Saabsoundings Vol 28 2[Opt]

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

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4

Our 1983 Saab 900S had racked up 157,000 miles

un eve

ntfull

y. Then, two Sat

ur

days ago, o

ur

sixteen

y

ear

-old daughter Hel

en

hurri

ed

out

of

the

h

ouse

to

h

el

p a friend pick ou t a

prom

gown . A few

minu

tes

la ter, we learned afterward, she reached into the back

se

at whil

e driving to find the

dir

ections to the prom

shop. The result: a head-on collision wi th a telephone

pole

at

40 miles per hour. Helen st epped out of the car

unharmed

. She said she was achy fr

om th

e seatbelts

holding her in place. Otherwise, n

ot

a scratch-and t

hi

s

in a

car with

mega-miles, and wi th

out

an airbag Our

old Saab is just a memory. But Helen is healthy.

Wi

th

o

ut

t

he

strength

of

a Saab, she could have been

just a mem

ory

too.

Gary Stock

In

1980 I bought a Saab 99 GLi. I

am no

w

celebrating the lOth anniver

sary

of my car, and

wan

te

d to let you know

how

happy I've been

with

it.

I ve n

ev

er had any major problem w ith

it

and after 10

ye

ar

s

and

140,000 miles, I think this is extraordinary

My car has never failed to start and I still d

epe

nd

on

it

everyday. This has been the bes t car I ve ever bough

t

Thank you

- Tamara Green

Sin

ce

my las t le tter to you several years ago, concern

ing

m y 1980 Saab 900, the mi leage on t

his

car has

reached 340,000. I fully exp

ec

t many mo re y

ear

s, and

man

y

te n

s of

th

ous

and

s of additional reliable

tr

ouble

free miles from

thi

s amazing vehicle.

-

Nor

m n

Jay Handler

Saab s record

breaking "Long Run" at

Talladega International

Speedway, Alabama, in

1986 showed

that

three

stock

Saab

9

Turbos

could reach 62,000 miles

(100,000 km

in th ree

straight

weeks of top-

s

peed

drivi

ng

.

Subse

quently, Saab Field

Technical Representa

tive

Richard W. Miller

has been quietly racking

up the miles in

his

1988

9000 Turbo ha tchback

test car

, which has been

part

of Saab s long-term

air

bag

test

fl

e

et

. Saab

routinely runs test fleet

programs

to verify the

performance and dura

bility of new technolo

gies

under

American

driving and environmen-

tal conditions. Miller's

test car has accrued

206,104 miles with no

major component

system failures.

Shown

here presenting Rich

with an undeployed air

bag in recognition of his

vehicle's longevity and

outstanding service

record in

the air

bag test

fleet is Hakan Cederlund

(far

left),

Technical

Assistance and Special

Projects Representativ

e,

Saab Automobile

AB

,

Trollhattan

, Sweden,

Mary

S.

Knowlton,

Service Operations

Administrator/ and John

B. Vinci (far right),

Service Operations

Manager

1

both represen

tatives of Saab Cars

USA

1

Inc., Orange, CT.

n our next issue of Saab Soundin

gs

.. .

The Readers Write subject will be Saab 's cavernous

and flexible catgo capacity. How

much

have you

s tuffed in a Saab?

Address y

our

s

ubmiss

ion

s

to

th

e Readers Write

1

Public

Relations Department, Saab Cars USA

1

Inc., Saab

Drive

, Orange, CT 06477.


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

Changing

Times

Praises

Saab

9000

and 900

The

personal finance

magazine,

hanging

Times, recently in

formed its more than

one million readers,

How

To Get

The Car

You Want

At

A Price

You'll Like. The

publication's editors

named the Saab 9000,

priced at $22,895, as the

Safety Leader in the

$20,000 to $30,000 price

range, and

the

Saab 900

Turbo, with a suggested

list price of $26,295, as

yielding the Most

Miles Per Gallon n the

same price class.

