Saabsoundings Vol 28 2 [Ocr]

8/20/2019 Saabsoundings Vol 28 2 [Ocr]

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by the U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency EPA). The

EPA has also concluded that the

Saab 9000 offers the best fuel

economy of any model in the

Large Car category.

In addition, the versatility,

value, and European charm

found

in

the most recen t addi

tion to the Saab range, the new

entry-level Saab 9000, combining

utility with superb handling and

road manners, is not available

in

any other automobile priced

below $23,000. Its outstanding

safety record an d full comple

ment

of standard and comfort

features enhance the value of

the

most modestly priced 9000,

which is available as a 5-door

hatch

back

at

a

ma

nufacturer's

suggested retail of $22,895.

For 1991, the 900 and 900S

models benefit from a new 140

horsepower, 2 .1 -liter, naturally

aspirated engine, which provides

improved performance and better

passing power. In today's auto

motive environment

wh

ich is

characterized by si

mi

larity,

Saab's 900 family enjoys a

distinctive identity all its

ow

n .

In terms

of

value, the 900 3-door

hatchback, priced at $18,295, is

the lowest priced imported car in

America equipped with anti-lock

brakes, and a driver's-side air bag

as standard equipment. Head

light wiper/washers are also now

standard

on

every '

91

Saab.

Both Saab 9000 and 900

models are consistently in the

leading ranks of their respective

size classes of real world safety

studies conducted by America's

Highway Loss Data Institute

(HLDI) and the Folksam Insur

ance Company in Saab's Swedish

homeland.

n

fact, Saab 900

4-

door sedans are

the

safest cars in

their size class in the HLDI

report, while Folksam named

the

Saab 9000

the

safest car

in

Sweden.

In owning a Saab, you

can also take pride in knowing

that Saab Cars

USA,

Inc. strives

to be an environmentally

concerned leader as it continues

to research innovative technolo

gies and employ responsible

business practices that respect

the

environment. See page

18

for details.)

In clos

in

g I would like to

take this opportunity to intro

duce

Mr

. Sten Helling

to

you,

recently-appointed President and

C

hi

ef Operating Officer of Saab

Cars USA, Inc., who has worked

for Saab for more than 10 years

and has an extensive import

automotive background. I am

extremely confident in Mr.

Helling's ability to keep your

best interests

in

mind as

he

directs Saab car activities in

the

United States, and together we

e

nt

er

th

e exciting decade that

awaits us. Although a long-time

colleague of mine, perhaps

the

best way that I can describe Sten

to you is by quoting one of your

peers, Patrick

S.

Bolmeyer,

President of the Delaware Valley

Saab Club, who said after

recen tly meeting

him at

the

annual Saab Owner's Conven

tion

in

Sturbridge, Massachu-

3

setts, He

com

es across having

that same quality as

the

rest of

t

he

gang

at

Saab ... just one of

the

guys. For a more detailed

introduction

to

Sterr's qualifica

tions as President and Chief

Operating Officer of this very

special car company, see Page 8.)

He

and I look forward to

travelling into the 1990's with

you, as a member of the distinc

tive Saab family.

With best wishes for a happy

and safe new year.

Robert J Sinclair

Chairman

and

Chief Executive Officer


4/24


5/24

VOLUME 28 NUMBER

From the Chairman

Never in Saab's history,

have we had such

impressive products ...

4

The

Readers Write

The

subject is

Saab longevity and

durability

6

Saab Scene

Changing Times and

USA Today praise,

some free advice,

lane change indicators,

and more.

8

Meet Sten Helling -

Saab's new President and

Chief Operating Officer

and

David

J.

Herman

Addresses Automotive

News World Congress

9

New Year Ushers in

The Pinnacle of Saab

Performance

Saab continues to set a

brisk development pace

in

1991

with the

introduction of

its new 200 hp

turbocharged engine.

THE MAGAZINE

FOR

S B OWNERS

Contents

On the Cover

Saab s 900 Turbo Convertible Special Edition,

shown here in Saab s

new

striking Monte Carlo

Yellow is now available in limited quantities.

It

is also

;bown in

new Platana Grey metallic at the

rd Annual Chicago Auto Show (page 11) where

the 900 Turbo Convertible Special Edition

recently made

its

debut.

3

Don t Stick Your Neck

Out by Choosing the

Wrong Head Restraint

A discussion of

whiplash, ways to

help prevent it from

happening to you, and

how Saab has

engineered its cars to

keep you comfortable

and safe.

15

Designing Safe Cars

is More Than

Just Child's Play

Automotive mishaps

claim more lives than

childhood diseases or

other accidents.

Learn

what

Saab has

done to help protect

children from harm.

© COPYRIGHT 1991 by Saab Cars USA Inc Modification Rights Reserved .

