Saab History

Image Credit: Saab History

As a follow-up to the posting I made back in November of 2006 on the logo history, it is about time that I compliment this information with the following on the correct capitalization and nomenclature of the models of the Saab Automobile brand. I hope this sheds some more light in our dialog about Saabs, SAABs and all of the great products that have been developed over the years.

I have provided a fairly well written piece already done on Wikipedia that I would like to articulate if I may regarding the correct capitalization and model nomenclature as a guide.

It is my hope that as a result of this posting, others will be able to better articulate their writing and speaking when referring to all of Saab’s products from 1947 until present. I also think that this posting will help to end search criteria that is typically entered in Google as follows: (SAAB 93 XWD, SAAB 92 ABS, Saab 94 Ski Rack, 2001 SAAB 95, 1999 93, etc.) If this search criteria was taken literally, as it should as google can only do just that, we would have had Cross Wheel Drive available in the late 1950’s, ABS in the late forties, and two long production runs for the SAAB Ninety Five and Ninety Three. Let’s hope that this clarifies this naming and model nomenclature once and for all.

1947-1969 (Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget)

The Company: When referring to the company in both written and oral communication where the products were produced between 1947 and 1969, it is proper to use SAAB in all capital letters to refer to these vehicles.

The Models: When referring to vehicles model nomenclature in both written and oral communication that were produced during this time, they are written and pronounced as 92 (Pronounced: Ninety Two), 92 (Pronounced: Ninety Three), 94 (Pronounced: Ninety Four), 95 (Pronounced: Ninety Five), 96 (Pronounced: Ninety Six), 97 (Pronounced: Ninety Seven)

1970-2000 (Saab-Scania)

* Note: Although the merger took place in 1990, the original products continued. (excluding NG900, 9-3 & 9-5)

The Company: When referring to the company in both written and oral communication where the products were produced between 1970 and 1990, it is proper & acceptable to refer to them as Saabs in lower case letters or Saab-Scania vehicles, also in lower case letters.

The Models: When referring to vehicles model nomenclature in both written and oral communication that were produced during this time, they are written and produced as 97 (Pronounced: Ninety Seven), 98 (Pronounced: Ninety Eight), 99 (Pronounced: Ninety Nine), 90 (Pronounced: Ninety), 900 (Pronounced: Nine Hundred), 9000 (Pronounced: Nine Thousand), 9-5 (Pronounced: Nine Five), NG900 (Pronounced: New Generation 900), 9-3 (Pronounced: Nine Three).

2001 - Present (Saab Automobile / General Motors)

The Company: When referring to the company in both written and oral communication where the products were produced between 2001 and the Present, it is proper & acceptable to refer to them as Saab in lower case letters and/or Saab Automobile / GM vehicles.

The Models: When referring to vehicles model nomenclature in both written and oral communication that were produced during this time, they are written and produced as 9-X (Pronounced: Nine X), 9-2x (Pronounced: Nine Two X), 9-3x (Pronounced: Nine Three X), 9-3 (Pronounced: Nine Three), 9-4x (Pronounced: Nine Four X), 9-5 (Pronounced: Nine Five), 9-7x (Pronounced: Nine Seven X)

I leave you with a brief summary from Saab Automobile’s entry from Wikipedia.

Saab / SAAB Correct Capitalization and Model Nomenclature:

While Saab is in fact an acronym, and, as with many other manufacturers, the word “SAAB” appears in all-capitals within the corporate emblem and in on-vehicle badging, the current correct capitalization of Saab when in print is “Saab,” and not “SAAB.”[citation needed] Other manufacturers such as Volvo, Toyota, Lexus, Acura, and Chevrolet employ the use of all-capitalized vehicle badging, but they are still considered proper names and capitalized as such when written. Likewise, Saab is treated as a proper name and not an acronym, despite its origins..”[citation needed]

Furthermore, all current Saab vehicles are badged with a large 9 and a smaller 3, 5, or 7x following the 9, such as “9³”. However, the digits are considered separate, and are spoken as, for example, “nine three,” and written as “9-3.” Nearly every Saab model ever produced has begun with the number 9 (Saab 600 being an exception), and Saab’s two models became 9-3 and 9-5 in the late 1990s, which was likely a marketing attempt at positioning the vehicles as direct competitors to the BMW 3-series and 5-series, respectively.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_Automobile

Photo Credit: Saab History / 2005 Saab Festival, Trollhättan, Sweden

The mystery is over, as to the whereabouts of the green Saab Sonett I, No. 4 photographed above since Dr. Klaus Muller-Ott, the individual that purchased and restored the green Saab Sonett I, No.4. and wrote the book a few years ago.

The Sonett Club of Sweden has just informed Saab History that this Sonett I, VIN # 4 was purchased by Rene Hirsch, owner of Hirsch Performance who resides in St Gallen, Switzerland

Hirsch Performance is the company that provides performance upgrades to Saab Enthusiasts to brand-new Saabs at the dealership level for most if not all markets except the United States.