Saab 9000

Makes

US

Today

s1

Best

List

According to USA

Today s

recent automo

tive safety report,

vehicle operators are

more likely to get hurt

driving a small car

instead of a large one.

Ranking both domestic

and imported marques

in terms of the latest

three-year insurance

study by the Highway

Loss Data Institute,

USA Today

named

the

Saab 9000 among its 10

Best cars in terms of

fewest auto injuries.

(The Saab 9000 is the

only import sedan to

be

rated by the Environ

mental Protection

Agency as a Large

Car. )

Saab s

Last

8-Valve

Engine

More than

750,000 units

of this classic

8-valve Saab

engine, first

used to power

the Saab 99

EMS

in 1972,

have been

manufactured

at Saab's

engine factory

in Sodenalje,

Sweden. From

99

models onward, only

Saab's latest, exception

ally fuel-efficie

nt

, 16-

valve engines will be

assembled

in this

plant.

Saab introduced

the 16-valve engine in

1985 and has specified

it

exclusively in the U.S.

market since 1989. The

industry now recognizes

that an engine with four

valves per cylinder offers

more effective combus

tion of the fuel/air

mixture than

in

conven

tional engines.

Saab s

Last

8 valve Engine

\ 1

[

Cross

ir

Acquires

200tb

Saab 340

News

You Can Use

The

previous edition of

Saab Soundings included a

Something

Saa

b

insert

showing a carefully chosen

assortme

nt

of Saab identified

products and clothing. Saab's

competitively priced selection

of sportswear and personal

accessories makes ideal gifts for

the man or woman

n

your life

who seems to have eve

ry

thing. To place an order or

request a Something

Saab

brochure simply call:

{800 422-4684.


7/24

utof 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

the reputed con

s

um

er 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

Sten 0 . Helling

President and

Chief perating

Officer

SoLJb

Cars

USA Inc.

S

en 0. Helling, 52 accepted

his current

position as

Presi

den t

and

Chief Oper

ating Officer of Saab Cars

USA, Inc.

in

J

ul

y,

1990.

He

joined

the

Orange,

Con-

necticut -based

comp

any in

1980

as

National

Manager

of

Sales

and

Meet Sten Helling

Mark

et

ing and was appointed Vice

President of Sales and Marke ting

and

an

officer of

the

corporation

in October of the same year. Un-

der his direction, Saab passenger

car sales grew from 14,500

units

to 47,000 within a six-year period.

He was appointed to the position

of Executive Vice President, Sales

and

Market in

g in

1987.

Recognized throughout

the

industry

for his dedicated

empha

sis

on good dealer relations, Sten

Helling has always maintained

that

the

success of any automotive sales

and marketing organization ulti

mately rests on the strength and

integrity of

its

ret

ail

dealers.

Immediately prior to joining

Saab, Helling was National Sales

Manager for Volvo of America,

where

he

held a

number

of sales

management positions since joining

that

company in 1965. He first

began

wo

rking forAB Volvo/Sweden

in

1963.

He was

born

and

educated

in

Gothenburg,

Sweden.

An

en

thusiasticgolfer, Sten and

his

wife,

Ewa, reside

in

Madison,

CT.

SAAB

David J

Herman ddresses

utomotive News World Congress

DavidJ Herman

President andChi

ef

Executive Officer

SoLJb

utomobile B

On January 14, 1991, David J.

Herman, President and Chief Ex

ecutive Officer of Saab Au tomo

bile AB , Trollhattan,

Swe

den, ad

resse th

e 15th Automotive News

World Congress, held in Detro

it

,

Mi

c

hi

gan. The s

ub ject

of Mr.