8

Breathing Easier

in the Decade

of the Environment

A ventilation air filter

that traps pollen, dust,

soot, and other

airborne particles.

9

Regulate Your

Driving Habi ts

To Save Fuel

There 's no reason

to spend more money

on gasoline than you

have to.

2

The 1990

Barber Saab Series:

Unmodified Engines

That Race to Win

The largest starting

field ever, a clear

champion, and

internally-unmodified

Saab turbocharged

engines performing

flawlessly once more.

23

Vintage Views

Part I

Saab Cars USA Inc.

proudly showcases its

corporate heritage

through its

Headquarters

Collection.

5


6/24

6

Ch

an

gin

g

T

ime

s

P

rais

es

Sa

ab

9

an

d 9

The

pers onal finan ce

m

aga z

ine,

h

angin

g

T

im es

,

r

ecen

tl y in

fo rm

ed i

ts m or

e than

on

e m il

lion r

eade

rs ,

H

ow

To G

et The

C

ar

Y

ou W

ant A

t A P

rice

You

'l l Li

ke . T

he

pu

blic a

ti on's

edit

ors

n

amed

the Sa

ab

9000

p

rice d

at

$2

2,89

5, as

the

Sa

fe ty

Lead e

r i

n the

20,0

00

to

30,

000

p

rice

rang e, and

the

Saab

900

Turb

o, w

ith a

su gge

st ed

li

s t pri

ce of

$2 6,2

95, a

s

yie l

ding

the

Mos

t

M

iles

Per G

allo

n

n the

sam

e pri

ce cl a

ss .

Sa

ab

9

M

ake

s

U

S

Today

s1

Be

st

L

ist

A

cco rd

in g to

U

SA

To

day

s

r

ecen

t auto

m o

t

iv e sa

fe ty

repor

t,

veh

ic le o

pera

to rs a

re

m

ore

like ly

to g

et

hur

t

drivi

ng a

sm all

car

i

nstea

d of

a larg

e one

.

Ran

kin g

both

dom e

stic

a

nd im

port

ed m

arq ue

s

in term s

of t

he la t

est

th ree

-year

insu

rance

s tu

dy b

y the

Hig h

w ay

Lo

ss D a

ta In

stitu t

e,

USA

Tod

ay nam

ed t

he

Sa a

b

9000

am

ong

it s 1

0

Best

car s

in te

rm s o

f

fe w

est a

u to i

njurie

s.

(T he

Saab

9000

is t

he

on

ly im

port

seda

n to b

e

ra te d

by

the En

viron

m e

ntal

Prote

ctio n

Age n

cy a s

a L

ar ge

C

ar. )

Sa

ab

s

L

ast

8-V

al

ve

E

ngi

ne

M or

e th

an

7

50 ,00

0

un i

ts

of th is classic

8

-v alv

e Saa

b

eng

in e,

fi rst

us ed

to po

wer

th

e Saa

b

99

EM

S in 19

72,

ha

ve be

en

m an

ufac

tured

a

t

Saa

b's

eng

ine f

ac tory

in

Sode

nalje

,

Swe

de n.

From

19

91

m

odel

s onw

ard,

only

Saa b's la

te st,

excep

tion

a

lly fu

el-e f

ficie

nt, 16

-

va

lv e en

gines

w ill

be

asse m

ble d

in th

is p la

nt.

Sa

ab in

tr od

uced

the

16-va

lve en

gine

in

1

985 a

nd ha

s sp e

ci fied

it

exc

lu siv e

ly i

n the

U

.S.

m a

rke t

since

1989

. The

indu

stry n

ow r

ec ogn

iz es

t

hat an

engi

ne w i

th fo

ur

valv

es p e

r cyli

nder

offers

m

ore

ef fec t

iv e c

om bu

s

tion

of

the fu

el/ air

m

ix tu

re t h

an

n conv

en

ti o

nal e

ngin e

s.

Sa

ab s L

ast

8-v

lve

Engin

e

\1

[

C

r ss ir

c

qu ire

s

2

00tb

Saab

3 40

New

s

Yo

u C

an

U

se

The

pre

viou

s ed

ition

of

Saa

b S

ou

n

din

gs in cl

uded

a

o

et

hing

S

aa

b

in

sert

sho

win

g a c

arefu

lly c

hose

n

assortm ent of Saab i dentif ied

p

rodu

cts a

nd cl

othin

g. S

aab 's

c

om p

etitiv

ely

pric e

d sel

ecti o

n

o

f spo

rtsw

ear a

nd p

erso

nal

a

cces

so ri e

s m

akes i

deal

gifts

for

th

e ma

n o

r w o

m an

n

y

ou

r

l

ife

w

ho

seem

s to

have

ev

e

ry

th ing

. T

o pla

ce an

ord

er or

re qu

est a

Som

ethin

g Saab

broc

hure

sim p

ly c

all:

(8

00

) 42

2-4

68

4.