I have contacted Rene Hirsch and eagerly await his response as to the finer details of this incredible acquisition!

Photo Credits: Saab History, Sports Car Service & National Airviews

On Saturday, October 13th, I had the opportunity to visit the Saab Independent, Sports Car Service of Wilmington, Delaware.

The History

Sports Car Service began operations in November of 1956, the same year that SAAB Motors, Inc. operations began in the United States and this family owned and operated Saab independent sales & service facility has been selling nothing but Swedish-built Saab automobiles ever since.

The People

Upon my visit I was greeted with a firm handshake by owner and general manager, Bill Jacobson, as well as his Father, John who was originally responsible for getting the business off the ground since the first owner passed away just prior to 1961, the same year that SAAB Motors, Inc. moved their operations from Hingham, Massachusetts to 100 Waterfront Street, New Haven, Connecticut. Mr. Jacobson also has four sisters, one of which now runs Saab of Baltimore and the first SAAB 96 that she drove resides in his showroom, in good overall shape.

The Collection

This facility conveniently located on North Market Street right, a 5-minute drive off of 495 embodies the true “Spirit of Saab” with an impressive museum-like collection. This collection, located in the main showroom, includes many vintage and extremely rare Saab models representing the likes of the SAAB Sonett I VIN #6, SAAB Quantum IV, SAAB 92, SAAB 93 donated by former President of Saab-Scania of America Bob Sinclair, SAAB 96s, a 1993 900 CE #139, and a one-of-a-kind white 900 convertible built for former President of Saab Cars, USA, Jim Crumlish.

In addition to this facility, there is also a special warehouse located nearby that houses over 40+ SAABs, associated parts and various other miscellaneous items. Of the SAAB’s represented in this warehouse, you will find the first SAAB 93 to be delivered in the State of Delaware, the SAAB Quantum I, the dual-drivetrain Saab 900, an un-built SAAB Quantum IV kit, and a SONETT I (94) mold.

The Memorabilia

Throughout the facility, from the showroom, to the accessories to the back office, to the customer waiting room, this enthusiast-run independent Saab facility showcases more SAAB memorabilia than I ever knew existed. From the scale models, dealer awards, vintage photographs depicting legendary notables such as Tryggve Holm & Ralph Millet to the videos and posters a plenty, I became more impressed, ultimately leaving me speechless and unable to answer the question asked frequently, “so what do you think?”. As I eventually made my way through every room at Sports Car Service, I realized that each wall told a series of Saab stories and these stories are important to not only the family history with Saab, but the family’s continued contribution as a whole to the Saab community.

The Enthusiasts

During my visit and tour of the facility, I was also introduced to a notable Saab Enthusiast in the Saab Community by the name of Stefan Vapaa who, alongside his Father, have a long history of SAAB involvement, specifically in the racing scene. As part of my visit, I had the special opportunity to visit his Saab workshop not so far from Sports Car Service (SCS) as a passenger in his beautiful silver Saab 9-5 Aero, to return in none other than a yellow SAAB Sonett II, VIN #651 open-top racer back to SCS. The experience in Stefan’s Sonett was exhilarating even as a passenger. As we got up to highway speeds, I got to take in the beautiful sky due to the open top, the wind, due to a lowered windscreen, and the unparalleled handling characteristics that make this roadster ideal for racing and finally the extra kick we had due to the 108 octane racing fuel this machine required. As we made our way back to SCS, I smiled because I have never experienced anything quite this unique, given that we were driving a very customized Sonett II tailored to the racing scene. If you would like to find out more about Stefan’s Saab racing scene, please visit his website, At Speed.

The Swedish Heritage

Bill Jacobson, a second generation Swede, and his father, John, who’s parents came over from Sweden at the age of 19, have kept the Swedish heritage alive in a region rich with Swedish history. Wilmington, Delaware or “New Sweden” as it is also referred to, proudly celebrates being the port town where Swedish Immigrant ships first landed and built a fort back in 1638. It was also in Wilmington, Delaware that the first widely touted and attended Saab Owners Convention took place back in 1988 which included this Swedish Heritage theme as part of the program.

Environmental Awareness

There was one important aspect to this entire operation that embodies the phrase “environmental awareness”. Bill Jacobson of Sports Car Services makes a strong statement towards his company’s environmental impact with a very progressive system in place that not only greatly reduces electricity usage from the conventional source with the installation of nearly the entire rooftop of photo voltaic solar panels, but he also reclaims waste oil from customer oil changes and uses that oil to heat his facility in the winter season.

As a business, there are still those out there that are still overwhelmed by all of the new technologies when attempting to “go green”, then there are those that realize that it doesn’t take more than a few types of technology to make a significantly positive impact on the environment.