He

rman

's s

pe

ech was twofold:

D

avid Herman 's opening

re

m

ar

ks

concerned

th e creat

ion

of Saab

Aut

om obile AB. The

affiliation

bet

ween Saab-Scania

AB

and

General Motors Europe) AG

was the r

esu

lt of both parent

companies

recognizing the oppor

tunity to encourage the indepen

de

nce of key staff functions,

while

at the same time providing the

necessary support and resources

to sustain Saab pr

od

uct develop

ment, improve cost structures,

and

optimize the utilization of Saab

facilities.

As

announced during

the

fo

rm

ation of Saab Automobile AB,

among

other

opportunities, these

advantages take

the

form of greater

p

ur

chasing

leverage

through

glo

bal sourc

in

g, along

with Saa

b's

access to new suppliers. Additionally,

the

interest

of reducing

product

deve l

opme

n t cycles, Saab is

r

eorien

t

ing its

engineering capa

bili

ties

away

from

incremental

product improvement toward major

program development.

Mr. H

erman

also pointed out

that Saab's

activities are

led by

its own established management

team

and

that

there are no reporting

lines between

Saab

and its

indi

vidual shareholder companies. t

is understood that any possible gain

which cou

ld

be achieved through

combined research and develop

ment between the parent compa

nies

wou

ld be far outweighed

by

the loss

of

Saab's unique

product

cha

racter

i

there

were

a chain of

command back to either partner.

Mr. H

erman's second

area of

concentra

ti

on

was the long-range

vision of Saab Automobile AB. He

stated

that

Saab is

a

t

eam

of peo

ple for whom the design,

produc

tion, and sales of unique and pre

mium Swedish

cars inspires pride

and

commitme

n

t.

Saab's Swedish

heritage is a primary source of pride

and advantage,

and the

individu

alistic

demands

of its premium

customers

will

be

pursued.

Sweden

has 8.5 m

illion

in

habitants

and is

home for two of

the

world's

most

successful truck

producers and two car companies-

all with total design responsibil

ity

centered

in Sweden. No other

country of such size has been able

to

duplicate

this accomplishment

,

and the educational tradition of

Saab engineers cen

te

rs

around

the

intelligent application of advanced

technologies. Saab will con

tinue

to emphasize safety, harmony with

the

environment

,

and

dr

iving

pleasure.

Mr. Herman stated that Saab

is

now concentrating on breaking

down traditio

nal management at

titudes

which don 't sufficiently

encourage

the

cr

eation

of

an

ef

fective organization by

making

all

members fee l a part of a team .."

SAAB


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

900S

o

nvertibl

e

A captivating performance usually

demands an

en

core,

which

is

why

Saab

has turned

the spotlight

on

its new

1991 900S Convertible.

The

new model fea

tures a fully-lined, elec trically-actuated soft top

with

a glass rear window,

which

incorporates a rear window

defroster.

Other standard amenities which exude

a

sense of leisure and luxury in the new

9 S

Convert

ible arc leather seating surfaces, central locking, dual

heated power mirrors, an 80-watt, electronically-tuned

AM/FM cassette stereo, and fog lamps. The estimated

introductory price for

the

Saab 900S Convertible is

S27,995.

Turbo and 9000 CD Turbo and

genera

t

es

an

im pr

essive

200

horsepower (hpJ and 244 ft.-l

bs

torque

with

a manual transmis

sion (222 ft.-lbs with the automatic),

offering gready improved low-speed

response, mid-range muscle, an d

hi

gh-speed perfo

rm a

nce.

The 2.3-li ter

's compact

ex

ternal

din

1ensions en

su

re that it

does not encroach on valuable space

within th

e in t

erio

r. T

his is

a con

tr ibu ting fa

ctor to why

the Saab

Saab snew

9000 is rated

as

a Large Car by

the

U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA).