7/24

ut

of Left Field

In a recent survey conducted by

Advertising Age

Magazine, identical letters describing real-life prob

lems that a staff member encountered with a one year

old vehicle were sent to

25

automobile companies.

The

idea was simple: to determine when and

how each manufacturer would respond to an owner

in

need,

in

the interest of resolving such a product

concern. What the manufacturers weren't told,

however, was that the survey was really out of left

field, and that the true identity

of th

e reputed con

sumer was the national magazine. Furthermore, the

results were being monitored n the secret survey and

would later

be

published.

Who was the manufacturer to respond first? Saab

Cars USA, Inc., seven days after the let ter was post

marked.

The

Orange, Connecticut-based Consumer

Relations group went so far as to dig up the author's

telephone number, which wasn't included n the

letter, to speed up the response even funher.

To make it easier for you to t lk with our

Consumer Relations staff,

we

now have

this single toll-free number for you to call

from anywhere

n

the United States:

800) 955-9007.

Crossair

Acquires

200th

Saab 340

Recently the Saab

Aircraft Division,

Linkoping, Sweden,

delivered the 200th Saab

340 regional airliner to

Crossair of Switzerland.

This irnponant mile

stone makes Saab the

first new technology

regional airline

manu

facturer to deliver 200

aircraft in the 30 to 40

seat class. More than

100 additional340's

with substantial options

are on the Saab Aircraft

order books. Due to

increased demand, Saab

Aircraft is increasing its

commercial production

by

SO

this year.

Free Advice

for Winter

Driving

For a free copy of

Winter

Motoring a glove

compartment-size

manual offering tips for

safe motoring in chal

lenging, slippery condi

tions, simply visit any of

Saabs 344 U.S. dealers.

New Saab

Facility

Saab officials recently

celebrated a ribbon

cutting ceremony to

open its new parts distri

bution center in Union

City, California, which

will primarily serve Saab

dealers

in

the West and

portions of

the

Central

and Southern Regions.

{Photo y Neudoerf{er/Omni

Saab Club

Activities

Last year's National

Saab Club Convention,

coordinated by the West

Mountain Saab Club

n

Massachusetts, was held

at the Sheraton Inn in

Sturbridge. Technical

sessions including guest

speakers from Saab Cars

USA, Inc., parts swap

ping, concours competi

tion, rallying, new model

drives, Saab customized

raffle gifts, and the

ability to mingle with

Saab enthusiasts from all

comers of the country,

contributed to making

the annual convention a

great success. This year's

convention is scheduled

to take place on August

2, 3, and 4,

1991

at

Crystal Mountain Resort

in Washington State. For

further details, contact

Skip Schott at 20220

8 th Ave.,

S.E.,

Snoho

rnish,Washingron 98290,

or call

(206)

486-1351.

Anyone interested

in joining a local club or

the Saab Club of North

America, may write Club

President Tim Winker,

2416 London Road,

Unit

7

J

Lane

Change .

Indicators

For Safety

900, Duluth, Minnesota

55812-2221, or may

telephone Tim

at

(218)

724-1336 for informa

tion. He is also the

Editor/Publisher of the

popular newsletter,

Nines

which has been

published in various

forms for 20 years.

Lane

Change

Indicators

For Safety

Federal safety standards

require motor vehicles

to be equipped with two

front and two rear tum

signals and side markers.

Saab includes two

additional tum signals

as standard equipment

on every model

it

offers

in

the

United States.

The

lane change indica

tors are located

to

the

rear of each front fender

behind the front wheels

and function together

with the turn signals to

inform not only those to

the front and rear of the

driver's intentions,

but

to also

alen

neighboring

motorists of an impend

ing change of direction.


8/24


9/24

Saab conti

nue

s to set a

risk

development pace in 1991

N

w advances and prod

uct features ncor

porated in

ll

99

Saabs demonstrate the

Trollhattan tradition for techno

logical innovation which Saab has

enjoyed for more than forty years.

his heritage is evidenced n the

solid comfort and roadwortbiness

that

drivers enjoy hour after hour

n

Saab s ergonomically designed

cockpit. With the introduction of

its 2.3liter, 16-valve, turbocharged

engine this year, Saab continues

to redefine the balance of power

in its long line of legendary Turbos.

he new

engine

is

standard

equipment in the 99 Saab 9000


10/24


11/24

popular 900S model has also join

ed the Saab family for 1991, for

those enthusiasts whose lifestyles

do not need the extra power of

turbocharging, and whose budgets

require that they stay below

the

recently-announced $30,000 luxury

tax range.

