Saab History

The Ursaab Prototype, the fist SAAB automobile, was designed in 1946 before SAAB Automobile became officially incorporated in 1947 as an automobile manufacturer.

There has been a lot of mystique about the emblem that has prompted questions to be asked concerning what the symbolism of what the logo meant and why exactly it looks the way it does. With the e-mails that I have received lately since the recent introduction of the Saab official pin collection available at Elkparts., I realized that it made sense to bring this topic to light.

According to the book “Saab The First 40 Years“, published in 1987, it indicates that the origins of the emblem of the Ursaab 92001 prototype are from the Auto Union, but that is where the trail ends.

I would like to ask the question to the collective Saab Community if you have been priveledged with the information as to what influenced the design of the Ursaab Prototype emblem to make it look like it does and what Auto Union they are specifically speaking of and if this same Auto Union exists today, presumably in Sweden?

If you could provide your responses in the comments below, I would greatly appreciate as would the many folks who have sent me e-mails ascertaining information pertaining to the makeup of the 92001 URSAAB emblem design.

At the Saab Festival, I have recently picked up the Ursaab 92001 1:43 Scale Model at the SDCC.

This highly detailed scale model of the URSAAB prototype is available from Elkparts and I have added it to the scale model archive list for future reference.

The first prototype known as “Ursaab” 92001 that SAAB created back in 1946 will be available in the standard 1:43 scale model form just after the first week in June from Elkparts.

To place a pre-order for this model now with Elkparts, please click on the link here.

Here is the description about this once extremely rare model only available a number of years ago from a company called “Marpy Toys” in Holland.

Photo Credit: Jeff Powell’s Saab Model Page

:: UrSaab

Elkparts is exclusively able to announce the forthcoming UrSaab 92.001
collectors model. The UrSaab is the original concept Saab, from 1947,
designed by Sixten Sason and exhibiting innovative industry firsts such
as a monocoque construction, transverse engine, front-wheel drive and a
wind-cheating drag coefficient of 0.34.

With extraordinary attention to detail, this 1:43 scale model is
supplied in a presentation box (can be easily removed if required) and really
is an essential addition to any serious collection or just an
interesting talking point for the casual collector.

Availibilty has been advised as less than half that of the Aero-X model
- which sold out within days. We strongly recommend an immediate
pre-order to ensure that you do not miss out on this long-awaited official
Saab model.

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile

As a follow-up to the previous posting on Saab’s drag coefficients as early as 1947 with the Saab model 92, I have decided to provide information that covers the approaches that Saab has integrated to also successfully minimize lift.

This list is to provide additional lift-minimizing elements “outside of” the actual body design of the Saab models that I mentioned earlier on aerodynamics and drag coefficients.

If you have any additions, please post your comments to this post along with your e-mail address if you have photographs and any other relevant information.

Photo Credits: Saab Automobile

Saab 92 (1947-1956) -

Saab 93 (1956-1959) -

Saab 94 (1956 Sonett I) -

Saab 95 (1959-1978)
*Rear Roof spoiler

Saab 96 (1960-1980)
* spoiler added what year and were there variations successful or not?
* Front air dam

Saab 97(SonettII/V4 1966-1969) (SonettIII 1970-1974) -

Saab 99 (1969-1984)
* Rear spoilers for coupe and sedan respectively.

* Front Air Dam

Saab 900 (1979-1993/94)
* Rear Rubber Spoiler for Hatch, Sedan & Convertible models respectively.

* Rear Rubber tipped fiberglass Whale-Tail Spoiler for hatch models.

* Air-Flow Kit

* Front lower air dam

Saab 9000CC (1985-1992)
* Full wrap-around rear rubber spoiler 1985 only

* Standard rear-deck rubber spoiler

* Fiberglass Bridge Spoiler

* Front Spoiler

* Air Flow Kit


Saab 9000CD (1988-1993)
* Air Flow Kit

* Fiberglass spoiler

Saab 9000CS (1993-1998)
* Fiberglass Standard spoiler

* Fiberglass Bridge spoiler

Saab NG 900 (1994-1998)
* Rear Rubber Spoiler

* Rear Fiberglass spoiler with rubber tip

* Rubber Spoiler (Convertible)