Also new for 1991 is the Saab

9000,

which

is priced at $22,895

and represents an expansion of

the

practical and versatile 9000 phi

losophy to a broader audience

than

ever before. It is powered by the

sam e 150 hp, 2.3-l

iter

naturally

aspirated engine found beneath

the

hood

of the Saab 9000S and 9000

CD

and

like every 1991 Saab,

the

2.3-liter turbocharged engine

The

Saab 9000

Turbo and

9000

CD

Turbo

now benefit from Saab's

mighty

1

yet

efficient,

200

hp, 2.3-

liter turbocharged engine. Through

the

careful use of ad

vanced production

techruques, along

with

such technology

as

turbocharging, inter

cooling, twin counter

rotating balance shafts,

and Saab Direct Ignition,

the new engine provides

extremely

impressive

output for its size. Saab

S

tradition of concentrating

on compact and light

weight powertrains

contributes

to

the 9000's legend

ary

handling accuracy

1

responsible

fuel efficiency, and

renowned

in

terior space utilization.

9000 includes anti-lock brakes

and

a driver's

side

airbag

as

standard

equipment.

A good portion of innovative

Saab technology

has been

infused

in

the 1991

900

Series as

we

ll

Better performance

and

improved

passing

power is

provided

in the

9 and

900$ by a

new

2. 1-litcr

engine

which creates 140 hp and

133ft.-lbs torque, up from 128 hp

and 128 ft.-lbs respectively.

A convertible version

of the

9000 CD Turbo

Saab's luxury leader

is now

equipped

with the new

high-performing and

fuel -efficient

200 hp

2.3-litcr tur

bocharged engine.

n

addition/

the

9000 CD Turbo offers greater com

fort and refinement with its Burled

English Walnut instrument panel,

gearshift surround and console

cover, along

with

dual power seats

with three-channel memory. An

automatic transmission and compact

diSC

player

are also standard

equipment.

1991 9000

CD Tur

bos arc easily identified by theu

standard rear decor panel

which

matches the

taillight

treatment,

and restyled alloy wheels are also

included.


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

leather 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.

The Saab 9000 Turbo also benefits

from a performanc

e

tuned sport

chassis

whi

ch includes special 3-

spoke, alloy

wh

eels and Z-rated,

high speed, 16 tires.


12/24

9

The newest addition to the Saab

family for 1991 is the 9000. With

its price tag below 23,000, the

Saab 9000 not only represents

Saab's latest expression of advanced

engineering technology, but also

the import market's lowest priced

sedan to

be so equipped. Powered

by

the same 150 hp, 2.3-liter

naturally-aspirated engine found

beneath the hood of the Saab 90005

and 9000 CD,

the

9000 is a five

door hatchback

whkh

offers the

traditional Saab values of safety,

performance, and versatility

at

the

entry-level

end

of the Saab 9000

range.

9 Turbo

Convertible

9 9 S

The entry and middle-level mod

els of the Saab 900 series, the 900,

and 9005, benefit from a new 140

hp, 2.1-litcr naturally-aspirated

engine which o f f r ~ better perfor

mance and improved passing power.

n addition to a driver's-side air

bag and anti-lock brakes as standard

equipment, upgrades for 1991 in

clude a headlight wiper/washer

system, and newly designed front

seats offering added comfort and

luxury. According

to

the recently

released report by the Highway

Loss Data Institute

IHLDI , The

Saab

900 4-door

sedan

demonstrated

the lowest overall injury experi

ence of any car in its size cat

egory.

For

the second consecutive

year, the Saab 900-with its sug

gested list price of 18,295-is the

lowest

priced

import sold in America

\vith an air bag and anti-lock brakes

as standard equipment.

9 Turbo

With its 160 hp, 2.0-liter, 16-valve

turbocharged engine, the Saab 900

Turbo

offers

aggressive perfonnancc

and a fun-to-drive persona, com

bined with Saab's traditional at

tentiOn to safety and versatility.

The Saab 900 Turbo features safety

cage construction and a practical

fold-down rear scat, and is equipped

with

a driver's-side air bag and

anti lock brakes as

standard

equipment.