In

addition to added product

content and refinements in 1991,

all new Saab owners can alsobenefit

from the security of a 6-year/80,000

mile limited warranty, with bumper-

9

Turbo

Convertible

Special Edition

Saab's n ew Special Edition Convertible sports hand

s

om

e 3-spoke light alloy wheels, high-performing 195/

60 VR 15 ti res, and aggressive lower body fairings,

which give the already-distinctive Saab 900

Tur

bo

Convertible a bold

ne

w

look

while also increasing

its

aerodynamic efficiency. Saab's

new

Special Edition

Convertible also features dual power seats with luxurious

le

ath

er seating surfaces and a leather-wrapped steering

wh

ee l. It is powered by Saab's energetic and efficient

160-hp , 2.0-li ter turbocharged engine.

to-bumper coverage for 3 years/

40,000 miles, and major system

coverage for

the

duration of

the

warranty period. Owners of 1991

Saabs are also automatically en

rolled

in

Saab's Roadside Assis

tance Program, which includes such

roadside services as emergency road

repair and towing, emergency lock

out

assistance, and tire service-

24 hours a day-seven days a week.

bisconvenientSaab service support

program includes trip interruption

protection,

and

provides reim-

bursement for unanticipated lodg

ing, meal, and car rental expenses.

Ambulance

reimbursement is

provided for the owner or a fam

ily member i an ambulance

is

re

quired following an accident.

The best way to experience

all the new advances is to get be

hind

the

wheel of a 1991 Saab.

Visit any of Saab's 344 U.S. deal

ers, who can explain in detail all

of

the

product improvements.

S B

Saab 9 Turbo

Saab

s

pinnacle of performance for

1991 is the Saab 9000 Turbo, which

is

fitted

with the Swedish

automaker's powerful and clean

burning 2.3-liter, turbocharged

engine. Generating 200

hp

and up

to 244-ft-lbs torque, the new en

gine offers improved low-speed

response, mid-range muscle, and

high-speed performance,

making

the 9000 Turbo

the

most aggres

sive

entry

ever offered by Saab.

Th

e Saab 9000 Turbo also benefits

fr

om

a performance

tuned

sport

chassis which includes special 3-

spok

e, alloy wheels and Z-rated,

high speed, 16 tires.


12/24


13/24


14/24


15/24

15

Designing Safe

Cars is

More

Than

Just

Child s Play

Saab safe ty door locks are an import nt

w y

in which Saab design helps to sec

ur

e yo

ur

child s safety.

P

rents know all too well

how inquisitive children

can be and how their natu

ral curiosity sometimes

leads them into trouble. This is

the case with automotive mishaps,

which

claim

more lives than

childhood diseases or any other

type of accident prevalent among

children.

Realizing

the

many mishaps

that can occur in automobiles,

Saab

engineers incorporate numerous

standard safety features into Saab

9000 and 900 passenger cars to

help protect children from harm.

Saab safety door locks are an

important way

in

which Saab de

sign helps to secure your child s

safety.

n

all9000 models and 900

4-door sedans, Saab rear doors are

fitted

with

child safety locks to

prevent children from madvertently

opening them from

the

inside. In

addition, all Saab 9000 s and 900

4-door sedans equipped with elec

trically-operated windows include

a rear window child lock switch

located

on

the front center con

sole to override the electronic con

trol of the rear windows, thereby

making sure children cannot in

advertently open them.

With occupant safety in mind

for children and adults alike, Saab

engineers have generously placed

impact-absorbing padding through

out

every Saab interior-including

front

seat

backs, door panels,

headliner, instrument panel,-and

every

99

Saab now includes rear

head restraints as standard equip

ment. Noticeably absent in Saab

cars are rough edges and comers

on which children may be apt to

hurt themselves. Saab engineers

have chosen to create an interior

environment comprised of smooth,

rounded surfaces. Saab door handles

are flat and recessed to avoid

tempting shapes, or

most

impor

tantly, to obviate the hard, pro

truding edges

of

conventional door

handles that can be a danger to

children. In emergency situations,

such attention to detail

not

only

safeguards children

but

adults as

well.

Soft storage pockets

in

the

front-seat backrests offer a con

venient place for children s comic

or coloring books or small toys

without cluttering

the

passenger

space. All Saab doors also include

practical and abundant storage

pockets which can accommodate

a child s necessities on any trip.

Saab 9 models have added stor

age space in their roomy center

consoles; the lid of which can be

folded back to serve rear passen

gers as a small tray and beverage

holder, devoid of rough edges.

he

900 includes cup-holder provisions

on the inside of the glovebox door.


16/24

16

Saab engineers incorporate numerous standard

safety features into Saab 9000 and 900 passenger

cars to help prote t children from harm.

