Saab History

Photo Credit: Saab History (Caption: L-to-R Saab Sweden & USA Presidents, Jan-Åke Jonsson & Steve Shannon)

As a guest invited by Saab Automobile USA & General Motors, it was another great opportunity to be present for this North American premiere of the second introduction of this compact product segment for the Saab brand. I also realized that much like I did previously with the 9-4x BioPower Concept launch and Turbo-X Launch, it was important to once again provide good video coverage in addition to photography. With that in mind, I took the initiative to solicit sponsors and in that process, site sponsor Saab of Hunterdon in New Jersey. came in at the nick of time to sign up as a film sponsor. This support ultimately faciliated the ability to cover costs to rent a professional camcorder to film the event.

The Saab 9-X BioHybrid Concept North American Premiere took place this past Tuesday in New York City, March 19th, 2008 almost three weeks following its global launch in Geneva on March 3rd, 2008.

I began this event by flying out early from National Airport in Washington, D.C. en-route to New York City on Tuesday morning. Shortly after my arrival, I made it a point to head directly to the former location of SAAB’s first office in New York City at 405 Park Avenue. With the rise and fall of buildings throughout the world, in particular on Manhattan island, I was incredibly surprised that this building still stands. Immediately after some photography taken here, I continued to pick up my camcorder equipment and then began preparing for the Saab Reflective event that evening that began on 9pm and concluded at 1am.

The Saab Reflective event that night began promptly and initially reminded me of the “GM Style Event” that took place back in January the night before the North American International Auto Show began. The GM Style Event was communicated as “an evening celebrating artistic convergence of vehicle design, fashion and music”, and in a similiar fashion, the Saab reflective event was an event that also focused on clothing and vehicles, but under “eco-friendly” auspises. During this event, both the aforementioned Saab 9-4x BioPower Concept as well as the Saab 9-X BioHybrid Concepts were displayed as backdrops to this launch of an eco-clothing collection for Saab Automobile in partnership with a Swedish clothing design firm called Reflective Circle.

It was during this event that there was a number of media mingling amongst a number of select local New Yorkers who got to get their first glimpse of these concept cars and clothing. The concept cars themself, were re-revealed at this venue by a number of models all dressed in while carrying umbrellas in a carefully choreographed sequence that seemed to be a cross between something you would see at the rocketts at radio city music hall and a runway platform in Paris. During and after this introduction, there were some notable Saab executives present, but surprisingly, there were not any Saab designers on hand to speak or discuss the design intent, direction and future of the Saab Automobile brand and product development. This particular omission was surprising, given that this venue was purposely planned in order to promote the Saab concept vehicles in a more unique and intimate way that Saab could only do in another one of their “key” North East markets in the United States. It was clear that while this event was certainly geared towards a certain New York audience, it was partially at the expense of the rest of the media and other individuals who were present, because it did not represent their specific demographic and psychographic or at least partially. What was not clear for me was the entertainment value of the event for the press and media, other than what I believe to be, in my opinion, a notable event that not only complimented the Geneva Motor Show, but the New York Auto Show the following day as well.

With the night coming to an end, Saab Automobile, the media, guests and other individuals managed to wrap it up after nearly four full hours of socializing, mingling and networking at this first ever eco-event that took place at the IAC Building in New York City.
The event showcasing an eco-friendly clothing line, subtly indicating the Saab concept cars while toasting to “BioPower Martinis” served on none other than an ice bar, harkened back to Saab’s scandinavian roots and ever-continuing “ice-block” design element theming most notably in the interiors of both concept cars present inside and out.

As I began to make my way out of the building with other colleagues and various other members of the press, we began discussing and were eventually all in agreement that while this event was fun at an individual level, we were left with less of a complete understanding as to the entire objective of the event, combined with the fact that the concept cars that were present, were out promoted by an eco-friendly clothing line.

On Wednesday, March 20th, the New York International Auto Show opened their doors early to the media and press. I was looking forward to seeing the Saab stand as I had previously in Detroit, Michigan, and this time I noticed that the venue was certainly different in scale and design. While the Saab stand and display at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit being large, adequately lit and more open, I found that the Saab stand in New York was challenging from a photographic, and video production perspective. I clearly had my work cut out for me.

As I began to make my way through the Saab stand, I was surprised to see that the Saab 9-X BioHybrid was not presented as prominent as I would have thought in the display, where the Saab 9-4x BioPower Concept appeared to be more front and center as you will see in the photograph. I also got to see on the stand, the Saab 9-3 Turbo-X that was suited with the proper three-spoke wheels that made its North American launch at the Boston Auto Show this past November. What was most surprising about the Saab stand was that outside the smaller scale, and 9-X BioHybrid set in the background, there was no single Saab 9-5 in either sedan or wagon (combi) configuration. This refined model for the Saab brand, now in its 10-year anniversary is still a great model, so I see no reason to exclude it as it is part of the lineup.