New

for 1991 is a

headlight wiper/washer system,

smoother manual

gearshifting,

and upgraded front seats which

offer a wtder range of adjustment

and greater comfort.

Combining the pleasure of top-down performance with Saab

integrity and reliability, the 900 Turbo Convertible was engi

neered from inception for open-air enjoyment.

The

fully-lined,

power-actuated convertible top is snug fitting, to insulate

against weather and noise, and the glass rear window is elec

trically-heated. Powered by Saab's 160 hp, 2.0-liter, 16-valved

turbocharged engine, new standard features for 1991 include

dual power seats, leather-padded door armrests,

an

improved

theft alarm system, increased luggage-carrying capacity, and a

headlight wiper/washer system.


13/24

13

Don t

Stick Your Neck Out b

Choosing

the

Wrong

Head

Restraint

W

iplash injuries are

a frequent

outcome

of ~ b a n automobile

aCCI -

dents, which

auto

-

~ ~ ~

J

motive experts say

usually involve a

rear-end collision at

low

speed. Ac

cording

to the

lat

est

stat

istics, there

are

more tha

n

4,000,000 rear-end

collisions a year

in

the United

Sta tes;

more than one third

of all automobile

accidents. As a re

sul t, roughly five

million doct

or

vis

its arc made yearly

for diagnosis and

tre

atmen

t

of

neck

pain.

/ the whiplash

in

jury.ln the handbook,

Saab is the only automaker cited

for having ex

ce

llent head restraint

properti

es

to re

duce the like

li

hood of whiplash .

Saab's adjus

tabl

e

high

seat backs are

p

ra

ised becau

se

they provide good

prot

ec

t

io

n wh

ile

n

ot

restric

tin

g rear

vision. For 1991,

every Saab model

features head re

straints

as

st an

dard e

quipm

ent at

all

o

utb

oard seat

ing positions.

While not a

medical term,

wh

ip

lash refers

to

the

neck

in jury

caused by a sudden

jerking

backward

and forward of the

head during

an

au

tomobile accident.

The

medical term

for the resulting

trauma is cervical

sprain,

which

en

tails

trauma to

a

Crash test simulationshave demonstrated that Saab headrestraints

wh

en adjusted prope

rl

y

ha

ve exce

ll

e

nt

energy-absorbing prope

rt i

es.

or the best possible resul t, the head restraintshould be set level

with the back

of

the head.

Saab is al

so

mentioned

as

one

of

th

e

few

car

co mpanies tha t

re

mind

s

cus

tom

ers in its o

wn

er

's

manuals that th e

head restra in t

should be adjusted

to bolster

th

e back

of the h

ea

d, not

t

he

n

ec

k, in order

to

o

ff

er e

ff

ective

prot

ec

tion against

whiplas

h in juries.

Saab also recom

mends that a seat

ba ck which is

s

lightl

y reclined,

joint plus injury

to ligament

s.

Saab engineers realize that

whiplash injuries have b

ec

om

e a

co

mmon

accident hazard and have

thus expended

substant

ial engi

neering resources making sure Saab

scats are orthopedically sound and

that passengers remain comfort

able and safe.

njury

Prevention

Through

Design ttention

Saab's careful at te

nt

ion

to

designing safety systems

whic

h

optimize passengers' well-being is

recognized

in

the recently-publis

h-

ed The Whiplash Handbook - the

first b

ook

of

it

s kind dedicated

to

improving

the

unde

rstandin

g of

instead of positioned

up

right, will

improve the occupan t's chances of

avoiding a neck injury in a rear

collision .

Long before h

ea

d restraints

be

came

mandatory

in

1969, Saab

began utilizing head s

upp

orts in

1958 n its high-performan

ce

GT

750

mo

de

l

Th

e Swedish automaker


14/24

14

Saab

engineers realize that whipl

as

h in juries

ha

ve

become a common accident hazard and have thu

s

expended substantial engineering resources

making sure Saab seats are orthopedically sound

and

that

passengers remain comfortable and s

af

e.