Further standard amenities

on

the Saab 9000 which can add to a

child's comfort and enjoyment in

clude rear-seat reading lamps, which

are ideal

for

children who want to

read or draw

at

night, and a thickly

padded fold-down armrest which

not only provides improved rear seat

comfort,

but

has

been

known

to

serve

as

a divider for sibling rivals,

or can even be enjoyed as a small

game table. Both Saab 9000's and

900's include a console-mounted

rear ashtray to ensure that candy

wrappers and other litter are dis

posed of properly.

The generous size

and

wide

opening angles of

ll

doors facili

tate helping children in and out

of Saab cars. Adults needing

to

position toddlers

in

car seats will

appreciate Saab's extra roominess

and easy accessibility. In addition,

the low lift-height and flat floor

of Saab cargo areas make loading

and safely securing strollers, play

pens, toys, or

other

children's ne

cessities (plus luggage), a simple

task while not encroaching

on

valuable passenger space, and the

Saab 9000 is the only car in its

class to be rated as a Large Car

by EPA

The

EP h s

also

concluded

that the Saab 9000 offers the best

fuel economy of any model in the

Large Car category.

All Saab 900 hatchbacks and

sedans offer

the

practicality of a

fold-down rear seat,

while

Saab

9000 hatchbacks feature a folding

60/40 split rear seat for increased

family-use versatility. Saab 9000

and 900 hatchback models,

with

their rear seats folded down, boast

56.5 cubic feet of cargo space.

Further, all 1991 Saab cars

are equipped with three-point safety

The

wide

opening angles and size of

Saab doors

make it

extremely easy for

occupants to get

in

and

out

ofSaab

cors. n addition,

all

side doors are

fitted

with

courtesy

light

s in 9000

mod

els. Whenever a door is open, the

ground below

it

is

illuminated; a red

warning light is visible to the rear

at

the same time.

n all

9000 models and 900 4-door

sedans, Saab rear doors are fitted

with

c

hild

safety locks to prevent

children from inadvertantly opening

them

from the inside.

n

Saab 900

hat

chback models,

the

back seat can be folded down quickly and

s

impl

y to convert

the

ordinary luggage compartment into a cavernous, easily

accessible cargo

bay

having a completely flat floor.

belts

at

all outboard seating posi

tions as standard equipment.

The

Swedish automaker recognizes that

when

properly worn, seat belts re

duce the risk of serious occupant

injury, and therefore designs its seat

belt systems to

provide a high de

gree of comfort and convenience.

In

addition, Saab recommends

that

infants and

small

children

be protected in the

event

of col

lision or a sudden

stop with

a

suitable safety seat, and includes

details for

the

proper

us

e of

such

seats in its 9000 and 900

Owner s

Manuals.

S B


17/24

Enhance Your

Child s Security

and

dd

to

Your

Convenience.

First Aid Kit

• Contains scissors

1

bandages, topical

ointments and

otner

first aid items

• Approved by

the

American Red Cross

02

79117

Storage Box

• Keeps small, loose items contained

• Attaches easily with velcro to the

side of

the

luggage

compartment

9000 5 dr

86 02

74 233

9000 4 dr

89

02 43 915

900 3

dr 81

02 74 225

900 2/4 dr Sedans 02 74 217

Cargo

Net

• Steel

mesh

design keeps cargo and

pets in place

• Can be easily folded down or

removed

when

not n use

9000 5 dr 86

(

mount

s behind rear seats) 02 43 840

900 3 dr

81

(mounts in rear headrest brackets)

02 43 493

Installation

kit

for 900 models

without

rear head restraints 02 43 501

Horizontal Cargo Net

• Elastic net for installation to the

floor of luggage compartment

• Fastens to the luggage compartment

tie-down rings

9000 5 dr

86

02 44 343

Vertical Cargo Net

• Elastic net for installation tO the

right

trunk

wall

• Holds shopping bags and

other

lightweight items in place

• Easy

to

attach and remove

9000 5dr

86

02 44 335

All Saab dealers market parts

and accessories to enhance your

child s security and add

to

your

convenience and recreational

pleasure. These items include a

Red Cross-approved First Aid

Kit, fire extinguisher, cargo and

Fire Extinguisher

• Uses smothering Halon gas that

leaves

no

residue

and

will

not

damage electrical componen ts

• Mounting bracket included

9000 All, 900 All 02 02 515

Leather Protector

• Conditions leather upholstery

• Helps keep leather clean

and

supple

02 02 523

Cargo

Mat

• Protects

the

cargo area carpet

• Made of black rubber for durability

and easy cleaning

9000 4 dr 89 02 43 428

9000 5 dr 86 02 72 179

900 3 dr 81 02 128

Bike Holder

• Secures bicycle in upright position

• Adjustable

to

accommodate a variety

of types and sizes

• Use with basic rack

900 All Sedans 02 74 126

17

floor

mats

to protect your

trunk from dirt and other road

debris and protect your car s

interior from spills, and cargo

netting and storage boxes to

safely secure other necessities

for your child.