Near the end of my experience at the Saab stand during the show, I did get the opportunity to have an interview with both Steve Shannon and Jan-Åke Jonsson, the president of Saab Automobile USA & Global operations respectively. This experienced helped me formulate my in person opinions on my previous thoughts on the Saab 9-X BioHybrid as well as the the future of Saab Automobile.

The final program for the day involved a nice informal group meeting with Bryan Nesbitt, GM Vice President of GM North America Design located at the GM Design Center in Warren, Michigan. I really enjoyed his information, on the Saab 9-X BioHybrid design, as well as the driving as well as associated lifestyle differences in North America versus Western Europe. I am glad that this chance to talk about the 9-X BioHybrid with a designer, took place in addition to the GM Next chat some days later with Anthony Lo, online.

The take aways I had from my experience seeing the 9-X BioHybrid in person was that while I like the idea of this vehicle, I was not entirely convinced that every bit of theory that this vehicle was communicated to have, will see be one hundred percent applied to a production vehicle. I also think it is critical that this concept car, once it goes to market as a production model, includes everything indicated in this premiere as well as cross-wheel drive as an option. I believe that everything including the solar-powered roof as outlined in the specifications of this concept car, will need to see production, because Saab is always about innovative industry firsts, so it is about time that they maintain that position once again here in this vehicle segment for the brand.

This North American launch for the Saab 9-X BioHybrid was an important venue for Saab Automobile. I believe that the aforementioned reflection event combined with the New York Auto show complimented the Geneva Motor Show. As a member of the press invited to this event, I was fortunate to to get the chance to see the Saab 9-X BioHybrid in person and my thoughts on this concept car have remained unchanged, following this experience.

I appreciated this experience thanks Saab Automobile USA, General Motors as well as Saab of Hunterdon & JMK for making it all possible.

Film Credit: Saab History

At the opening day of the New York International Auto Show following the Saab Reflective event, I got the great opportunity to interview both Steve Shannon, President of Saab Automobile USA as well as Jan-Åke Jonsson, President of Saab Automobile AB.

Throughout this interview, there was a lot of information that I was happy to hear, especially when it came to details that both elaborated on with regards to the Saab 9-X BioHybrid, the Saab Advertising Campaigns as well as the Saab dealership network. Enjoy the interview above:

A special thanks again goes to Saab Automobile USA, General Motors & Saab of Hunterdon / JMK Saab for making this interview possible.

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.

Since “Uncle Bob” Sinclair, the former President of Saab-Scania of America, has been living and enjoying the great weather out in California over the years, he has participated in a number of events since that time. I think it is important to not only highlight all of the recognizable accomplishments he has involved in, but to also showcase all of the “other” activities that he has been involved during and after his time with Saab.

I want to begin by including a wonderful writeup of his participation in an event in that region, called the “California Mile”, where he drove a 1959 SAAB 93b, which he donated and is on display at Sports Car Service in Wilmington, Delaware. This article was originally posted in the 1996 issue of Saab Soundings magazine (Vol 34 Number 2 — Winter 1996). Enjoy.

The 65 vintage cars parked in front of San Francisco’s elegant Fairmont Hotel awaiting the start of the sixth annual California Mille were drawing an admiring crowd. Amid the collection of “egregiously expensive” machinery, including a few Ferraris and rare Alfa Romeos that were valued at well over a million dollars, was a humble ‘59 Saab 93B and its new owner, Bob Sinclair. Few of the passersby knew the significance of this little robin’s-egg blue Saab to the cordial bearded man who was performing last-minute preparations.

Bob Sinclair, former Saab president (below), and Dick Lague of Petersen Publishing, look forward to driving a 1958 Saab 93B in the 1996 California Mille. The Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco, provides an appropriately international backdrop for the start of the event.

In March of 1958, Bob Sinclair started his automotive career as a regional sales manager for the fledgling company, Saab Motors, in the Northeastern U.S. His first company car: a light-blue Saab 93B. Now, almost four decades later, Sinclair has a flash of deja vu every time he opens his garage. A snub-nosed 93B, in the exact shade of blue as the one he drove as a field rep, is a newly acquired treasure in Sinclair’s household. The two-stroke Saab, model year 1959, was imported from Saab’s headquarters museum in May, 1996, and is completely original, right down to the paint, three-cylinder powerplant and interior. The car was driven in Sweden for the first couple years of its life, before retiring to Saab’s historical collection in 1961. “It has normal wear for a two-year-old car,” Sinclair said. “The car is absolutely superb!”

