:

* Saab Automobile AB
* Sjogren, Gunnar A. The SAAB Way, the first 35 years of Saab cars, 1949-1984 Nyköping, Sweden Österbergs Tryckeri AB, 1984.

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile

2007-06-01

CONTACTS

Saab 60th Anniversary

Carlsson’s Choice: Erik Selects Six Favorites from Saab’s Hall of Fame

The career of Eric (Mr Saab) Carlsson, international rallying’s first superstar, spans six decades. It has taken him from test driving in Trollhättan, to the top of the podium in Monte Carlo and on to a globe-trotting role as Saab’s international ambassador. Here Erik chooses his six favorite Saabs, one from each decade. His recollections, and the cars themselves, tell the story of how the automotive aspirations of an aircraft manufacturer took wing.

As a young boy, Erik Carlsson used to stand on the perimeter of his local airfield in Trollhättan and admire the aerobatics of Saab aircraft flying overhead. Little did he know that Saab would one day start making cars and that he would play a key role in its growth as an auto maker.

Erik’s legendary exploits at wheel of the ‘little red cars from Sweden’ include two back-to-back victories in the Monte Carlo Rally and a hat-trick of wins in the British RAC Rally. His success in the early Sixties launched Saab as a global car brand and today, at 78 years young, Erik still plays an active part in Saab activities.

Preparing to lead the celebrations for Saab’s 60th Anniversary next week, he is happy to take up the theme by identifying his six favorite Saab cars, one from each decade.

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile

1950s
“I think we all have a special place in our heart for our first car, “ he says. “In my case it was a Saab 92, in green like they all were then, which I bought second-hand from a farmer in Trollhättan. It was 1952, I was 23 and I had started a job at a local garage.

“Saab was the big local company and they had just started making cars. It was an exciting time and the 92 really was something different from other cars, with its streamlined shape and aircraft engineering. Most cars then had a separate body and chassis bolted together, but the 92 had one single body structure, as most cars do these days. It was light but extremely strong, as I found in my rallying.

“It also handled really well with the front wheel drive. It had a small engine but I could go quicker than larger cars that had quite a bit more power.”

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile

1960s
Erik’s success in local rallying events at the wheel of his 92 quickly led to full-time employment with Saab as a test and development and works rally driver. His ‘Saab of the 60s’ is the famous Saab 96 that brought international rally success for him and for the company. More than 500,000 examples were to be sold in a production run spanning almost 20 years.

“The 96 had more power, good suspension, disc brakes and great handling. We didn’t have a roll-over cage, but with the 96 you didn’t need one, as I appreciated a few times. Although I got the nickname ‘Carlsson on the Roof’, I don’t think I rolled all that many times. But I remember one occasion when I rolled over in a ditch and water was coming in. It was like sitting in an aquarium but the roof pillars were extremely strong so we weren’t drowned or hurt much at all.”

The aircraft engineering tradition of combining strength with light weight helped establish the popularity of the Saab 96 and in snowy and icy conditions Erik was able to fully exploit its sure-footed handling. But he also has a soft spot for the sister car of the 96, the Saab 95 wagon.

“Quite a few eyebrows were raised when I did the ’61 Monte Carlo with one. It was unheard of to use a wagon or estate car but the 95 handled and drove every bit as well as the 96. I was fourth that year. We used the wagon, together with its aerofoil on the roof, because it had just come out with a four-speed gearbox, which really helped on the steep alpine passes.”

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile

1970s
Carlsson’s choice as ‘Saab of the 70s’ is the now iconic, black Saab 99 Turbo. “A lot of people at the time said we wouldn