Saab Museum Archives

Saab historical vehicles earmarked, but safe

I went to the Saab Museum this morning to take a look at some recent additions. The recent additions are not vehicles, but little stickers applied to the vehicles that were already there.

Click to enlarge

——

Utmätt Gods translates to ‘goods sequestered for debt’ and the little stickers were applied to the collection by Kronofogden, the debt enforcement agency here in Sweden. As you can see above, the Aero-X has one. The Sonett and Saab 9-X Air both have one, too. Even UrSaab has one.

The labels were applied earlier this week, no doubt timed to precede our reorganisation decision. It’s Kronofogden’s way of claiming these vehicles as part of a group of assets earmarked for sale in order to pay debts that some of our creditors have asked Kronofogden to collect. I know that’s a shocking statement if you’re a Saab fan, but please relax and keep reading.

The decision yesterday to grant us reorganisation status means that no further action can be taken by Kronofogden right now, in respect of these vehicles. However, should our reorganisation fail, then the vehicles resume their place amongst the assets that Kronofogden would seek to liquidate in order to collect amounts owing to some creditors.

So, the vehicles are protected at the moment and of course, Saab will seek to repay all outstanding amounts (including those submitted to Kronofogden) and when that happens, the little stickers will be removed and so will any lien hanging over the vehicles.

It’s not a nice part of our current story, but it’s a part of it nonetheless and one that we will do everything to ensure is wound up with a happy ending, as soon as possible.

Sixten Sason's concept Saab – Catharina

We had a poll recently, on Twitter and Facebook. It posed the Saab Catharina against the Saab 9x concept car. The voters wish was for detailed photos of Catharina. Here she is…..

The story of Catharina is pretty well known, but for those who don’t know…..

In the early 1960s, Saab’s legendary designer, Sixten Sason, penned his ideas for a personal project vehicle – a two seat sports coupe. Swedish company, ASJ, took an interest in the project and manufactured this fibreglass bodied vehicle based on Sason’s design and using the engine, gearbox and floorpan of the Saab 96. It was made in Katrineholm and accordingly, it was christened Catharina.

Saab also wanted a sports coupe after their fledgling plans for the Saab 94 faltered in the 1950s. They considered Sason’s design, along with another design from a company called Malmö Flygindustri (MFI). MFI’s design won the day and the Saab Sonett II was born.

Catharina now resides at the Saab Museum in Trollhattan, which is where I photographed it earlier this week.

——

Click any of the photos to enlarge…..

Sason’s design included a removable Targa top, which was pretty uncommon at the time. The top clips out easily and it is stored in the trunk of the car, which has special little carpeted brackets in place just for this purpose.

Continue reading Sixten Sason's concept Saab – Catharina

The Saab 9-6 in pictures

Last week we had a poll on Twitter, asking people which model from the Saab Museum they would like to have photographed – the Saab EV-1 concept or the Saab 9-6 prototype. Guess which car won?

Here we are, then, with a photo study of the Saab 9-6. The car is now on display at the Saab Museum after spending several years in ~~hiding~~ storage out the back.

The Saab 9-6 was a joint project with Subaru, based on their B9 Tribeca SUV. Saab, at the behest of General Motors (who owned 20% of Subaru’s parent company at the time), had already launched the Saab 9-2x based on the Subaru Impreza WRX. This vehicle was supposed to build on that relationship.

Even though the 9-2x was loved by those who owned it, the car was lampooned by the press for being a poorly executed mimic of a cult classic. The Saab was actually better equipped than the WRX of the time with several components from Subaru’s performance division (STi) added to the car, but it ended up selling for a lot less in an employee-pricing fire sale back in 2005.

Whilst it had nothing to do with the fire sale, GM ended up selling its 20% stake in Subaru later in 2005 and the Saab 9-6 project was cancelled. Prior to this cancellation, Saab had built two prototype vehicles – this five door model now on exhibition at the museum, as well as a three-door version.

Many will refer to the 9-6 as the 9-6x, which makes sense as it would have had a 4-wheel drive system on board, which is the usual trigger for the added ‘x’ (9-3x TTiD owners – your objection is noted). I used to call it the 9-6x as well in stories that I wrote about it back in 2005. The museum example, however, is referred to without the ‘x’ in the title so I’m going to stick to that protocol.

Click to enlarge the images.

—

Saab Convertible Concept by Leif Mellberg

Earlier, we looked at the Saab Convertible Concept built by the American Sunroof Company – the concept that was chosen to form the basis for the production Saab Convertible.

Today, in our continuing celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Saab Convertible, we’re going to take a closer look at the car that didn’t get selected – the convertible concept built by Leif Mellberg, a coachbuilder from Nyköping.

The ASC convertible was built using a 2-door Saab 900 coupe as a basis. The Mellberg Convertible – whether by request from Saab or by choice is unknown to me – was based on a 3-door Combi Coupe.

That’s the Mellberg convertible on the right, with the ASC concept on the left.

And the Mellberg concept from the rear 3/4 view…..

A side profile. Have you noticed anything funny about the Mellberg concept yet? (hint: go back and take a look at photo #1, and then at this one again)

Continue reading Saab Convertible Concept by Leif Mellberg

Mille Miglia Photo Exhibition at the Saab Museum

Posted to the events page……

The Saab Car Museum in Trollhättan will host a special photo exhibition on the 2011 Mille Miglia from Saturday, May 28 until Monday, June 6.

The exhibition will feature the two vehicles (still with Italian mud caked in the tire tread!) driven by Mats Fägerhag and Hans Hugenholtz, along with a slideshow of images taken during the rally. The images were shot by renowned British photographer Charlie Magee.

The exhibition will be open to the public during normal business hours, Monday to Sunday 11:00-16:00, and entrance will be included with purchase of museum day pass.

Get a preview of some of the photos here.

History: Mille Miglia and Saab

Once described as the world’s greatest road race, the Mille Miglia was created in 1927 as a marathon speed test of man and machine on closed public roads from Brescia to Rome and back. The original route was almost exactly 1,600 kilometers, hence the race’s iconic name – ‘Mille Miglia’ is Italian for 1,000 miles.

Continue reading Mille Miglia Photo Exhibition at the Saab Museum

Mille Miglia Revisited: Classic Saabs Pay Homage to Historic Success

Saab Automobile team commemorates 1957 Mille Miglia class win
Driver line-up includes Saab Automobile’s Vice President of Vehicle Product Development and Spyker Cars’ Chairman of the Board

Trollhättan, Sweden. A trio of historic Saab 93s will take part in this year’s Mille Miglia, starting Thursday 12 May, revisiting the scene of one of Saab’s first successes in international motor sport.

Italian towns and hillsides reverberate once again to the distinctive crackle of a Saab two-stroke engine as the cars follow in the wheel tracks of Charlie Lohmander and Harald Kronegård, who won their class with a Saab 93 in the last 1957 Mille Miglia road race.

Driving the lead car will be Mats Fägerhag, Saab Automobile’s Vice President Vehicle Product Development, with Peter Bäckström, Manager of the Saab Car Museum, sitting alongside.

Continue reading Mille Miglia Revisited: Classic Saabs Pay Homage to Historic Success