Warning Triangle

• Signals oncoming cars that yours is

disabled

• Reflective material

• Collapsible/Storage case included

Set of 3) 02 11 565

Waste Basket

• Fits underneath

the

front

seat

• Concealed

but

easy

to

reach

• Easy

to

remove for emptyi ng

Fits 900 s prior

to

1990

(exce

pt

with passive belts) 02 45 183

Bulk Luggage Carrier

• Attaches easily to basic roof rack for

convenient transport of large, bulky

items

9000 AU, 900 AU Sedans 02 81 204

Bike Holder

• Securely grips bicycle by seat and

handlebars

• Allows for easy adjustment for bikes

of different types and sizes

9000 All, 900 All Sedans 02 81196

Basic Roof Rack

900

9000

02 81 709

02

72195


18/24


19/24

19

Regulate Your riving Habits

To

Save

Fuel

There's no reason to spend

more money on gasoline than you

have to, despite

the

current climb

in fuel prices

nat

ionwide. According

to Saab engineers, there are proven

ways to

put

a chunk of your gaso

line dollars back

in

your pocket.

All you need is a willingness

to observe-and perhaps change

your routine driving habits and

pay close attention to your car's

shift indicator light, which

in

the

case of Saab, is standard equip

ment on

all

1991

Saab 9000 and

900 models with manual trans

missions.

Tests conducted by the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency

EPA) and Saab comparing 10 Saabs

with shift lights and 10 identical

Saabs without, confirm there is

savings to be gained.

The

average

improvement during the official

EPA City driving cycle was more

than nine percent.

The

shift indicator system

installed on all Saab 9000 and 900

models with manual transmissions

monitors signals from five points

on the

engine and transmission.

The

most important data is en

gine speed and load and the posi

tion of the accelerator pedal.

The

system includes an indicator lamp

which is located on

the

instru

me

nt panel and signals the driver

to shift up.

When the engine speed

is

high

compared to the position

of the

accelerator pedal, the shift indi

cator lamp signals that you can

get

the

same performance from

less fuel by shifting upward to the

next higher gear. After using the

light for a period of time, drivers

soon learn

to

shift instinctively

at this optimum point.

Shifting

with

the indicator

Seven Ways

to Maximum Fuel conomy

Maintain proper tire infla

ti

on

pressure (see your

Owner s nual or tire

info

rm

ati

on

lab

el)

.

2

Don

't let

th

e engine

warm

up by idling. Rather, drive

off as soon as possible.

3 Drive smoothly and conse

r-

vatively. Follow your upshift

light i your manual trans

mission -eq

ui

pped Saab has

one and observe the posted

speed limit.

4 Use a well-kno

wn

brand of

detergent gasoline. Regular

grade is fine

unl

ess your SPG

or accessory

T

unin

g Kit -

light does not entail a loss of power,

and it demonstrates how you can

save fuel

by

merely changing your

shifting habits even if your car

does no

t have a shift indicator

light. Shift into a higher gear sooner

than you normally would and use

fifth gear as much as possible to

stretch your fuel, and your dollars.

Further fuel saving may

be

gained by maintaining your car

according to the manufacturer's

prescribed

service

schedule.

Maintenance and tune up details

can be found in

th

e vehicle owner's

manual, which includes other

important information which can

help maximize mileage su

ch

as

correct tire pressures, recommen

d-

ed lubricants, and car care tips. A

properly maintained vehicle will

not

only offer better

fue

l economy,

but lower exhaust emissions as

well.

equipped Turbo requires

higher octane, pre

mium

fuel.

5

Keep y

our

car clean, includ -

ing the front of the radiator

which

can collect bugs,

leaves, or other road debris.

6 Leave your ski rack

at home

wh

en you

ar

e not using

it

.

And eliminate unnecessary

weight by removing from

your trunk anything that

you don't nee

d.

7

Follow your vehicle's

pr

e-

scribed maintenance sched

ule, because dir

ty

filters and

contaminated oil reduce

efficiency.


20/24

2

T

hank

s to

th

e pres

ti

ge of

th

e Barb

er

Saab Pro Series and

its at t

end

antmed

ia coverage, 1990 champion Rob Wilson {green

19) signed a co

ntra

ct

with

a frontline

In

dy

Lights te

am fo

r 1991. Success

th

ere

will likely

res

ul

t

in

a move to the crown

of

American

motor

s

ports

the CART G Indycar Series. pho to by Sidell Tilghman)

e 1990 Barber Saab Pro

Series was a roaring suc

cess on circuits from

Tampa to Topeka, and

West Palm Beach

to

Portland.