* Front Spoiler

Saab 9-3 (1999-2002)
*Rear Spoiler

* Rear Fiberglass pedestal Spoiler
*Rising Spoiler (Viggen only)

Saab 9-3 Convertible (1999 - 2003, 2004- )
* Rear Spoiler

Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan (2003 -
*Rear Spoiler

*Rear Aero Spoiler

Saab 9-3 SportCombi (2005 -
* Rear Roof Spoiler

Saab 9-5 (1999 -
* Front Lip Spoiler

* Rear Bridge Spoiler

* Rear Pedestal Spoiler

Saab 9-5 SportCombi (2000-
* Rear Roof Spoiler

Saab 9-2x (2005-2006)

Saab 9-7x (2005 -

The last of three videos in a series by Lowe Brindfors of Sweden, covers the 60th Anniversary of Saab Automobile by Gunilla Gustavs, Manager of Product Communications at the recent 2007 Geneva Motor Show.

As a follow-up to the previous writeup on the past and present Saab designers and their achievements, it was deemed appropriate to include a chronological 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

SAAB 92 (1948-1956)

Sixten Sason

Gunnar Ljungström

SAAB 93 (1956-1959)

Sixten Sason

SAAB 94 (1956)

Sixten Sason

SAAB 95 (1959-1978)

Sixten Sason

SAAB 96 (1960-1980)

Sixten Sason

SAAB-SCANIA 97 (SonettII/V4 1966-1969) (SonettIII 1970-1974)

Björn Karlström

Sergio Coggiola

Gunnar A. Sjögren

SAAB-SCANIA 98 (Prototype, Cancelled) (1974)

Björn Envall

SAAB-SCANIA 99 (1969-1984)

Sixten Sason

Björn Envall

Saab 90 (1984-1987)

Björn Envall

SAAB-SCANIA 900 (1979-1993/94)

Björn Envall

SAAB-SCANIA EV-1 (1985)

Björn Envall

Saab 900 (NG) (1994-1998)

Björn Envall

Einar Hareide

SAAB-SCANIA 9000 (1985-1998)

Björn Envall

Giorgetto Giugiaro

Saab 9-1 (Speculative Design)

Saab 9-3 (1999-2002)

Einar Hareide

Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan (2003- )

Einar Hareide

Saab 9-3 Hybrid BioPower Convertible (2006 - )

Kjell ac Bergström

Saab 9-5 (1999- )

Einar Hareide (1999-2001)

Tony Catignani (1999-2001)

Magnus Jonsson (1999-2001)

Simon Padian (2002- )

Tomas Ostlund (2006 - )

Saab 9-5 BioPower E85 (2005 - )

Kjell ac Bergström

Saab 9-5 BioPower E100 (2007 - )

Kjell ac Bergström

Saab 9-X (2001)

Michael Mauer

Anthony Lo

Ola Granlund

Simon Padian

Saab 9-2X (2005-2006)

Michael Mauer

Anthony Lo

Ola Granlund

Per Jansson

Bengt Persson

Kjell-Ake Eriksson

Saab 9-3X (2002)

Michael Mauer

Anthony Lo

Simon Padian

Saab 9-3 SportHatch (2003)

Michael Mauer

Anthony Lo

Simon Padian

Saab 9-4X (Speculative Design)

Saab 9-6X (Cancelled)

Saab 9-7X (2005- )

Per Janssan

Aero-X(2006)

Anthony Lo

Alex Daniel

Erik Rokke

Simon Padian

The original of SAAB using the numerical nomenclature 9, is that this number was an indication that the project was a non-military, but a civilian project.

The SAAB Scandia 90 (pictured above) was the first civilian project, followed by the SAAB Safir 91, then finally the automobile being SAAB 92001 in 1946, and the beginning of production models with the SAAB 92. Here is a list of all of the the projects from the beginning until the present.

For more information about these models, please visit our “Saab designs by model number” reference list.

90 SCANDIA
91 Safir (Aircraft)
92001
92
93
94 Sonett I
95
96
97 Sonett II & III
98 Prototype
99
90
900
9000
9-5
9-3
9-X
9-2X
9-3X
9-4X
9-6X (cancelled)
9-7X