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