Completing its fifth season,

the

series played to impressive audi

ences, had

its largest starting

fields ever, and received excellent

tel

evision

coverage

via

ESPN.

London-based New Zealander Rob

Wilson clinched

the

championship

and the 100,000 Career Enhance

ment Award by winning six of

the 12 races. He also set a record

for number of pole positions won

in a season with seven.

Right from the start, Wilson

made it

clear that

he

was

the

man

to beat. He

won

the opener

in

Miami, finished third

n the

next

race

at

Road Atlanta, then won

the

next four races

n

a row to

build a huge points cushion heading

into

the

second half of

the

season.

The first contender to

try

to

chip away at Wilson's lead was

John Bigham of California. Dubbed

the

Loan Arranger (Bigham had

to borrow

the

money from his

mother for

the

race), he took

the

pole and

the

win

at

Watkins Glen

to become the first American to

drive into a 1990 Barber Saab vic-

tory circle. Englishman Johnny

Robinson was

next to give Wilson

a go, winning

his

second race of

the year (Road

Atlanta

was his

first)

in the

Red Lion (Hotels)

Challenge at Sears Point. 'fllen Steve

Cameron

another native New

Zealander, took his

turn

n

the

spotlight

with

a pole-to-podium

win at Portland.

But t was all for naught. By

rotmd lO at Road America in

Au

gust, all Wilson had to do was

finish no worse than fifth to snag

the title and the 100,000 Career

Award-

which

is exactly what he

did. Almost forgotten in the hoopla


21/24

99

arber S .AB

Pro Series

Date Event Television

Coverage

March3

South Florida Fairground ESPN

West Palm Beach Florida

April7 Miami Street Circuit ESPN

Miami Florida

April

28 RoadAtlanta Race Circuit

TBA

Atlanta Georgia

May 27 LimeRockPark ESPN

Lime Rock Connecticut

June2

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

ESPN

Lexington Ohio

June 16

New

Orleans Street Circuit

ESPN

New Orleans Louisiana

June3

Watkins Glen International ESPN

Watkins Glen New York

July 2

Laguna Seca Raceway

ESPN

Monterey California

July28

Portland International Raceway

ESPN

Portland Oregon

August25 RoadAmerica Racetrack TBA

Elkhart Lake Wisconsin

September 22

Road

America Racetrack ESPN

Elkhart Lake Wisconsin

October 13 Del Mar Fairgrounds Circuit

ESPN

Del Mai California

Note: This schedule

is

tentative.

All li

sted dates are

wi t

h IMSA GTP.

was John Tanner of Virginia. He

drove brilliantly in the rain

to

his

first victory and pretty

much

laid

claim to the unofficial-but-note

worthy title of the Highest Ranked

American Driver for

the

year.

onto his race car s nose cone, thanks

to a late-race collision with a loose

wheel from a different late-race

crashee. It was a graphic example

of the skill Wilson had shown

2

throughout the season.

And the last race of the year

at Del Mar? Oh, just the

usual-

Wilson led flag-to-flag from the

pole.

No

doubt, Wilson headed for

the

big time.

A pleasant surprise this year

was

the

debut of Robert Arnren

of Jarna Sweden. The young Swedish

Formula 3 driver, along with his

friend Tony Lelvo of Tamrnisaari,

Finland, entered the last

two

races

of

the

year and they both made

quite an impression: Arnren finished

in second place in each race, and

Lelvo had a four and a lOth. They,

like Robinson, look to be strong

contenders for the championship

in 1991.

Next year the series prom

ises to be even more in the spot

light as the premier international

open-wheel training series. Step

ped-up overseas press coverage and

an increasing number of foreign

drivers who are making a name

for themselves here in the States

are giving the series credibility

unmatched by other single-spec

series. Wilson, the first foreign

born champion in the five-year

history of Barber Saab racing, will

make a perfect series ambassador.

The

race-prepared but inter

nally-unmodified stock Saab

tur

bocharged engines performed

flawlessly once again, enabling the

Barber Saab program to

do

what

no other series does-provide close

and exciting racing but remain tre

mendously affordable for up-and

coming professional road racers.

S B

Though the championship

was already decided, the next race

at Tampa was exciting neverthe

less.

t not

only rained again, and

Robinson won his third race to

secure championship runner-up

honors (and set the record for Win

from the Lowest Grid Position-

7th), but Wilson finished ninth on

the tricycle. Okay, not a real trike,

but boy, did he hear the cheers

after he finished-no, raced-the last

four laps on three wheels. Wilson

had folded his left front wheel over

1990 Champion Rob Wilson clinched the

seri

es title here

at

Road America.


22/24


23/24

in

Saab's case,

the

palette was lim

ited to green.