Tbe fron t seat bead restraint consists

of foam material

mold

ed around a

resilient backing plat

e.

realized

that

in a rear-end coll i

sion,

th

e seat m

ust

effectively ar

rest the backward movement of

the occupan t s body and head. The

backward tilt of the head is par

ticularly critical, since the neck

vert ebrae could

sustain

serious

injuries

i

the backward tilt were

to exceed 120 degrees.

Today, Saab s head restraints

consist of foam material, molded

around a resilient bac

kin

g plate,

which arrest the neck and mini

mize

th

e risk of injury to the neck

vcnebrae in the event of a collision.

The height of Saab s front head

restraints can be adjusted in sev

eral settings, which span about two

inches. Saab seats are also ana

tomically correct and have a suf

ficiently wide range of settings to

ensure th

at

they will be practical

and comfortable. To further en

sure driver comfon, Saab front seats

are additionally equipped with

electric

heat

ing clemen

ts

as stan

dard equipment.

Owner Advice

Although insurance claim studies show that neck injuries

have largely decreased since automotive head restraints have

been legislated, according to The Whiplash Handbook,

insurance researchers remain disappointed that the decrease

in neck inJuries is

not

greater. Saab offers the following advice

to consumers not wanting to

st

ick their necks out by choosing

the wrong head restraint, or still worse, misusing one:

• Automotive head

restraints

should

be

considered

specifically for

that purpose and

not usedas head rests.

• Adjust

th

e

head restraint

so that it reaches

the back of your head, not

just your

neck.

And

familiarize yourself

with positioning

and

utilizing

side-

and

rear-view

mirrors

for

optimum

rearward visibility.

• Recline the

front

seats slightly instead

of positioning them upright.

This

w ll

improve

the

chances of avoiding

a

neck

injury

n a rear collision.

• Shoulder-harnesses and lap belts can

pr

eve

nt many injuries

and

should be

worn

by

all

pa

s

sengers

at

ll

times even

in

cars

equipp

ed with an

air

bag.

However

,

they

do not prevent whiplash

injuries

, but serve

the all-important role of preventing

the

occupants

from

being thrown

about

or

out

of

the

vehicle.

*The Whiplash Handbook, 1989, was

writt

en

by

Mo

ni

que B. Harriton

with

a

Forew

or

d by Ruth

Ja

ck son, M.D., F.A .C.

S.,

and was

pu

blished

by

Charles C

Thomas, 2600 South First

tr

e

et

, Springfie

ld

, lllinois.


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 all 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

th

e 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 lights in 9000

models. Whenever a door is open, the

ground below

it is

illuminated; a red

warning ligh t is visible to the rear

at

the same time.

n all

9000 models and 900 4-door

sedans, Saab rear doors are fitted

with

child safety locks to prevent

children from inadvertantly opening

them

from the inside.

n

Saab 900

hat

chba

ck

mod

els,

the

back seat can be folded down quickly and

simply to convert the ordinary luggage compartment into a cavernous, easily

accessible cargo bayhaving 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

18

reathing

Easier

in the Decade

of

the

Environment

er since the

first Saab

9000 s rolled

off the Troll

hattan,

Sweden

as-

Saab s ventilation

air filter especially

helps those

who

are

pollen-allergic or

who

s

uf f

er from

other respiratory

ailments.

an industry leader in

the

application

of

three-way catalytic

convertor technology,

which has been

proven

to be

the most

effective way

to

combat harmful ex

haust emissions.

n 1991

as well,

all 344

U.S. Saab

dealers

will market

a removable trash

receptacle for early

Saab

900 models,

which secures

be

neath the driver sseat

and

will discourage

against littering, since

it allows for proper

trash disposal.

sembly line in 1985,

all 9000 models

have

been fitted with an

envi ronm enta ll y

conscious Saab engi

neering innovation- a

ventilation

air

filter

th

at traps pollen, dust,

soot,

and

other part

icles before

external

air is allowed in to the

interior of the car. Prior

to that, the innovation

was first introduc

ed

in

all 1979 Saab

900's

without air condition

ing.