Sinclair was an integral part of Saab’s growth and success in the U.S. market. In 1979, Sinclair was appointed president of Saab-Scania of America, until his retirement in 1991. The Saab National Dealer Advisory Council presented him with one of the first production Saab Sonetts, one of only 258 two-stroke models produced in 1967, as a retirement gift. “As much as I admired the car as an objet d’art, I soon realized that the Sonett really wasn’t the ideal toy for me,” Sinclair said. “It was, shall we say, a bit too ‘quirky’ and demanding for use as a transportation device, and too new for most of the vintage tours being run around the country.”

After receiving helpful technical advice via telephone from Sweden, Lague (left) and Sinclair have the Saab’s two-stroke engine running beautifully.

An ideal solution presented itself - an exchange with the Saab Car Museum in Trollhättan, Sweden. Sinclair explained, “With the blessings of Felix Bosshart of Charles River Saab in Massachusetts, who was chairman of the council at the time of my retirement, I worked out a swap with museum curator Peter Bäckström. Now the museum has a much more desirable car for display, and I have a more practical car for my own particular uses.” The Saab 93B was shipped from Sweden to Sinclair’s home in Santa Barbara, Calif., arriving on May 2, 1996.

What does one do with a mint-condition 36-year-old car? “Drive it,” Sinclair stated emphatically. “It’s a shame to hide classic cars in a private garage. It’s much more satisfying to use the cars as they are meant to be used.”

Sinclair is one of many collectable car owners who share the same attitude. The California Mille 1,300-mile vintage car tour, and other similar events such as Arizona’s Copper State 1000, the Colorado Grand, and New England 1000, each attract 50 to 75 auto enthusiasts with a taste for adventure and motoring in authentic examples of automotive history.

Organized by Martin Swig, owner of Saab San Francisco, a dealership established in 1976, the annual California Mille is more a social and cultural event than a competition. Styled after the historic Mille Miglia endurance race in Italy, today’s events place more emphasis on history, scenery and camaraderie than speeding. “The highest form of this car hobby is to drive these things,” Swig commented. “To be alive, they have to be driven.” Rules are designed to emulate the Mille Miglia and therefore stipulate that entries must have been in production in 1957 or prior. The Saab 93 began production in 1955; Sinclair’s ‘59 model was one of the newest cars in the event.

The Mille started at the Fairmont on Nob Hill, crossed the Golden Gate Bridge and headed east on scenic two-lane highways into the Sierra Nevadas. The Saab, with its stock 33-hp, three-cylinder motor, struggled up the mountains and had to be stopped several times because of overheating. Sinclair called Peter Bäckström at the Saab Museum in Sweden the first night. “I had three different thermostats, three different carburetor jets and three heat ranges of spark plugs,” Sinclair explained. “The only problem was, not having driven a 93B since 1961, and never on such steep grades at such high altitudes, I had not the foggiest notion which combination would be right. Peter soon put us straight on that, and after Day One, the car ran beautifully!”

Sinclair’s 1958 Saab 93B is powered by a 750cc three-cylinder, two-stroke engine, rated at 33hp, with a three-speed manual transmission with steering column-mounted shifter. Front-hinged doors were not available until the following model year.

Sinclair’s co-driver/navigator was Dick Lague, senior publisher at Petersen Publishing’s Motorcycle Group of magazines, including Motorcyclist, Dirt Rider and Sport Rider. Both men share a common interest in motorcycles and Saab cars; Lague learned to drive in a 93B in Providence, RI, and took his driver’s test in it. Sinclair, who owns several vintage motorcyles, first met Lague in 1974 at a motorcycling event hosted by Cycle World magazine.

From the Mille’s starting announce-ment, “Gentlemen, try to start your engines,” to each of three overnight stopovers, the atmosphere was light-hearted, even jovial. The route skirted Lake Tahoe, wound through the forests of Northern California to Eureka and came back south along the coast and through Napa Valley. Other entrants included superb examples of Maserati, Aston Martin, Cord, Jaguar, Bugatti and a host of others. Each was a historic gem of its era, and each received admiring glances from fans along the way, and only a handful failed to reach the finish after 1,300 miles.

“We might have to push this little car up the mountain, but it sure goes like hell down the other side!” - Sinclair

After driving 1,300 miles through Northern California, Sinclair and his Saab catch their breaths overlooking the Pacific Ocean

“Along the way, the Saab’s pop-pop-pop exhaust note from the two-stroke engine made people look twice,” Sinclair commented, “and then look again when I dumped a can of oil in the gas tank at each fill-up.”

At the Victory Banquet in Corte Madera, just north of San Francisco, Sinclair was awarded a trophy as the “Driver Who Had the Most Fun on California Highway 88,” which was the first mountainous section encountered prior to Lake Tahoe. Several drivers commented to Sinclair: “Bob, are you aware that your inside rear wheel was inches off the pavement on hard downhill bends?”

“Of course I knew that,” he replied. “It’s part of the fun of driving a 93 ‘vigorously’ through the mountains. We might have to push this little car up the mountain, but it sure goes like hell down the other side!”

