The Nostalgia of Forgotten Gods: Saab, Sweden, 1945-2016

The story of Saab begins as an airplane manufacturer in 1937 in Trollhättan, near Gothenburg, Sweden. Eight years later, a division of the company ventured into automobiles, leveraging their aeronautical expertise. The first prototype, called UrSaab, was presented in 1947, featuring advanced technical characteristics like a monocoque chassis, a drag coefficient of just 0.30 thanks to its teardrop shape and fully covered wheels. The 750cc 2-stroke twin-cylinder engine with 18 horsepower and the gearbox were sourced from DKW.

The first prototype in Saab's automotive history is the 1947 UrSaab.

Mass production began a couple of years later, with the first Saab arriving at dealerships in early 1950. Known as the Saab 92, it was well-received by the public, with 9,000 units produced in four years, creating long waiting lists due to high demand. In 1955, the lineup expanded with the introduction of the Saab 93, a natural evolution of the 92, featuring a redesigned front and a more powerful 3-cylinder 2-stroke engine. A few months later, the 94 Super Sport or Sonett, a small sports car designed for competition, was introduced but never raced due to changing regulations.

The Saab 93 was introduced in 1955 with a new, more powerful 3-cylinder 2-stroke engine.

The commercial success of these models led Saab to further evolve in 1959 and 1960 with the introduction of the 95 station wagon and the 96, which was also developed for racing to showcase the brand's technological prowess. The quality of the car, powered by a small 850cc 3-cylinder engine and featuring front-wheel drive proved to be excellent, leading to consecutive victories at the Monte Carlo Rally in 1962 and 1963 with Swedish driver Erik Carlsson and co-driver Gunnar Palm. The road version used the 850cc 3-cylinder 2-stroke engine until 1967, when it was replaced by a more modern 1.5-liter 4-stroke V4 engine.

Saab proved the quality of its cars with the racing version of the 96, which won the Monte Carlo Rally in 1962 and 1963.

In 1968, Saab made a radical design change with the new model, the 99, featuring the lines of a traditional sedan. This model was crucial for Saab's history, as it introduced a 1.9-liter engine developed and produced internally by the Swedish company, in addition to the 1.7-liter Triumph engine. Around the same time, Saab merged with heavy vehicle manufacturer Scania Vabis, whose experience with turbocharged engines led to Saab's greatest commercial success: The Saab 900. Introduced in 1978, it sold nearly one million units over 20 years, successfully replacing the 99 model.

The 1978 Saab 900 became an iconic car for Saab, selling nearly one million units. Pictured here is the Turbo version.

Despite strong sales, Saab remained a small manufacturer. In 1982, Saab signed an agreement with Fiat, leading to the sale of the Lancia Delta in Sweden and Norway under the name Saab 600. Two years later, a similar deal was made with the Fiat Croma and Lancia Thema platforms to develop the new Saab 9000, designed with input from Italdesign's Giorgetto Giugiaro. The most significant difference from its Italian counterparts was the use of engines from the 900.

The agreement with Fiat led to the development of the Saab 9000, designed with Italdesign's Giorgetto Giugiaro, based on the Fiat Croma and Lancia Thema platforms.

Despite collaborations and entering the mid-size segment with the 9000, Saab couldn't avoid being acquired in 1989 by an investment group that sold 51% of its shares to General Motors a year later. Saab retained some autonomy in technological development but began using platforms from the American giant, starting with the second-generation 900 in 1994, which was replaced four years later by the 9-3. The 9-3 and its successor, the 9-5, marked Saab's first foray into the station wagon market. The 2008 financial crisis forced General Motors to sell Saab to Dutch company Spyker, which announced an ambitious revival plan that never materialized. The Swedish brand disappeared for good in 2016, but its legacy lives on among collectors who cherish the original and visionary Saabs of the 1960s.

General Motors' acquisition of Saab led to the production of the 9-3 (pictured above) and the 9-5. The 2008 crisis led to another ownership change, culminating in the brand's disappearance.