The

Headquarters

92 received

some

cosmetic atten

tion n Sweden,

and

was reup

holstered using materials

which

were supplied through

the

Saab

engineering department in

Trollhattan.

The

de Luxe designation, by

the

way, signifies that the car was

fi

t

ted

with a chrome grille, chrome

hubcaps, front and rear bumpers,

aod two

windshield wipers. Es

sentially all 92s enjoyed the ad

vantage of

this

equipment.

The

92's

most

recent public

appearance was

at the

annual Saab

Club Convention

in

Sturbridge,

Massachusetts where

it

was

not

only

displayed,

but

driven by a

few club members. Needless

to

say,

it

once again made

quite

a

hit.

956 Saab Sonett

Super Sport

On page 118 of Bjorn-Eric Lindh's

definitive Saab reference,

The First

o

Years

of

Saab Cars

(available

through Saab dealers, part

number

02

78

648

,

there is a set of period

photographs

which

shows a mag

nificent red

Sonett

Super Sport.

That

vehicle

now

resides

in

Or

ange, Connecticut, and

s

the crown

jewel of

the

Saab Cars USA, Inc.

Headquarters Collection.

During

the

1950's, standard

Saab sedans proved

quite

success

ful

in

competition

in

and around

Sweden. It was soon realized,

however,

that

if Saab was going

to

participate in international events

throughout

Europe,

something

more would be needed.

That

something took the form of

the

Sonett Super Sport, unveiled

at the

1956 Stockholm

Motor

Show.

The Sonett Super Sport, of-

ten

referred to today as Sonett I

or

the

Sonett

prototype, is a fi-

berglass-bodied,

two

seater built

on

a semi-monocoque chassis. It

utilized various standard Saab 93

components, and to improve weight

distribution,

the

complete power

train was turned around, resulting

in the

three-speed gearbox being

mounted

ahead of

the

engine. A

high-performance version of

the

three-cylinder,

two

-stroke Saab 93

engine was fitted, producing 57.5

horsepower.

The

Sonett was campaigned

in

Swedish racing competition dur

ing 1957, and participated in vari

ous demonstration events. Unfor

tunately,

when the

competition

rules for

the

1958 season were

announced

, provisions to allow

modified production models

with

racing engines were included, there

by nullifying the very concept of

the

Sonett Super Sport. The car,

therefore,

never entered

series

production.

There were

only six Saab

Sonett Super Sports produced, and

Saab Cars USA s Tec

hn i

col

Training Manager, John Mo ss

(left , along

with

Sales Training

Manager, Ar

sey Miller (se

at

ed)

and the Sonett Super Sport-

number 2 of six originals

produced by 1956. Only five

examples exist today. John and

Arsey both assist in maintaining

the Headquarters

Coll

ection.

23

the example in t

he

Headquarters

Collection is car

number 2.

Since

it

left Trollha

tt

an, Sonett number

2 spent most of its life

in

Sweden's

private Philipsons Museum. Gunnar

Philipson has been referred to as

the king of

Swedish car distribu

tors, and

in

addition to a very

early and significant involvement

with Saab, his firm has

im

p

orted

to Sweden everything from DKW

to Mercedes.

It was famed Saab rally great

Erik Carlsson

who

got wind of

the

fact

that

Philipsons was interested

in

parting

with

their Sonett Super

Sport, and

knowing

that

a Saab

92

had recently made

its way

to America for display purposes,

he immediately contacted Bob

Sinclair. A deal was struck,

and

Sonett Super Sport number 2 would

soon be loaded

into

a sealed ship

ping container, destined for

Or

ange,

Connecticut.

Before leaving Sweden,

the

Sonett was treated

to

a full cos

metic

and mechanical refreshen

ing in

Saab's Trollha

ttan

Design

Studio, under the direction of Chief

Stylist Bjorn Envall. It arrived n

New

York

on

July 22, 1985

an

d

has since been

the star

of

many

club events and Saab expositions.

With its

big, twin-choke car

buretor and performance-tuned

engine, t he Sonett Super Sport is

not quite

as docile as

the

92 de

Luxe,

bu

t

on

t

he

ot

her

hand,

in

the

words of

Sports Cars Illustrated

(Nov.

1956 ,

the Sonett Super Sport

is certainly light and quick. The

Sonett designation, by

the

way,

was derived from the Swedish term

sa naat, which roughly trans

lated

means how nice or how

neat. Within Saab, the Sonett Super

Sport was also

known

by

its

in

ternal project code: Saab 94.

To be continued

S AAB


24/24

Saab Cars

USA

In

c.

Saab

Drive

P.O. Box

697

O

range

T

647

7

Bu lk Rate

U S Pos

tage

P ID

Permit No .

184

Berea

hio

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