This month marks the 50 year anniversary since, the former President of Saab-Scania of America, Inc. Robert J. Sinclair began working with SAAB Motors, Inc.

Robert “Uncle Bob” Sinclair has been instrumental in drumming up support both abroad and here in the United States since 1958 for what we now known as, the Saab brand, formerly Saab-Scania, and before that “Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget” or SAAB. From his early beginnings as a SAAB Sales representative reporting to Ralph T. Millet, working in New Haven as well as Orange, Connecticut as President of Saab-Scania of America, he has been involved in a lot of milestones for Saab.

Since he announced his retirement in 1991, Robert “Uncle Bob” Sinclair relocated from the Connecticut region and then moved out to Santa Barbara, California where he has lived ever since. Today, he continues to be on call as one of the most humble, yet well spoken, supportive and respected personalities in the global Saab community.

During the rest of this month, I plan on spending a good portion, covering a wide variety of content that hopefully begins to give us an idea of the significance and historical impact that he has had over the years, as well as the legacy he built, which, in my opinion, will be continued with the Saab brand, well into the future.

 
Saab Automobile’s advertising company, Lowe Brindfors has produced yet another interview film, featuring reporter Malin Hallberg who covers the 9-X BioHybrid premiere at the recent Geneva Auto Show earlier this past week.

In this interview, she speaks to Anthony Lo, Director Advanced Design, GM Europe Design as well as Kjell ac Bergström, the President & CEO of Saab Automobile AB’s powertrain. Enjoy the interviews.

Frederick ‘Fritz’ Henderson, former Chairman of GM Europe responsible for Saab Automobile and a Saab enthusiast himself on his (count them) 4th Saab, has now been promoted to President of General Motors.

Some of you may have experienced his presentation while attending the 2007 Saab Owners Convention dinner banquet this past August in Troy, Michigan at the GM Heritage Center.

It is really good to hear that someone who really knows a lot about Saab, and owns a Saab, now has more autonomy over the Saab Automobile brand. If you have not already watched it, please enjoy his presentation that starts at 11:00 minutes in.

Here is the press release below.

GM Appoints Henderson President and Chief Operating Officer, Announces Other Senior Executive Appointments

Rick Wagoner, GM chairman and chief executive officer, announced that the GM board of directors approved the following appointments, effective immediately, at its meeting today:

* Frederick (Fritz) A. Henderson, 49, vice chairman and chief financial officer, is elected president and chief operating officer.
* Ray Young, 46, currently group vice president - finance, is elected executive vice president and chief financial officer, replacing Henderson.
* Thomas G. Stephens, 59, currently group vice president, global powertrain and global quality, is also elected executive vice president.

“There’s a lot going on at GM today,” Wagoner said. “Besides our massive business transformations in the U.S. and Europe, we’re experiencing explosive growth in emerging markets - in some cases, in countries where GM doesn’t have a long history. The industry is in the midst of the largest technology transformation it has ever faced. And GM continues to implement a truly global automotive operating structure.

“It’s an opportune time to further bolster our top leadership structure; specifically, it’s the right time to reestablish GM’s traditional President and Chief Operating Officer position,” Wagoner continued. “And Fritz Henderson is the right person to assume this role. He’s had a broad range of experiences in leading three of our regions and in a number of other GM businesses over the years, and he’s made a tremendous contribution in each role. I look forward to working closely with Fritz and Bob Lutz, who so ably leads our global product development team, as we continue to implement the plan to transform General Motors for our second 100 years.

“Ray Young brings a wealth of finance and operating experience to the CFO role, including leading GM do Brasil to record business results in his most recent assignment. Tom Stephens’ promotion recognizes the huge role that advanced propulsion strategies will play in GM’s future, as well as Tom’s strong leadership and technical skills,” Wagoner added.

George Fisher, presiding director of the GM board of directors, commented, “GM is in the process of a remarkable transformation under Rick Wagoner’s strong leadership. Tremendous progress has been made. The promotion of Fritz Henderson to president and chief operating officer, along with Bob Lutz’s continued success at transforming our global product activities, and the promotions of Ray Young and Tom Stephens, will further solidify our leadership structure for today and the future. The GM board is excited about the direction that GM is headed and believes these executive appointments will further support our business strategy and the work that needs to be done to achieve our growth, technology leadership and financial objectives.”

Henderson and Young will report to Wagoner. Reporting to Henderson, in addition to Stephens, will be the four regional presidents; Troy Clarke, GM North America; Carl-Peter Forster, GM Europe; Maureen Kempston Darkes, GM Latin America, Africa and Middle East; and Nick Reilly, GM Asia-Pacific. Also reporting to Henderson will be Bo Andersson, group vice president, global purchasing and supply chain, and Gary Cowger, group vice president, global manufacturing and labor relations. The remaining global functi