This

Saab design

feature is one of many

examples which de

monstrates the Swed

ish automaker s envi

rorunental concern, and

further illustrates Saab s

desire

to

offer relief

to the many who suffer

from allergies

or other

respiratory ailments.

The

ventilation air filter n the Saab 9000 arrests particles as small

as 4 microns

{0

004)

mm

The dirty fil ter above shows the

accumulated dust, soot, and pollen particles that are effectively

trapp

ed

by the interior air filter, along

with

asphalt fumes, foundry

and cement dust, and petrole

um

mis

t

n

an added ef

fort to conserve na

tural resources, Saab

recently

began

tore

cycle office station

ary

and

other

paper

used by

its 416 U.S.

employees.

The com

pany

recycles ap

proximately 40

tons

It is

befitting for Saab

to kick

off

the internationally-observed

Decade

of

the Environment,

by

equipping all 1991 9000

pa

ssen

ger cars with the

ventilation air

filter. The filter arrests particles

as small as 4 microns (0.004 mm).

n addition to trapping pollen, the

ventilation air filter

in

1991 Saab

9000 s also blocks visible dust,

water droplets,

and

sand from en

tering the car.

It

is effective in

filtering

petroleum

mist, foundry

and cement dust, as

phalt

fumes,

and other road debris.

Other environmentally

conscious developments that Saab

willmake

in 1991 include approved

recycling techniques for its cur

rent

R-12 air

conditioning

fluid,

commonly referred to as freon.

Recycling of

this subs

tan

ce

will

reduce th

e worldwide

production

of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC).

CFC's

have been found

to

have a

detrimental

effe

ct on

the

earth

s

ozone

layer.

Saab also pioneered the re-

moval of asbestos from brake pads

and clutch face surfaces and was

of

paper

per

year.

Additionally, all Saab press releases

are now

produced on recycled pa

per to incite media representatives

to promote

energy conservation

and/ or recycling techniques.

As

a

further

effort

, Saab's national

headquarters recently took the advice

of Connecticut's United Illumi

nating

(Ul)

compa

ny

and

replaced

roughly 1,000 light

fixtures

throughout its

facilities with en

ergy-efficient, reflective ballasts,

reducing the

company's

lighting

load by

one

third.


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 -equipped Saab has

on

e and observe

the

posted

speed limit.

4

Use a well-known brand of

detergent gasoline. Regular

grade is fine unless 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 the 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 mainta

in

ed vehicle will

not

only offer better

fue

l economy,

but lower exhaust emissions as

well.

equipped Turbo requires

higher octane, pre

mium

fue

l.

5

Keep your 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 need.

7

Follow your vehicle's

pr

e-

scribed maintenance sched

ule, because

dir

ty filters and

c

on

taminated oil reduce

efficiency.


20/24

2

Thanks to the prestige

of

the Barb

er

Saab Pro Series and

its

at ten

dant

media coverage, 1990 champion Rob Wilson {green

19) signed a contract

with

a frontline

Ind

y Lights te

am

for 1991. Success

th

ere

will likely

result

in

a move to the crown of

American

motor

s

ports th

e CART PPG

Ind

ycar Series. photo 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.

Comp

letin

g its fifth season, the

series played to impressive audi

ences, had

its

largest starting

fields ever, and received excellent

television

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

po

le 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. 'fl len 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 Lime

Rock

Park 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 series title here at Road America.


22/24

22

====r

Vintage Views is a n w Saab Soundings feature dedicated to the history,

preservation, and enjoyment

of

early Saab automobiles and their

derivatives. Through this column,

w

will

share with you the

tradition and heritage that has come to embody Saab s spirit today.