The direction that Sports Car Service has created, makes them a leader among businesses in the State of Delaware and another proud member in the global movement of environmental sustainability of which others can follow.

Summary

All in all, I was very impressed and thankful for having the opportunity to visit Sports Car Service in Wilmington, Delaware. I highly recommend this facility for ALL of your “Swedish-built” Saab needs, whether they are purchases of pre-owned Saabs, service needs by highly trained Saab service technicians, or even parts where you will find availability of just about everything including rare vintage parts and accessories.

This family-owned and operated independent Saab-only facility is top notch and truly embodies the Saab spirit with a strong Swedish flare!

Sports Car Service Inc.
3901 N. Market St.
Wilmington, DE 19802
http://www.sportscarservice.com/

View Larger Map

This SAAB Sonett I Super Sport project was lead in October of 1954 by SAAB chief engineer, Rolf Melde while incorporating designs from chief designer Sixten Sason where they were built in total secrecy from the public outside of the Trollhättan area within a barn in a small town called Åsaka. The SAAB Sonett I Super Sport or “So Neat” as translated was an open-top two seater sports car that was officially unveiled at the Stockholm Motor Show in February of 1956. These prototype sports cars got a lot of great press internationally, however the Sonett Super Sport project never got into production due to new regulations in motorsport two years later in 1958 that led to the opportunity to use standard vehicles with Sonett engines thus making the Sonett body, frame, etc. obsolete and unnecessary. As a result of this decision, the six Sonett I models became instant collectors items.

At the recent Saab 60th Anniversary Festival in Trollhättan, Sweden this past June, I managed to see 3 of the 6 Sonett models without an appearance of the the fourth Sonett I in green. At the 2005 Saab Festival also in Trollhattan, this vehicle was present and owned by a Dr. Klaus Muller-Ott of Germany who wrote an entire book in the Saab History book library about the Sonett No.4 being restored, titled “SAAB Sonett No.4″, however since then, there have been some rumors that Dr. Klaus Muller-Ott sold Number 4, of which the whereabouts are currently unknown by all I have spoken with so far. If someone could shed some light to this recently found, restored and now off the radar Sonett No.4, please contact Saabhistory with an update. Your information would be much appreciated to the International Saab Community.

For more information on the Sonett, I would highly suggest getting a copy of SAAB Sonett No. 4, Saab Motorhistorisk Magasin - Saab 50 Ar - Alla Bilarna, Alla SAABs Sportbilar - The Sonett, and All Other SAAB Sports Cars

In the meantime, I am providing a list of the SAAB Sonett I Super Sport models and there whereabouts.

Photo Credit: Saab History

Number: No.1
Color: Ivory
Location: Saab Museum, Trollhättan, Sweden

Photo Credit: Saab History

Number: No.2
Color: Orange
Location: Saab USA Heritage Collection, Sterling Heights, Michigan

Photo Credit: Saab History

Number: No.3
Color: Red (Far Left)
Location: Gösta Jakfors, Sweden - Privately Owned

Photo Credit: Saab History

Number: No.4
Color: Green
Location: Presently Unknown

Photo Credit: Saab History

Number: No.5
Color: Blue
Location: Saab Museum, Trollhättan, Sweden

Photo Credit: Saab History

Number: No.6
Color: White-Blue
Location:Bill Jacobson, United States - Privately Owned

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 -

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile USA

Today is Monday, and that means, the second installment from the Saab Automobile USA Heritage Collection. In this installment, I am presenting the Saab Sonett I, which is also known as the Super Sport or model “94″. This model is #2 of the 6 models ever made.

Here is a writeup from Saab Automobile USA of the Sonett I.

1956 SAAB SONETT “SUPER SPORT”

The name sounds like a song. But in fact, the Saab Sonett two-seater was originally named after the Swedish expression “så nätt,” meaning “so neat.”

The Saab Sonett “Super Sport” was first unveiled at the 1956 Stockholm Auto Show. It made its North American debut later that year in New York, where it captured the public attention Saab needed to kick off its automotive business in the United States.

Using contemporary Saab aircraft practices, the Sonett chassis was formed by a riveted aluminum box carrying a fiberglass roadster body. Utilizing the high-performance (58-hp) version of the three-cylinder 750cc two-stroke engine found in the Saab model 93, chief engineer Rolf Mellde “reversed” the drivetrain for optimum weight distribution – putting the engine behind the transmission while maintaining front-wheel drive. The engine rotates in the opposite direction from the production Saabs of the era to accommodate this reverse transmission layout.

Originally designed to compete in a racing series that eventually never materialized, Saab built only six first-generation Sonett “Super Sport” roadsters – which all exist today. Saab rally legend Erik Carlsson participated in the 1989 Mille Miglia road race through Italy with the white Sonett that resides in Saab’s factory automotive museum in Trollhättan, Sweden.

The Sonett with chassis No. 2, finished in a period orange, was originally part of the pri