Vintage

Views

The

Headquarters

Collection

Part

I

In

the Summer of 1946 Saab wheels

went into motion when an unas

suming, but un ique prototype

emerged from a

se

cret Swedish

workshop. That pilot verucle still

exists ill the Saab

Car

Museum

in Trollhattan, Sweden, along with

a host of other legendary

and

rus

toric Saabs.

Although Saab is considered

to have set a brisk development

pace

in

the auto industry,

it

has

remailled loyal to

its

beginning

and its logical design philosophy.

For this reason,

The

Saab

Car

Museum has grown illto the

im

pressive collection that

it

is today.

Likewise,

n

the United States,

" here the first Saabs appeared

officially

n

1956, Saab Cars USA,

Inc. has carefully

main

tained its

own in

terest in Saab rustory by

assembling its Headquarters Col

lection. A look

at

the villtage ve

hicles at the headquarters follows:

195

Saab 9 de

Luxe

The first historic verucle acquired

by

Saab Cars USA, Inc., and the

cornerstone

of

the Headquarters

Collection,

is

the 1950 Saab 92

de Luxe, chassis

number

01837.

This example of Saab's first pro

duction model was originally sold

on April

11

,

19

51 to Torsten

Ek.

in

Jonkoping, Sweden, and even

tually made its way to Kjell Boberg

of Molnlycke, Sweden, just

ou

tside

of

Gothenburg.

When Mr. Boberg informed

Saab Cars Chairman Bob Sinclair

of its availability, Mr. Sillclair

ump-

ed

at

the opportunity to acquire

it

for display

at

major American

auto shows and Saab dealership

openings. Unbeknownst

to

everyone

ill Orange, the formation of

th

e

Headquaners Collection had

begun.

The 1950 Saab

was

soon

aboard srup

with

a large inventory

of new 900's,

bound

for Saab

dealerships throughout th e

Northeast, and to say that the 92

stood out from the crowd when

it arrived at the Providence, Rhode

Island port would be

an

under

statement. The longshoremen

didn't know what to make of it,

let alone how to start it.

Fortunately

,

Saab's

Port

Manager, Hakan Svantesson, gam

ed valuable two-stroke experience

back home

n

Sweden, so he simply

went down

in

the cargo hold, fired

the car

up

and promptly drove

it

off the srup. Sillce that day the

92 has proved to be a capable and

reliable performer.

According to the original sales

brochure, the Saab 92 "is charac

terized by the sweeping stream

lined shape, and the corniortable

and elegant interior is astonish

ingly roomy for a car of this size."

The brochure also explaills that

the

92 offers a considerable fac

tor

of safety" due to "

the

self

supporting, solid welded body."

Written some forty years ago, that

description could just as easily be

applied to the 1991 range of 9000

and 900 models demonstrating that

Saab's logical engineering approach

has remained consi \tent for four

decades.

The

Saab 92 is powered by a

25 horsepower, two-cylinder en

gine displacing 764cc. Following

in the footsteps of Henry Ford,

the original 92 could be had

in

any color

an

owner desired, except

h

e 92, Saab s firs t

pr

o

du

ction model, is

powe

red by a 25 horsepower, two

cylinder, two-s troke engine displacing 764cc. he Headqua.rters car, similar to

the Saab 92 pictured, is a 1950 de L

ux

e and was the f

ir

st vintage vehicle to join

the Saab Cars USA, Inc Collection.


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

(le

ft

, along with Sales Training

Manager,

Ar

sey Miller (se

at

ed)

and the Sonett Super Sport-

numb

er 2

of

s

ix

originals

produced by 1956. Only five

examples exist today. John and

Ar

sey both assist in maintaining

the Headquarters Collection.

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 the other hand, in

the

words of

Sports Cars Illustrated

(Nov. 1956 , the Sonett Super Sport

is certainly light and quick. The

Son

ett

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

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